Post by ajk on Oct 19, 2018 21:58:20 GMT -5
A couple of issues were hovering over this episode going into it. One is simply that so much of it was going to be built around the “suspense” of whether or not the sandstorm would show up. I mean come on, we all know it’s coming. We just know. That’s how these shows work. Same thing as the eclipse angles in QSD and Jang Youngsil that those writers tried to milk for so much suspense. We all knew they were coming because they were so important to the lead characters’ fates. There was just no way they wouldn’t happen. Same thing here. So that really was kind of pointless.
The other thing was how a sandstorm would help the defenders when it would blind them just as much as it would blind the attackers. This was handled much better, the way it was more of a disruption that caused general confusion and it was the confusion that the defenders took advantage of. Good job there. So one up, one down.
Wi Birang at Yeogu firing that opening arrow: “We should stall until the yellow sandstorm comes. Did you want to stimulate him to attack?” Ajikai: “Were you trying to show off your archery skills?” Exactly right, both of them. More reason against the stupid, low class thing Yeogu did. Yeogu says he’s trying to stall? Seriously? Then you invite the commander in under a truce flag and negotiate. You can waste all kinds of time that way.
Holy crap, she gave him his ring back! Who’d have thunk it. She said she was lending it to him and wants it back, but who cares, she stole it from him in the first place, he doesn’t have to do a darned thing she says. And frankly there’s no real chemistry between those two anyway. Obviously she isn’t going anywhere but her storyline with Yeogu is very, very weak compared to Yeohwa’s.
“Prince Yeosan has been glaring at the south gate.” Well, half glaring.
The battle scene itself was actually pretty good. Some nice stunt work and action around the fire barrier especially. And they used a whole lot of people; didn’t go cheap on the soldiers at all. Visually they made the sandstorm look good; it was very believable. Could have faltered on that but it looked good. And a good choice of location. Definitely had the right feel for that kind of a fortress battle. Only complaint was the camerawork. Too much of the handheld Blair-Witch-Project stuff that makes you motion sick.
“Why do you keep acting like it’s the end of the world?” “Please stop it.” Yep absolutely right. Yeomin: “Do you hitnk I’m whining?” Well if by “whining” you mean “carrying on like a total drama queen and having no cojones” then yeah I would say whining. But that scene ended up being excellent. “You have to live the live that I lived from now on. Be disappointed with me and hate Yeochan.” Well written and good insight into Yeomin and his father. And a little bit into his mother too; the depth of her bitterness towards the queen.
“Yeogu, you!” Ugh, I hope Prince Yeosan doesn’t end up turning into another Wakizaka. “Yi Soon Shin! Yi Soon Shin!”
“Let’s go. We have to get the injured soldiers.” Wow that’s two reasons in the same episode to not hate Annoying Girl. Good for her.
Yeohwa really should not be showing such an obvious, active interest in what happened with Yeogu. She’s gonna find out sooner or later anyway and if she seems too eager it will just get her in hot water with the hubby.
Speaking of which, whatever happened with that false message that Hae Geon switched into the holder? They went to a lot of trouble to have him do it and show him doing it, but it ended up having no consequence at all, at least not yet.
The final sequence, with Geom getting shot and the cliffhanger ending, that was excellent! You really did not know what was going to happen to Geom, live or die...although now it looks like he’ll live. And there’s a heck of a confronation about to happen and it could go in any number of directions, and at least four of the supporting characters could entirely change its outcome single-handedly.
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This was the first try with DramaCool. It definitely is not as good of a viewing experience as DF was. Every time I paused the feed it triggered a pop-up ad, and wow does that get old in a hurry. It’s a slower, more sluggish site, and the feed died on me in the middle of the battle. But I’m not complaining; it’s more than adequate and will be perfectly fine for finishing the series.
The other thing was how a sandstorm would help the defenders when it would blind them just as much as it would blind the attackers. This was handled much better, the way it was more of a disruption that caused general confusion and it was the confusion that the defenders took advantage of. Good job there. So one up, one down.
Wi Birang at Yeogu firing that opening arrow: “We should stall until the yellow sandstorm comes. Did you want to stimulate him to attack?” Ajikai: “Were you trying to show off your archery skills?” Exactly right, both of them. More reason against the stupid, low class thing Yeogu did. Yeogu says he’s trying to stall? Seriously? Then you invite the commander in under a truce flag and negotiate. You can waste all kinds of time that way.
Holy crap, she gave him his ring back! Who’d have thunk it. She said she was lending it to him and wants it back, but who cares, she stole it from him in the first place, he doesn’t have to do a darned thing she says. And frankly there’s no real chemistry between those two anyway. Obviously she isn’t going anywhere but her storyline with Yeogu is very, very weak compared to Yeohwa’s.
“Prince Yeosan has been glaring at the south gate.” Well, half glaring.
The battle scene itself was actually pretty good. Some nice stunt work and action around the fire barrier especially. And they used a whole lot of people; didn’t go cheap on the soldiers at all. Visually they made the sandstorm look good; it was very believable. Could have faltered on that but it looked good. And a good choice of location. Definitely had the right feel for that kind of a fortress battle. Only complaint was the camerawork. Too much of the handheld Blair-Witch-Project stuff that makes you motion sick.
“Why do you keep acting like it’s the end of the world?” “Please stop it.” Yep absolutely right. Yeomin: “Do you hitnk I’m whining?” Well if by “whining” you mean “carrying on like a total drama queen and having no cojones” then yeah I would say whining. But that scene ended up being excellent. “You have to live the live that I lived from now on. Be disappointed with me and hate Yeochan.” Well written and good insight into Yeomin and his father. And a little bit into his mother too; the depth of her bitterness towards the queen.
“Yeogu, you!” Ugh, I hope Prince Yeosan doesn’t end up turning into another Wakizaka. “Yi Soon Shin! Yi Soon Shin!”
“Let’s go. We have to get the injured soldiers.” Wow that’s two reasons in the same episode to not hate Annoying Girl. Good for her.
Yeohwa really should not be showing such an obvious, active interest in what happened with Yeogu. She’s gonna find out sooner or later anyway and if she seems too eager it will just get her in hot water with the hubby.
Speaking of which, whatever happened with that false message that Hae Geon switched into the holder? They went to a lot of trouble to have him do it and show him doing it, but it ended up having no consequence at all, at least not yet.
The final sequence, with Geom getting shot and the cliffhanger ending, that was excellent! You really did not know what was going to happen to Geom, live or die...although now it looks like he’ll live. And there’s a heck of a confronation about to happen and it could go in any number of directions, and at least four of the supporting characters could entirely change its outcome single-handedly.
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This was the first try with DramaCool. It definitely is not as good of a viewing experience as DF was. Every time I paused the feed it triggered a pop-up ad, and wow does that get old in a hurry. It’s a slower, more sluggish site, and the feed died on me in the middle of the battle. But I’m not complaining; it’s more than adequate and will be perfectly fine for finishing the series.