Post by ajk on Mar 3, 2018 2:09:05 GMT -5
This was one of my favorite episodes. Partly because it had more historical content than any episode so far (I think) and I learned some new things. And partly because we’re seeing KJ as the top guy now, and now that he’s got the job he’s not handling it well at all. It looks like these writers are going to do with KJ what we saw done with Cheonchu in Iron Empress: put a more positive spin on the historical figure and show him failing and becoming unpopular because of misguided concern for the country and not because of any personal selfishness or ego or narcissism. I’d prefer the full, honest truth about him, of course, but this series never went in that direction. At least they’re not making a hero out of him in the end so give them credit for that much.
It got off to an irritating start, with the whining and the moaning and the crying at a sick person’s bedside. I just don’t get it. Nobody with any sense would behave that way. But it’s a hardcore staple of historical dramas. Or am I wrong—is there reason to think this is actually how they behaved back then?
It really is too bad that we only have three episodes to deal with KJ as overlord because the psychology of the character could make for a lot of interesting material. He’s the leader now but he’s still acting like a follower—of Choe U—rather than assessing the new situation and charting his own course. And he’s slipping into Choe U’s hard-line mentality (even recalling what Choe said when Choe ordered Songi poisoned) and forgetting his own advice to Choe Hang about not making enemies and alienating everyone around him. If there were more time, a lot of flashbacks could be worked into the story and be very effective. The way the writers have set this up is clever; wish they were able to flesh it out more.
Here’s the first narrated text:
But yecch, more Mongol evil laughter. Another thing I just don’t get. It’s not a cartoon show.
“Im Yon...you’ve become quite a talker.” Wow, it was like the wind just suddenly changed direction. You could feel the sudden chill.
A lot of great stuff from Pak Songbi expressing the position opposite KJ’s: “We’ve done all we can do. The Mongols granted His Majesty’s requests because of us. Thirty years of lethal resistance changed their stance. We did our bit. We can’t beat them. They’ve taken the first step; now its up to us.”
But we also got some explanation from KJ: “People don’t think about tomorrow, not on full bellies. There’s no such thing as peace. Not for smaller countries.” And that was a valid point too, at least for that small country at that time.
The second narrated text:
They have to stop ending episodes with the K-pop, even if it’s only for the closing credits. It totally destroys the gravity and meaning of the ends of these episodes. It’s just awful.
This may have been the most KBS-like episode of the series so far. I hope the final two are as good as this one was.
It got off to an irritating start, with the whining and the moaning and the crying at a sick person’s bedside. I just don’t get it. Nobody with any sense would behave that way. But it’s a hardcore staple of historical dramas. Or am I wrong—is there reason to think this is actually how they behaved back then?
It really is too bad that we only have three episodes to deal with KJ as overlord because the psychology of the character could make for a lot of interesting material. He’s the leader now but he’s still acting like a follower—of Choe U—rather than assessing the new situation and charting his own course. And he’s slipping into Choe U’s hard-line mentality (even recalling what Choe said when Choe ordered Songi poisoned) and forgetting his own advice to Choe Hang about not making enemies and alienating everyone around him. If there were more time, a lot of flashbacks could be worked into the story and be very effective. The way the writers have set this up is clever; wish they were able to flesh it out more.
Here’s the first narrated text:
Kublai. The fifth great khan and founder of the Yuan Dynasty. At the time he was in a succession war with his younger brother, Ariq Boke. But the Crown Prince bowed to him as the Mongol emperor. This pleased Kublai. He saw it as a sign. The recalcitrant Koryo’s crown prince sought him out as emperor. Tus the future emperor of Koryo’s goodwill policy dealt Kim Jun a fatal political blow.“Well the Tang Dynasty had the same problem with Koguryeo back in the day.” Getting to see Kublai Khan was a great surprise. And I liked how they portrayed him—not as a power-hungry enemy lunatic but as sort of insightful and realistic. Hopefully we see a little more of him in the final two episodes.
But yecch, more Mongol evil laughter. Another thing I just don’t get. It’s not a cartoon show.
“Im Yon...you’ve become quite a talker.” Wow, it was like the wind just suddenly changed direction. You could feel the sudden chill.
A lot of great stuff from Pak Songbi expressing the position opposite KJ’s: “We’ve done all we can do. The Mongols granted His Majesty’s requests because of us. Thirty years of lethal resistance changed their stance. We did our bit. We can’t beat them. They’ve taken the first step; now its up to us.”
But we also got some explanation from KJ: “People don’t think about tomorrow, not on full bellies. There’s no such thing as peace. Not for smaller countries.” And that was a valid point too, at least for that small country at that time.
The second narrated text:
At long last, Kim Jun was appointed Director General and Prime Minister. Further, his title of Marquis of Haeyang was a position reserved for the royal family. He held position and power equal to that of Choe Chungheon and Choe U. In fact, all this could have been his after the coup. In light of his humble beginning and holding the seventh rank, history records show that it would have been difficult for him to rise so quickly. Still, Kim Jun was the first slave in the history of Koryo to rise so high.I didn’t understand the part of this about possibly what we’ve seen being inaccurate. Is there a mistranslation?
They have to stop ending episodes with the K-pop, even if it’s only for the closing credits. It totally destroys the gravity and meaning of the ends of these episodes. It’s just awful.
This may have been the most KBS-like episode of the series so far. I hope the final two are as good as this one was.