Post by ajk on Jun 15, 2014 22:51:18 GMT -5
Seonggye heads back inside, not wanting to talk to anyone, but JD follows him in anyway, royal seal in hand. Tells Seonggye he actually contemplated suicide...but came back to urge him to accept the seal. Forget it, Seonggye says; no more Cause, no more throne, no more bloodshed. They argue back and forth; Seonggye says he fears having to end up killing everyone who opposes him, but JD assures him that he can "stay in the high places" and "lead with virtue" and that he (JD) will handle the "dirty work." Nope; no deal. "The case was over the minute that Poeun died." JD looks genuinely shocked, like he's failed. And then he goes nuts, shouting at Seonggye like we've never seen. Mongju was wrong, he insists, and our Cause was and is just. Mongju is dead now, but "What about the people who are still alive? They won't live like human beings. That was our cause." He is really letting Seonggye have it. "I will not leave this room alive." On his knees, he begs Seonggye to accept the seal. Seonggye glares at him...but the words seem to have made their impact because he's not saying anything now.
Evening: Everyone is still outside the house, waiting. Inside, JD is still on his knees and Seonggye is still staring at him, silent and clearly deep in thought. Finally he speaks. "Could it be a country for the people if I take the throne?" Uh, that's the whole idea, as JD assures him. "Could you create a country like that...so I can proudly show Poeun when I face him in the other world?" Yes, JD answers. "Will you put your life on the line for that?" JD stares at him....
Finally JD steps outside the front door and looks at everyone. "A new king was just born." Excitement surges through the crowd like a bolt of lightning. Chancellor Bae and Jiran lead cheers for the new king. Seonggye is still inside, staring at that royal seal...recalling Lee In Im's advice (in flashback, from episode 31) to go nowhere near the throne. "It will be hell for you." He reaches his hands out to pick up the seal, finally...but hesitates....
Days later: an elaborate ceremony for Seonggye's coronation as king. Narration tells us that this took place on July 17, 1392 and that "After 475 years, Goryeo faded into history." But this was a remarkable, unprecedented event because it wasn't a military coup. We also learn that Seonggye ordered Goryeo's dynasty names and history be preserved, but that he changed the country's name to Joseon the following year. "A country based on Neo-Confucianism and agriculture."
Some time has passed now; we see the new council in a meeting, discussing some of the changes and new policies that have been established. But there are still several significant problems to be dealt with. One thing at a time, JD advises them; first thing to do is get the state examination process underway so that all of the vacant government positions can be filled with meritorious candidates.
Wow, Bangwon still can't get in to see his father. All this time and Seonggye still hasn't forgiven him. JD advises him to go home, and adds, "Time is medicine." But ironically JD is still treating him coldly. Bangwon still defends himself--"It wasn't the right thing to do, but it was unavoidable"--and certainly he has a fair case for himself, but JD is unmoved. But then...
JD goes into the palace and tells Seonggye it's time to forgive his son and see him again! Well how about that. And we see Seonggye as king for the first time, wearing his royal robes. He's sure not acting like a king though; seems more like a little kid trapped in a place he doesn't want to be. "There isn't anything fun in the palace," he sighs. He's been passing the time eating the great food that the palace cooks make. He did go sit on the throne once--we see this in flashback--and even practiced reciting some kingly lines and orders as he sat there; looked more and more comfortable until the insecurities in his mind got the better of him. Anyway, a eunuch enters now with some bad news. It's the first day of the new state examination process...but nobody showed up to take the exam! Not one person.
So JD goes to investigate. Learns that Lee Saek's scholars are refusing to take it. And the rest couldn't come for some reason that isn't made clear (in the subtitles at least). Let's reschedule it and try again, JD tells Yun Sojong (who apparently is in charge of it). And then asks Nam Eun, "Of the 56 people who were against the revolution, is there anyone who hasn't been punished yet?" As in, only exiled and not flogged to death. Yes, there are some; Nam names a dozen or so, including Lee Saek's son. Oh and one more person: Lee Sungin. "Leave it to Hwang Geojeong," JD tells him. Says that Hwang should be killed if he lets even one of the remaining people live, but if they all die, he gets a government position for himself. We don't know who Hwang is yet, but wow....
Evening: And now in a village that's serving as Lee Sungin's place of exile, we see Sungin brought out of his cottage and flogged. To death. It didn't take 100. The guy overseeing it, obviously this is Hwang Geojeong.
JD goes to the temple and prays for him as he dies. "Goodbye, Doeun."
Remember Bangbeon and Bangseok? Seonggye's two youngest sons, with Lady Kang? They're older now and are visiting their father. Their mom the queen beams about how well they're doing in school. Especially the younger one, Bangseok--he can't be more than nine or ten but he's already rattling off material from Confucius writings. Kid is sharp as a tack. Seonggye is very proud of them...but he's also very concerned because Bangu disappeared after Seonggye's coronation, and nobody can find him.
Hey there he is in the forest! We see him wandering aimlessly, looking absolutely awful. Narration tells us that he served in significant government positions at young ages but apparently left government service; that he was given land after his father's ascension to the throne but chose to live in seclusion, and died of an illness the following year at age 40. So no more oldest son...but that was in the future...
...now back in the present, the question becomes who should the crown prince be if Bangu doesn't turn up again. Does Seonggye chose the oldest--which would be Banggwa--or the most meritorious--which clearly would be Bangwon? JD advises him to go another direction: says what's most important is "a virtuous character. Chose the wisest son to be the crown prince."
Rumors are flying already. They reach Bangwon. Min tells him that "age and merit are just excuses. It's up to who his majesty loves." And Bangwon knows he's not the guy for that right now. "Beg for his forgiveness," she urges him. But he says JD is the problem. He heard what JD said about virtuous character and knows JD said it out of opposition to him. Min urges him to go to the queen and ask for her help, because she'll be just as influential as JD.
So he does. Asks for her help and says it's because he thinks he's better equipped to lead the country in the future than Banggwa would be. She reminds him that it's custom to name the oldest son...but he fires back that until Bangu is found, dead or alive, Banggwa is not the oldest son and custom can't be followed here anyway. So she says she'll think about it. He leaves and goes to Min, who's waiting for him outside, and now we meet someone new: Min's father. He tells them that there's someone from Lee Saek's former faction who wants to help make Bangwon the crown prince, and is passing along good advice. Who? Well we see, in flashback: Ha Ryun! Ask Chancellor Bae for help, he says, and not the queen, because the queen will want one of her own (biological) sons chosen. "It's just human nature."
Well guess what, he's wrong. The queen goes to see her husband and reminds him he has two other sons: her own sons. The young boys we saw earlier. My sons are as good as Banggwa and Bangwon and should be considered, she argues. He thinks they're still too young to be considered, but she argues that he (Seonggye) is still healthy and there's plenty of time to groom and educate them. She really pours on the guilt: "I was devoted to you all my life. I was criticized by influential families for being a Yuan collaborator's mistress." So consider them, she implores him.
Bangwon is summoned to the palace. Seonggye has a job for him...but not the job he wants: "Go to Dongbukmyeon. Tell our ancestors I became the king and change the graves into royal graves." He has tears in his eyes, he's so disappointed. His father tells him that he's chosen the crown prince: Bangseok, the youngest boy. Bangwon is crushed.
Evening: Everyone is still outside the house, waiting. Inside, JD is still on his knees and Seonggye is still staring at him, silent and clearly deep in thought. Finally he speaks. "Could it be a country for the people if I take the throne?" Uh, that's the whole idea, as JD assures him. "Could you create a country like that...so I can proudly show Poeun when I face him in the other world?" Yes, JD answers. "Will you put your life on the line for that?" JD stares at him....
Finally JD steps outside the front door and looks at everyone. "A new king was just born." Excitement surges through the crowd like a bolt of lightning. Chancellor Bae and Jiran lead cheers for the new king. Seonggye is still inside, staring at that royal seal...recalling Lee In Im's advice (in flashback, from episode 31) to go nowhere near the throne. "It will be hell for you." He reaches his hands out to pick up the seal, finally...but hesitates....
Days later: an elaborate ceremony for Seonggye's coronation as king. Narration tells us that this took place on July 17, 1392 and that "After 475 years, Goryeo faded into history." But this was a remarkable, unprecedented event because it wasn't a military coup. We also learn that Seonggye ordered Goryeo's dynasty names and history be preserved, but that he changed the country's name to Joseon the following year. "A country based on Neo-Confucianism and agriculture."
Some time has passed now; we see the new council in a meeting, discussing some of the changes and new policies that have been established. But there are still several significant problems to be dealt with. One thing at a time, JD advises them; first thing to do is get the state examination process underway so that all of the vacant government positions can be filled with meritorious candidates.
Wow, Bangwon still can't get in to see his father. All this time and Seonggye still hasn't forgiven him. JD advises him to go home, and adds, "Time is medicine." But ironically JD is still treating him coldly. Bangwon still defends himself--"It wasn't the right thing to do, but it was unavoidable"--and certainly he has a fair case for himself, but JD is unmoved. But then...
JD goes into the palace and tells Seonggye it's time to forgive his son and see him again! Well how about that. And we see Seonggye as king for the first time, wearing his royal robes. He's sure not acting like a king though; seems more like a little kid trapped in a place he doesn't want to be. "There isn't anything fun in the palace," he sighs. He's been passing the time eating the great food that the palace cooks make. He did go sit on the throne once--we see this in flashback--and even practiced reciting some kingly lines and orders as he sat there; looked more and more comfortable until the insecurities in his mind got the better of him. Anyway, a eunuch enters now with some bad news. It's the first day of the new state examination process...but nobody showed up to take the exam! Not one person.
So JD goes to investigate. Learns that Lee Saek's scholars are refusing to take it. And the rest couldn't come for some reason that isn't made clear (in the subtitles at least). Let's reschedule it and try again, JD tells Yun Sojong (who apparently is in charge of it). And then asks Nam Eun, "Of the 56 people who were against the revolution, is there anyone who hasn't been punished yet?" As in, only exiled and not flogged to death. Yes, there are some; Nam names a dozen or so, including Lee Saek's son. Oh and one more person: Lee Sungin. "Leave it to Hwang Geojeong," JD tells him. Says that Hwang should be killed if he lets even one of the remaining people live, but if they all die, he gets a government position for himself. We don't know who Hwang is yet, but wow....
Evening: And now in a village that's serving as Lee Sungin's place of exile, we see Sungin brought out of his cottage and flogged. To death. It didn't take 100. The guy overseeing it, obviously this is Hwang Geojeong.
JD goes to the temple and prays for him as he dies. "Goodbye, Doeun."
Remember Bangbeon and Bangseok? Seonggye's two youngest sons, with Lady Kang? They're older now and are visiting their father. Their mom the queen beams about how well they're doing in school. Especially the younger one, Bangseok--he can't be more than nine or ten but he's already rattling off material from Confucius writings. Kid is sharp as a tack. Seonggye is very proud of them...but he's also very concerned because Bangu disappeared after Seonggye's coronation, and nobody can find him.
Hey there he is in the forest! We see him wandering aimlessly, looking absolutely awful. Narration tells us that he served in significant government positions at young ages but apparently left government service; that he was given land after his father's ascension to the throne but chose to live in seclusion, and died of an illness the following year at age 40. So no more oldest son...but that was in the future...
...now back in the present, the question becomes who should the crown prince be if Bangu doesn't turn up again. Does Seonggye chose the oldest--which would be Banggwa--or the most meritorious--which clearly would be Bangwon? JD advises him to go another direction: says what's most important is "a virtuous character. Chose the wisest son to be the crown prince."
Rumors are flying already. They reach Bangwon. Min tells him that "age and merit are just excuses. It's up to who his majesty loves." And Bangwon knows he's not the guy for that right now. "Beg for his forgiveness," she urges him. But he says JD is the problem. He heard what JD said about virtuous character and knows JD said it out of opposition to him. Min urges him to go to the queen and ask for her help, because she'll be just as influential as JD.
So he does. Asks for her help and says it's because he thinks he's better equipped to lead the country in the future than Banggwa would be. She reminds him that it's custom to name the oldest son...but he fires back that until Bangu is found, dead or alive, Banggwa is not the oldest son and custom can't be followed here anyway. So she says she'll think about it. He leaves and goes to Min, who's waiting for him outside, and now we meet someone new: Min's father. He tells them that there's someone from Lee Saek's former faction who wants to help make Bangwon the crown prince, and is passing along good advice. Who? Well we see, in flashback: Ha Ryun! Ask Chancellor Bae for help, he says, and not the queen, because the queen will want one of her own (biological) sons chosen. "It's just human nature."
Well guess what, he's wrong. The queen goes to see her husband and reminds him he has two other sons: her own sons. The young boys we saw earlier. My sons are as good as Banggwa and Bangwon and should be considered, she argues. He thinks they're still too young to be considered, but she argues that he (Seonggye) is still healthy and there's plenty of time to groom and educate them. She really pours on the guilt: "I was devoted to you all my life. I was criticized by influential families for being a Yuan collaborator's mistress." So consider them, she implores him.
Bangwon is summoned to the palace. Seonggye has a job for him...but not the job he wants: "Go to Dongbukmyeon. Tell our ancestors I became the king and change the graves into royal graves." He has tears in his eyes, he's so disappointed. His father tells him that he's chosen the crown prince: Bangseok, the youngest boy. Bangwon is crushed.
