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Post by maranyc on May 26, 2009 21:36:54 GMT -5
sekeremaker, that is exactly the point I made when I complained about this in one of the Chicago threads. If people start getting frustrated with excessive cuts, they're just going to bail on the broadcasts and head for the Internet. As much as I'm sure these stations want to be able to trim the episodes down to fit one-hour slots, it's just not a wise option for this series. Since WMBC is only showing about 50 minutes out of 65 I have gotten into the habit of watching the episodes online after I see them on tv and I fast forward thru the parts shown on tv - it helps as so much is being cut out here....
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Post by agistri on May 27, 2009 7:36:31 GMT -5
THANK YOU thank you thank you ajk!!!! and the rest who take the time to post each episode of MY FAVOR korean drama Iron Empress I am leaving for Europe for 3 months and i was so upset that i'll miss the rest of the story ... but THANKS to you i'll be able to follow every week the episodes that you summarize in so much details. Thank you again and i wish to all a nice summer.
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Post by ajk on May 27, 2009 12:22:38 GMT -5
What a coincidence, agistri--I'm upset that I'm watching Iron Empress instead of spending three months in Europe! Seriously, enjoy yourself and I'll do my best.
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Post by jojo on May 28, 2009 8:44:25 GMT -5
Ep 8
I don't understand why King Sungjong decided to make Goryeo a vassal state to Song China. Couldn’t they have just been allies instead of vassals? Why didn’t the Ministers raise a hugh ruckus about it? It was surprising how such an important decision was glossed over in the story. (Didn’t the kidnapping of the envoys cause an international incident as well?)
The Empress Dowager came off as being very ‘grandmotherly’ but I began to suspect there was some truth in King Gyeongjong’s rantings about her. I wonder how much involvement she had with his mother’s death.
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Post by luvarchfiend on May 31, 2009 7:31:22 GMT -5
sorry, not sure what the episode # is...
watching on wmbc....
all i can say is i am so ticked off about the way they cut this one up. the others have been bad, but last night's (saturday) was ridiculous.
all the fun has gone out of it for me with the loss of king G (formerly gulsabiwu) and with all the cuts.
but i am very happy that my lee duk-wha is having more screen time now.
this one just doesn't seem as good as the rest, at least so far.
now that i have done nothing but complain, i will logout. ;D
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Post by puppy on Jun 1, 2009 5:59:10 GMT -5
Did you notice tiny, Sol Rengui mannerisms in Lee Dukhua, luvarch? He strokes his beard and sometimes her brushes imaginary specks from his sleeve with that twinkle in his eye. I sit up and pay attention when he's on the screen altho last night's "You two should be married" nonsense was odd. (Why did the writers make such a point of Dukhua's character having a wife? Is it going to figure in the story later?) I hope he's a big part of this drama which is driving me crazy with all the cuts.
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Post by luvarchfiend on Jun 1, 2009 18:43:55 GMT -5
hey puppy....he has always done those mannerisms....even in the Age of Warriors. it is one thing that makes me so crazy about him but i can't say why that makes it so. and like you, the minute he shows up, i perk up. he could be in every scene and i am not sure that would be enough for me. he hasn't yet done his famous 'chi-chi-chi', though that doesn't really describe it. and try as i might to imitate it, my boyfriend tells i fail miserably. ;D maybe the point of the married nonsense between the 2 men is to show how close they are. i agree it is pointless to bring up a wife we have never seen, but as you noted, perhaps she will show up later. i am very curious who the person behind the curtain is, the inside spy. i have a suspicion but am not ready to make a fool of myself just yet. the young prince. song. is cute as can be. prince g, (so sorry about the names) who reappeared last night, is so handsome to me, not sure i trust him, however. as for the Jurchens, i fear they will be doing some major damage. the cuts, well they are driving me crazy.....a short trip i daresay, but nonetheless, it is TOO MUCH!
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Post by simisteve on Jun 1, 2009 23:22:20 GMT -5
We're up to episode 38 here in LA, and last nights show ran just over 50 mins (maybe 53?) with commerical break. But I am at my wits end with this show, and not sure how much longer I can hang in with this story line.
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Post by puppy on Jun 2, 2009 17:40:50 GMT -5
You hung in for 38 eps, simi(as in Valley?)steve! I'm ready to pack it in after 10. I can't seem to keep the plot and characters straight and the cuts make it even harder. I know it takes a while to get into these long, complicated historicals but I rememnber being enchanted by Dae Joyoung after the first epi. Something is missing here.
Somebody said in another post that IE was very low rated in Korea and guessed it might be because it was about a strong female or that there are too many historical dramas currently running over there. I'm not so sure. The visuals are lovely but the writers are glossing over too much or the TV guys are leaving out big, dramatic chunks. So far the only character I can sympathize with is young prince Song (such a face!) and my best guy, Lee Dukhua who plays Minister (or General) Something-Or-Other altho he hasn't been given much to do so far..
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Post by simisteve on Jun 3, 2009 23:03:31 GMT -5
Yes, Simi Valley is correct, Puppy. I am getting the feeling that they are throwing these scripts together at the last minute before airtime...if i missed the last 4 episodes, it would be no big deal because nothing is happening. It's like they are trying to pad out the series.
I keep hoping Lee Dukhua will suddendly grab a big battleaxe and kill off the lead characters and proclaim himself the Archfiend! Oh well, wishful thinking ;-)
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Post by luvarchfiend on Jun 4, 2009 13:21:32 GMT -5
I keep hoping Lee Dukhua will suddendly grab a big battleaxe and kill off the lead characters and proclaim himself the Archfiend! Oh well, wishful thinking ;-) well simiS, this is a story line that would be a dream come true. ;D i am having a great deal of trouble with this one, too. but i am so happy to have the historical drama back that i am sticking with it, at least for now.
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Post by ajk on Jun 4, 2009 13:26:54 GMT -5
We had a full dose Tuesday in Chicago of what you guys are experiencing in NY and LA as far as trying to watch a hacked-up episode. It was just awful. You have my complete sympathy (not that you didn't have it before, but now I've been there).
Somebody is going to have to get the word back to KBS in Korea that these episodes are too long. Not just because of the American station schedules, but because it's just too much when there are two episodes a week and they're running 65 minutes or more (not including commercials). Once a week, okay, but two long ones, no. It starts to wear you out. And I'm sure it's part of the cause of the low ratings, too. They need to edit these things so they're tighter.
And yes, they do put these episodes together at the last minute. When the Kim Chiyang actor got hurt recently (it's in another thread) I learned that they shoot these episodes the same week they air. Well no wonder they're not edited better. Ugh.
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Post by simisteve on Jun 5, 2009 0:30:01 GMT -5
ajk, the last minute nature really shows, and it gets worse the further they go along. I think one of the reasons that they may be having problems in Korea with the ratings isn't the fact that the lead is a woman, but that the character is so badly written. Even worse, the 2 lead characters are being badly outshone by the strong supporting cast: Seo Hui, Gang Jo, Gang Gamchan, even Choe Rhuyn. Maybe we should have a new thread: WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS SERIES It's hard to imagine the same network that just gave us GKS (that featured some of the finest moments in broadcast tv I've seen) put this on the air. Oh well!
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Post by puppy on Jun 5, 2009 7:26:31 GMT -5
START THAT THREAD, SIMI!
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Post by jojo on Jun 5, 2009 10:43:42 GMT -5
In Episode 9 Gang Gamchan says to Hunae, “Your grace, perhaps you should talk to him (the king) instead of bluntly defying him.” I’m wondering why the writers haven’t taken their own cue! So far we’ve seen Hunae (as an adult) constantly defying and talking back to the king. She’s not shown as having any political savvy in getting what she wants. In Episode 10 she’s at the palace for the investiture of her son when the news arrives about the attack on Myeongbok Palace. I think it was a big mistake for her to not attend. What can she do at the scene that Gang Jo can’t? Doesn’t she trust him? She could have made an appearance at the investiture and left afterwards. And politically, it was an even bigger mistake: another snub to the king and ministers and worst of all, to her son. She says I can see my son later but, duh!, when has she ever been allowed to do that?
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