Post by ajk on Jul 17, 2014 12:08:03 GMT -5
(Note: This thread is only for Episode 50. I'll start a "final thoughts" thread for the entire series in a day or two.)
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Bangwon and his men head for the Three Armies Headquarters and attack the weapons storage to better arm themselves. Eventually they get control of the place.
Seonggye is still in his office, sick and laying on the floor. He's told there's been an attack on the palace. In a weak voice he orders the royal guards deployed and the regular army notified. He immediately knows who's responsible. Back outside, it looks bad for the rebels because the royal guards have arrived and outnumber them...but then Ha Ryun arrives with the troops he's led here from Chungcheong Province. And the tide turns.
Later, Bangwon and his allies discuss their plans. They've already contacted various regional armies around the country and think they'll have lots of support. "They hate Jeong Dojeon. They won't miss this opportunity." But they know that unless they find JD their whole operation is in danger.
JD's party is continuing. We learn that this is the home of Nam Eun's concubine. (She's not there, though.)
Min's two brothers are at JD's house with a large group of their soldiers. JD isn't home and they have a sword at his wife's throat and want to know where he is. She has no clue...but fortunately word arrives that he's been found. Just in time, maybe.
As the party winds down, JD surprises us by telling Nam Eun that if Ming persists, he will give in and go there. If it helps achieve the cause, he's decided, "This old man will have to go to Ming and die." But then there's noise in the distance...some sort of commotion. More of Bangwon's forces. The concubine's house does have guards around it to protect the important guests, but the guards are being attacked. They're quickly defeated. Partygoers start to emerge from inside and run away under cover of the battle and the darkness, but some are rounded up. Nam Eun gets away, but Sim Hyosaeng doesn't. He's brought before Bangwon, who promptly takes out his sword and kills him. One person didn't run, though: JD. Bangwon goes inside, finds him sitting calmly and having a drink.
The king is told about what's just happened. The rage he feels gives him a burst of energy and now he's shouting and trying to sit up.
Min and her father go to Jo Jun and tell her what was done and why they did it. Jo doesn't buy the "why"; says it's treason however it's rationalized. "We'll let that go this time," Min snaps back, tolerating no disagreement now that she holds the cards. Tells him she believes the Supreme Council will support her husband's actions and "that 's why you're still alive." Hold a council meeting as soon as possible to make it official, she tells him.
Next day: JD is being held at Bangwon's house. JD's second and third sons Yeong and Ju have rounded up military forces to try to rescue their father, but their attack fails and both sons are killed.
Inside the house: Bangwon is pleased to tell JD that his sons are dead. "That's life." JD is completely calm and unrattled; says blames himself, realizing that he let his guard down, and that he should have killed Bangwon when he had the chance. But he refuses to give Bangwon the satisfaction of seeing any pain or emotion. He knows that the cause will not be fully achieved now, but tells Bangwon "You didn't ruin the cause. I did. Kill me."
Lee Jiran's house: Min pays him a visit too, preceded by more of Bangwon's men pointing swords at him. She tells him that JD's other allies are being killed but you're still alive because her husband "wants to protect His Majesty and you. Please help him." Outside the house, look who shows up: Nam Eun. He looks awful. Apparently he's been running for his life since last night, but he and three other men have shown up at Jiran's front door wielding swords and trying to get in to see him. Bad timing, what with Bangwon's soldiers inside the yard. They come streaming out; Nam and the other three fight bravely but soon all four are dead.
Seonggye is screaming for his sword, half-delirious. "They have Sambong! Bangwon, that wretch. I'm going to kill him myself! I have to save Sambong!"
JD is calmly sitting at the end of a long table in Bangwon's house. Bangwon enters the room and sits down at the other end. "I'll be honest. I truly respected you." But..."You should have made me the crown prince," he says with frustration. Accuses him of wanting to "own the country and be the king." JD won't even bother arguing about that, it's so absurd. Then Bangwon actually asks JD to join him and work for him. Amazingly, JD doesn't laugh...and more amazingly, Bangwon tells him he'll even accept everything else JD is trying to achieve. "The attack on Yodong, no private armies, neo-Confucianism, farmers as soldiers, people-oriented theories and everything else you claim. I will accept all that, just so you give up a prime minister-based rule." No deal, JD says; the strong prime minister is central to a people-oriented society. "A country ruled by a prime minister is better and safer for the people," he insists, and a king is "a tool who exists for the people." Well, Bangwon never agreed with that first part, and he really, really does not like the second part. So at that he has two of his men drag JD outside...
...onto his front yard. The dead bodies of JD's allies have been piled up there. JD is forced to kneel and Bangwon approaches him. "I will make sure your corpse can't even be found. I'm going to find everything connected to you and destroy it." Tells him that Joseon is going to "revere Jeong Mongju and I will make you into a traitor." JD listens...and starts to laugh. I pursued the cause for thirty years, he says with bitter irony, and one night of drinking and enjoyment ruined it all. But then he glares at Bangwon. "Remember this: As long as the people are alive, the people-oriented cause will continue." And he closes his eyes, knowing those will be his last words. Bangwon draws his sword ...and slashes. Lots of blood from the mouth...did we really need to see so much...and it's over. As he dies, JD hallucinates that Mongju approaches him, takes his hand with a smile, and tells him "you did what you could" (presumably he's here to guide JD into the afterlife). From the pure joy on his face over Mongju's kind reception, well, at least he died with a happy thought.
Bangwon goes right to the palace, where Ha Ryun tells him that the royal guards have surrendered and all that's left to do is get the council's approval for what Bangwon has done. Then Jo Jun emerges from inside...and kneels before Bangwon. "I will call a council meeting. Tell me what to do." Wow. Then the crown prince Bangseok is physically dragged out from inside, and is killed at Bangwon's order. Bangwon goes inside, still carrying his sword...
..."Father, how have you been?", he says nonchalantly. Seonggye demands to know what happened to JD. Bangwon proudly shows him the bloody sword. "He begged for his life. He cried when he begged for his life. It's too bad you couldn't see that." Of course Seonggye knows better than that...he crawls over to his son (he's still on the floor resting from his illness) and gently grabs the blade of the sword, putting JD's blood on his hands. "Don't be too angry," Bangwon says smugly. "This is all because of you. You shouldn't have made an immature little boy the crown prince. You asked for all this." And now Seonggye realizes it. "I should have killed you when I made Bangseok the crown price." The words nearly bring tears to his son's eyes, even now. Seonggye says that sitting on the throne, everyone seems like a possible enemy. "But Sambong was different. He didn't have any greed in his eyes. That's why I'm still alive." And tells his son once again that he's not fit to be a king. "If you sit on the throne, you will cover the world with blood." So just to spite him, Bangwon goes over and sits in his father's chair. "Don't I look like a king?" They trade angry words, and they've both shaking with anger at this point, but Bangwon knows he's won so it's all beside the point. He gets up and walks out, leaving his father sitting on the floor staring at JD's blood on his hands. We see flashbacks of significant moments between Seonggye and JD...which leave the king muttering "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sambong." Then he remembers Lee In Im telling him "if you don't want to be unhappy, don't even look at the throne. It will be hell for you." Realizing that In Im was right, he stands up in a rage, overturns his office table, takes his sword and starts hacking up everything he can reach. But he's weak, of course, and quickly he ends up slumping down into his chair.
Narration tells us that these events, of August 26 and 27, 1398, are known as the First Strife of Princes. Two years later, in what's known as the Second Strife of Princes, Bangwon was formally named crown prince, and became king several months later. (Note: during this narration we see prince Bangbeon laying apparently dead next to his brother; this contradicts what we saw earlier...and is historically correct, because Bangbeon was indeed killed.)
Now all of the bodies of JD's allies have been put out on the street to be claimed. Muhak and other priests are saying prayers over them. JD's wife comes to claim his body...but it isn't there. Bangwon was true to his word. We see two of his men carrying the body on a stretcher into the countryside; they unceremoniously dump it down a hillside, never to be found.
A long narrated recap of JD's life, as we revisit key moments from throughout the series. "Lee Bangwon turned him into a traitor and denigrated all of his work, but he also accepted many of his policies." His reputation, we learn, wasn't restored until nearly 500 years later during the reign of King Gojong. He "did not despair during troubled times" but persevered and was the foundation of a new country. "He is a great revolutionary and politician in Korean history."
We leave with a scene of JD addressing troops at the Three Armies Headquarters as he supervises their training. He looks upwards...
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Bangwon and his men head for the Three Armies Headquarters and attack the weapons storage to better arm themselves. Eventually they get control of the place.
Seonggye is still in his office, sick and laying on the floor. He's told there's been an attack on the palace. In a weak voice he orders the royal guards deployed and the regular army notified. He immediately knows who's responsible. Back outside, it looks bad for the rebels because the royal guards have arrived and outnumber them...but then Ha Ryun arrives with the troops he's led here from Chungcheong Province. And the tide turns.
Later, Bangwon and his allies discuss their plans. They've already contacted various regional armies around the country and think they'll have lots of support. "They hate Jeong Dojeon. They won't miss this opportunity." But they know that unless they find JD their whole operation is in danger.
JD's party is continuing. We learn that this is the home of Nam Eun's concubine. (She's not there, though.)
Min's two brothers are at JD's house with a large group of their soldiers. JD isn't home and they have a sword at his wife's throat and want to know where he is. She has no clue...but fortunately word arrives that he's been found. Just in time, maybe.
As the party winds down, JD surprises us by telling Nam Eun that if Ming persists, he will give in and go there. If it helps achieve the cause, he's decided, "This old man will have to go to Ming and die." But then there's noise in the distance...some sort of commotion. More of Bangwon's forces. The concubine's house does have guards around it to protect the important guests, but the guards are being attacked. They're quickly defeated. Partygoers start to emerge from inside and run away under cover of the battle and the darkness, but some are rounded up. Nam Eun gets away, but Sim Hyosaeng doesn't. He's brought before Bangwon, who promptly takes out his sword and kills him. One person didn't run, though: JD. Bangwon goes inside, finds him sitting calmly and having a drink.
The king is told about what's just happened. The rage he feels gives him a burst of energy and now he's shouting and trying to sit up.
Min and her father go to Jo Jun and tell her what was done and why they did it. Jo doesn't buy the "why"; says it's treason however it's rationalized. "We'll let that go this time," Min snaps back, tolerating no disagreement now that she holds the cards. Tells him she believes the Supreme Council will support her husband's actions and "that 's why you're still alive." Hold a council meeting as soon as possible to make it official, she tells him.
Next day: JD is being held at Bangwon's house. JD's second and third sons Yeong and Ju have rounded up military forces to try to rescue their father, but their attack fails and both sons are killed.
Inside the house: Bangwon is pleased to tell JD that his sons are dead. "That's life." JD is completely calm and unrattled; says blames himself, realizing that he let his guard down, and that he should have killed Bangwon when he had the chance. But he refuses to give Bangwon the satisfaction of seeing any pain or emotion. He knows that the cause will not be fully achieved now, but tells Bangwon "You didn't ruin the cause. I did. Kill me."
Lee Jiran's house: Min pays him a visit too, preceded by more of Bangwon's men pointing swords at him. She tells him that JD's other allies are being killed but you're still alive because her husband "wants to protect His Majesty and you. Please help him." Outside the house, look who shows up: Nam Eun. He looks awful. Apparently he's been running for his life since last night, but he and three other men have shown up at Jiran's front door wielding swords and trying to get in to see him. Bad timing, what with Bangwon's soldiers inside the yard. They come streaming out; Nam and the other three fight bravely but soon all four are dead.
Seonggye is screaming for his sword, half-delirious. "They have Sambong! Bangwon, that wretch. I'm going to kill him myself! I have to save Sambong!"
JD is calmly sitting at the end of a long table in Bangwon's house. Bangwon enters the room and sits down at the other end. "I'll be honest. I truly respected you." But..."You should have made me the crown prince," he says with frustration. Accuses him of wanting to "own the country and be the king." JD won't even bother arguing about that, it's so absurd. Then Bangwon actually asks JD to join him and work for him. Amazingly, JD doesn't laugh...and more amazingly, Bangwon tells him he'll even accept everything else JD is trying to achieve. "The attack on Yodong, no private armies, neo-Confucianism, farmers as soldiers, people-oriented theories and everything else you claim. I will accept all that, just so you give up a prime minister-based rule." No deal, JD says; the strong prime minister is central to a people-oriented society. "A country ruled by a prime minister is better and safer for the people," he insists, and a king is "a tool who exists for the people." Well, Bangwon never agreed with that first part, and he really, really does not like the second part. So at that he has two of his men drag JD outside...
...onto his front yard. The dead bodies of JD's allies have been piled up there. JD is forced to kneel and Bangwon approaches him. "I will make sure your corpse can't even be found. I'm going to find everything connected to you and destroy it." Tells him that Joseon is going to "revere Jeong Mongju and I will make you into a traitor." JD listens...and starts to laugh. I pursued the cause for thirty years, he says with bitter irony, and one night of drinking and enjoyment ruined it all. But then he glares at Bangwon. "Remember this: As long as the people are alive, the people-oriented cause will continue." And he closes his eyes, knowing those will be his last words. Bangwon draws his sword ...and slashes. Lots of blood from the mouth...did we really need to see so much...and it's over. As he dies, JD hallucinates that Mongju approaches him, takes his hand with a smile, and tells him "you did what you could" (presumably he's here to guide JD into the afterlife). From the pure joy on his face over Mongju's kind reception, well, at least he died with a happy thought.
Bangwon goes right to the palace, where Ha Ryun tells him that the royal guards have surrendered and all that's left to do is get the council's approval for what Bangwon has done. Then Jo Jun emerges from inside...and kneels before Bangwon. "I will call a council meeting. Tell me what to do." Wow. Then the crown prince Bangseok is physically dragged out from inside, and is killed at Bangwon's order. Bangwon goes inside, still carrying his sword...
..."Father, how have you been?", he says nonchalantly. Seonggye demands to know what happened to JD. Bangwon proudly shows him the bloody sword. "He begged for his life. He cried when he begged for his life. It's too bad you couldn't see that." Of course Seonggye knows better than that...he crawls over to his son (he's still on the floor resting from his illness) and gently grabs the blade of the sword, putting JD's blood on his hands. "Don't be too angry," Bangwon says smugly. "This is all because of you. You shouldn't have made an immature little boy the crown prince. You asked for all this." And now Seonggye realizes it. "I should have killed you when I made Bangseok the crown price." The words nearly bring tears to his son's eyes, even now. Seonggye says that sitting on the throne, everyone seems like a possible enemy. "But Sambong was different. He didn't have any greed in his eyes. That's why I'm still alive." And tells his son once again that he's not fit to be a king. "If you sit on the throne, you will cover the world with blood." So just to spite him, Bangwon goes over and sits in his father's chair. "Don't I look like a king?" They trade angry words, and they've both shaking with anger at this point, but Bangwon knows he's won so it's all beside the point. He gets up and walks out, leaving his father sitting on the floor staring at JD's blood on his hands. We see flashbacks of significant moments between Seonggye and JD...which leave the king muttering "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sambong." Then he remembers Lee In Im telling him "if you don't want to be unhappy, don't even look at the throne. It will be hell for you." Realizing that In Im was right, he stands up in a rage, overturns his office table, takes his sword and starts hacking up everything he can reach. But he's weak, of course, and quickly he ends up slumping down into his chair.
Narration tells us that these events, of August 26 and 27, 1398, are known as the First Strife of Princes. Two years later, in what's known as the Second Strife of Princes, Bangwon was formally named crown prince, and became king several months later. (Note: during this narration we see prince Bangbeon laying apparently dead next to his brother; this contradicts what we saw earlier...and is historically correct, because Bangbeon was indeed killed.)
Now all of the bodies of JD's allies have been put out on the street to be claimed. Muhak and other priests are saying prayers over them. JD's wife comes to claim his body...but it isn't there. Bangwon was true to his word. We see two of his men carrying the body on a stretcher into the countryside; they unceremoniously dump it down a hillside, never to be found.
A long narrated recap of JD's life, as we revisit key moments from throughout the series. "Lee Bangwon turned him into a traitor and denigrated all of his work, but he also accepted many of his policies." His reputation, we learn, wasn't restored until nearly 500 years later during the reign of King Gojong. He "did not despair during troubled times" but persevered and was the foundation of a new country. "He is a great revolutionary and politician in Korean history."
We leave with a scene of JD addressing troops at the Three Armies Headquarters as he supervises their training. He looks upwards...
"That is the sky of Joseon. It wasn't the swords of an army of a million that opened up that sky. It was a dream. It was hope that a better world could be possible. Proud people of the Thee Kingdoms: Let's dream again. Under that blue and high sky and on this beautiful land, let's carry out people-oriented theories and create a world where everyone is a saint. I, Jeong Dojeon, order you: Eliminate your fear! Eliminate cynicism, despair and idleness. Have an impossible dream in your heart. That is your cause. That is the true cause."
THE END
