Post by ajk on Oct 13, 2018 12:12:21 GMT -5
Whenever there’s a buildup to a big battle in a series I can’t help but think of the IYSS episode that preceded the Myeongryang battle. That’s the gold standard, and nothing I’ve seen since then has even approached it. This episode, it wasn’t bad and actually it’s an interesting situation the writers have set up, but a lot of the life was drained out of it by the relationship-y silliness. It was bad enough in the last episode with Hongran leaving her people in their time of distress just to get a glimpse of Yeohwa. But in this one it went too far. Yeohwa releasing enemy prisoners, and committing treason just to send a message to Yeogu? And Hae Geon actually sneaking into the bedroom undetected—twice—to take and replace the message? Yecch. And just the idea that two complete strangers would be able to bribe their way into becoming high-level attendants serving an important government meeting, it was just casually tossed out there but it was never made believable or plausible. Distracting and unsatisfying, and none of it was necessary.
Also you’d think Hongram would at least show a little gratitude to Yeohwa for setting her free and most likely saving her life. But all she does is act snotty over Yeogu. Doesn’t exactly make her a more likeable character, does it. And give Yeogu his ring back!
One thing that was interesting was the way they sealed the messages in heated wooden tubes. Had never seen anything like that before.
“I don’t care whose shrine it is. It’s the praying heart that’s important.” Well there’s a nice line. And big credit to the writers for throwing in a legit hardcore historical reference! Yeogu was in a shrine that belonged to “the Jie people,” something I had never heard of...Turns out they’re a small northern Chinese tribe that was wiped out (at least as an entity) right around this time in history. Kind of a sad story.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jie_people
“From now on, King Chogo’s descendants and King Goi’s descendants will take turns becoming Eoraha.” That was funny because it’s such classic political bullcrap. Gye knows he can’t make that happen in the future; it’s just him trying to make it sound like he’s come up with a reason to support naming Yeochan the crown prince. He knows it will never stick, and everybody else knows that he knows it, and he knows that they know that he knows. A total crock. Kind of reassuring to think that political bullcrap is timeless.
So Yeomin walks out of the room crying? Well maybe it’s a good thing he’s not being named crown prince after all. Gotta show more cojones than that.
Hey is that really King Biryu’s grave we saw? It sure looks like an authentic historical site. But either way give credit for them filming the scene out in the cold and flurries. Especially the older guy playing Biryu’s father, that probably wasn’t easy for him.
“The crown prince will deal with the border matter.” Ha! Punt. Another good one from the king.
The guy playing Sayu, a good piece of casting. He’s turned out to be an excellent fit for the character as it’s been written, with the intensity and the frustration and the glare. Doing well so far.
So they’re going to count on a sandstorm blowing in? That’s not a strategy, it’s a hope. When the old guy was talking about it I figured they would end up gathering a big pile of sand inside the fortress to throw into the air and blow into the enemy’s face. But either way there’s going to be an issue of where the wind is blowing from and why the enemy won’t just attack from another direction. Hope they handle this properly; we’ll see....
Was there any blood in those bowls that were served to Goem and Dugo? If there was then I’m glad we were spared the hand-cutting like we’re usually shown purely for the shock value.
Lousy ending. Sorry but that was a cheap shot Yeogu took. They’re not at war yet. Shooting down a soldier who was just standing there, didn’t like that at all.
Also you’d think Hongram would at least show a little gratitude to Yeohwa for setting her free and most likely saving her life. But all she does is act snotty over Yeogu. Doesn’t exactly make her a more likeable character, does it. And give Yeogu his ring back!
One thing that was interesting was the way they sealed the messages in heated wooden tubes. Had never seen anything like that before.
“I don’t care whose shrine it is. It’s the praying heart that’s important.” Well there’s a nice line. And big credit to the writers for throwing in a legit hardcore historical reference! Yeogu was in a shrine that belonged to “the Jie people,” something I had never heard of...Turns out they’re a small northern Chinese tribe that was wiped out (at least as an entity) right around this time in history. Kind of a sad story.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jie_people
“From now on, King Chogo’s descendants and King Goi’s descendants will take turns becoming Eoraha.” That was funny because it’s such classic political bullcrap. Gye knows he can’t make that happen in the future; it’s just him trying to make it sound like he’s come up with a reason to support naming Yeochan the crown prince. He knows it will never stick, and everybody else knows that he knows it, and he knows that they know that he knows. A total crock. Kind of reassuring to think that political bullcrap is timeless.
So Yeomin walks out of the room crying? Well maybe it’s a good thing he’s not being named crown prince after all. Gotta show more cojones than that.
Hey is that really King Biryu’s grave we saw? It sure looks like an authentic historical site. But either way give credit for them filming the scene out in the cold and flurries. Especially the older guy playing Biryu’s father, that probably wasn’t easy for him.
“The crown prince will deal with the border matter.” Ha! Punt. Another good one from the king.
The guy playing Sayu, a good piece of casting. He’s turned out to be an excellent fit for the character as it’s been written, with the intensity and the frustration and the glare. Doing well so far.
So they’re going to count on a sandstorm blowing in? That’s not a strategy, it’s a hope. When the old guy was talking about it I figured they would end up gathering a big pile of sand inside the fortress to throw into the air and blow into the enemy’s face. But either way there’s going to be an issue of where the wind is blowing from and why the enemy won’t just attack from another direction. Hope they handle this properly; we’ll see....
Was there any blood in those bowls that were served to Goem and Dugo? If there was then I’m glad we were spared the hand-cutting like we’re usually shown purely for the shock value.
Lousy ending. Sorry but that was a cheap shot Yeogu took. They’re not at war yet. Shooting down a soldier who was just standing there, didn’t like that at all.