Post by ajk on Feb 25, 2018 17:35:09 GMT -5
My goodness the character roster needed a ton of work after this one. So many deaths and promotions, from emperor all the way down to kitchen cook. Not unprecedented for such a late episode but unusual.
Anyway, I liked the second half of this episode much more than the first half. The first half had that issue hanging over it that I mentioned last time, about it not making sense that the Personal Guards would pose any real threat. “The problem is Choe Yangbaek’s guardsmen...they are no ordinary soldiers.” Okay maybe they are, but how many of them can there possibly be? It’s just the overlord’s guard unit. Even if it’s a big one, it can’t be anywhere near as big as the rest of the Guard Corps and the regular army. Especially after KJ followed up with “Most of his officers are fed up with the overlord.” Turning this into a big dramatic suspenseful situation, it had a tempest-in-a-teapot feel to it.
On the other hand, at least it was over quickly and Choe Yangbaek was completely out-thought and outmaneuvered almost immediately, and most of the personal guards did surrender like we were told they would.
Maybe the reason they pumped up the whole thing was to give a more fitting end to Choe Yangbaek’s life. But I was sort of disappointed in how abrupt his death felt. Such an important character throughout the whole series but there was none of the flashbacking or recapping that someone like him usually gets in a historical. Seems like he deserved a little better.
And that stupid duel between Im Yon and Wonbal, two grown men who act like little children, we didn’t need that. Okay yes Wonbal did actually die at this time, but it was a dumb scene. He’s a combat instructor at the war ministry but he charges right in and leaves his throat completely unguarded and gets killed with one swing? Blecch!! One of the weaker moments in the entire series.
Oh well...the second half was much more interesting; finally we’re seeing KJ as the top guy. The first two passages of narrated text:
How could you not enjoy seeing Hong Bokwon get executed. Had to love it. The narrated text about it:
Speaking of executions, no more Jung Ho Keun. Rats! Oh well you knew it was coming, his characters usually do get executed. Was a wonderful surprise for him to turn up in this series.
So now we have a whopping three episodes to see KJ as the top guy. Ugh. Already the story is feeling rushed, because we saw nothing about Choe Ui’s short reign as overlord-- and that was a mistake because when he was hauled off to be executed, nothing had been shown to justify the execution. All we saw was a scared kid and he ended up looking like an innocent victim of guilt by association. Apparently there’s documentation of things that he did as overlord, and some of it is ugly enough that he earned his execution. Even half an episode about his reign would have been very helpful to the storyline. Too bad the series couldn’t get a few more episodes at the end.
Anyway, I liked the second half of this episode much more than the first half. The first half had that issue hanging over it that I mentioned last time, about it not making sense that the Personal Guards would pose any real threat. “The problem is Choe Yangbaek’s guardsmen...they are no ordinary soldiers.” Okay maybe they are, but how many of them can there possibly be? It’s just the overlord’s guard unit. Even if it’s a big one, it can’t be anywhere near as big as the rest of the Guard Corps and the regular army. Especially after KJ followed up with “Most of his officers are fed up with the overlord.” Turning this into a big dramatic suspenseful situation, it had a tempest-in-a-teapot feel to it.
On the other hand, at least it was over quickly and Choe Yangbaek was completely out-thought and outmaneuvered almost immediately, and most of the personal guards did surrender like we were told they would.
Maybe the reason they pumped up the whole thing was to give a more fitting end to Choe Yangbaek’s life. But I was sort of disappointed in how abrupt his death felt. Such an important character throughout the whole series but there was none of the flashbacking or recapping that someone like him usually gets in a historical. Seems like he deserved a little better.
And that stupid duel between Im Yon and Wonbal, two grown men who act like little children, we didn’t need that. Okay yes Wonbal did actually die at this time, but it was a dumb scene. He’s a combat instructor at the war ministry but he charges right in and leaves his throat completely unguarded and gets killed with one swing? Blecch!! One of the weaker moments in the entire series.
Oh well...the second half was much more interesting; finally we’re seeing KJ as the top guy. The first two passages of narrated text:
Dawn of March 26th, 1258. After four generations, the military regime founded by Choe Chungheon was brought down by a slave from the House of Choe. It had stood for over 63 years. The old Guard Corps was disbanded, and power was restored to the monarchy. But that was only for appearances. Kim Jun continued the old mitlitary regime and, indeed, strengthened it.
After Kim Jun disbanded the Guard Corps, Kojong promoted Yu Kyong. Kim Jun, Pak Songbi, Yi Kongju, Im Yon, Pak Hisil and Yi Yonso all were given titles. Kim Jun was appointed grand general and head of military affairs and chancellor of the second rank. In essence, the prime minister. Kojong felt the disbanding of the Corps was a new day for the throne. So the two had different goals in mind.The morning after the conflict, those Chinese-language banners that were being displayed, it’s too bad they weren’t subtitled so we knew what they said. I’m guessing the Korean audience didn’t know what they said either.
How could you not enjoy seeing Hong Bokwon get executed. Had to love it. The narrated text about it:
Hong Bokwon died the same year as Kim Jun’s coup. Hong and the Duke of Yongnyeong were charged with the Koryo prisoners. Their competition led to harsh words. Seing this, the duke’s wife, a Mongol princess, told the Khan. Hong was put to death as a traitor for insulting the royal family. So ended the life of the worst traitor of the age.Not sure what that meant about a competition over Koryo prisoners...but who cares? Give the people what they want! Actually it’s kind of surprising that Hong would miscalculate so badly when he presumably knew to tread lightly because of the duke’s wife. Or maybe she just stabbed him in the back out of her own ambition for her husband, who knows.
Speaking of executions, no more Jung Ho Keun. Rats! Oh well you knew it was coming, his characters usually do get executed. Was a wonderful surprise for him to turn up in this series.
So now we have a whopping three episodes to see KJ as the top guy. Ugh. Already the story is feeling rushed, because we saw nothing about Choe Ui’s short reign as overlord-- and that was a mistake because when he was hauled off to be executed, nothing had been shown to justify the execution. All we saw was a scared kid and he ended up looking like an innocent victim of guilt by association. Apparently there’s documentation of things that he did as overlord, and some of it is ugly enough that he earned his execution. Even half an episode about his reign would have been very helpful to the storyline. Too bad the series couldn’t get a few more episodes at the end.