Post by ajk on Jul 29, 2017 14:23:40 GMT -5
Much of this episode was outstanding--absolutely top-notch. Thinking mainly of the confrontation scenes at the Jaju and Kwiju gates. We're getting what apparently is the basic real history rather than distortions, and of course the surrender story is very compelling right now...plus the human-drama side of it feels very believable and authentic, the way the Koryo side is struggling with it all. Being strong on both sides, you don't often get that. Not all of the episode was as good as those scenes were but overall it was terrific.
Burning Heungwang Temple to make a statement, I'm surprised Sartai went along with that because it's not necessarily a good idea. You destroy a treasured national icon, you risk galvanizing the populace and making things much tougher on yourself. He probably didn't entirely realize how important it was to the nation. I did wish we had seen the ordinary-citizen reaction to it; that's one thing the series could use a little bit more of (although the story right now deals with battles so it's excusable).
"Never mind wine and grub. I want to hear your decision. What's your answer?" Another good scene with Tanggu. He raises his voice when he needs to do it but he's not a hothead at all. Continuing to be an interesting guy.
"Surrender is surrender, but you want to save face, is that it?" Sartai is becoming an interesting character too; showed political insight in that scene. I like that the series is showing some of these Mongol leaders as something other than insane warmongers. They didn't build the largest empire in history by being lunatics, at least not entirely. Some of their tactics were abhorrent--we dealt with that last time--but they must have had some shrewd leadership and we're seeing that suggested in these episodes.
"Oh dear, it's been ten years, where has he been?" Oh dear it's been ten years, where is the continuity? Selective aging going on in the cast; some people look like ten years has passed and others don't. Seems to happen fairly often in these series and it can be a needless distraction.
Dae Jipsung: "We haven't even used my strategy yet." Well talk about a silver lining....
"In retrospect, I realize you did nothing wrong. But there is such a thing as the wrong place at the wrong time." Okay, and a good leader should make sure that none of his people get hurt from that--which Choe U did not. Still most of the Choe U/KJ scene was very good. Especially Choe acknowledging KJ's talents and then confessing that he actually entertained the idea of letting Songi marry him. That was a huge surprise. But then the twist it took..."I need a man to help arrange my affairs, run some errands." Seriously? That's what Choe U thinks is the best use for KJ--as a glorified valet? Didn't like this at all and I don't believe Choe would ever do it. Even if he realizes KJ is blameless for Songi's behavior before she married Yakson, I doubt he'd want KJ around where she'd see him even now after years have passed. And even if that wasn't an issue with him, somebody with KJ's ability to observe and report, you want somebody like that out where those skills matter. I hope this doesn't turn into just some stupid excuse to have KJ around more. Right now it's not making any sense.
"The country is in danger, envoys surrendering to our enemies, and I sit in front of a mirror putting on makeup." Oh okay, good, you noticed. Actually for a few minutes there in the kitchen you were thinking of something besides yourself. What happened, you hit your head on a beam? Oh well, no matter, when you saw KJ you went right back to self-absorbed mode. Too bad; thought there was a glimmer of hope.
Gee I thought this might be the first episode without any historical narration. But finally at 58:46 we got some:
p.s. I had never heard of Mirror for the Eastern Kingdom but learned that it's the first written history of Korea. It was finished in 1451, which is a year after King Sejong died.
Burning Heungwang Temple to make a statement, I'm surprised Sartai went along with that because it's not necessarily a good idea. You destroy a treasured national icon, you risk galvanizing the populace and making things much tougher on yourself. He probably didn't entirely realize how important it was to the nation. I did wish we had seen the ordinary-citizen reaction to it; that's one thing the series could use a little bit more of (although the story right now deals with battles so it's excusable).
"Never mind wine and grub. I want to hear your decision. What's your answer?" Another good scene with Tanggu. He raises his voice when he needs to do it but he's not a hothead at all. Continuing to be an interesting guy.
"Surrender is surrender, but you want to save face, is that it?" Sartai is becoming an interesting character too; showed political insight in that scene. I like that the series is showing some of these Mongol leaders as something other than insane warmongers. They didn't build the largest empire in history by being lunatics, at least not entirely. Some of their tactics were abhorrent--we dealt with that last time--but they must have had some shrewd leadership and we're seeing that suggested in these episodes.
"Oh dear, it's been ten years, where has he been?" Oh dear it's been ten years, where is the continuity? Selective aging going on in the cast; some people look like ten years has passed and others don't. Seems to happen fairly often in these series and it can be a needless distraction.
Dae Jipsung: "We haven't even used my strategy yet." Well talk about a silver lining....
"In retrospect, I realize you did nothing wrong. But there is such a thing as the wrong place at the wrong time." Okay, and a good leader should make sure that none of his people get hurt from that--which Choe U did not. Still most of the Choe U/KJ scene was very good. Especially Choe acknowledging KJ's talents and then confessing that he actually entertained the idea of letting Songi marry him. That was a huge surprise. But then the twist it took..."I need a man to help arrange my affairs, run some errands." Seriously? That's what Choe U thinks is the best use for KJ--as a glorified valet? Didn't like this at all and I don't believe Choe would ever do it. Even if he realizes KJ is blameless for Songi's behavior before she married Yakson, I doubt he'd want KJ around where she'd see him even now after years have passed. And even if that wasn't an issue with him, somebody with KJ's ability to observe and report, you want somebody like that out where those skills matter. I hope this doesn't turn into just some stupid excuse to have KJ around more. Right now it's not making any sense.
"The country is in danger, envoys surrendering to our enemies, and I sit in front of a mirror putting on makeup." Oh okay, good, you noticed. Actually for a few minutes there in the kitchen you were thinking of something besides yourself. What happened, you hit your head on a beam? Oh well, no matter, when you saw KJ you went right back to self-absorbed mode. Too bad; thought there was a glimmer of hope.
Gee I thought this might be the first episode without any historical narration. But finally at 58:46 we got some:
Impregnable Fort Kwiju. In retrospect, a defeat for the Mongols, a decisive victory for Koryo. As Joseon author and statesman So Kojong wrote in Mirror for the Eastern Kingdom, "Alas, the lonely fortress. Standing weak and alone, a single mountain before the might of the barbarians of the East. Since the battle of Fort Ansi in the days of Koguryo, there have been no greater heroes than Pak So and Kim Kyongson." And so by order of the king, the gates of Fort Kwiju were opened.Things got a little overly melodramatic there at the end, in Kyongson's answer to Sartai...but that kind of stuff will play real well with the domestic audience so it's almost to be expected. And that may be nitpicking a little...these last few episodes have been wonderful and a real treat to watch.
p.s. I had never heard of Mirror for the Eastern Kingdom but learned that it's the first written history of Korea. It was finished in 1451, which is a year after King Sejong died.