Post by ajk on May 11, 2020 1:53:06 GMT -5
Bounced back nicely from the weak previous episode, for the most part. Not a lot happening in this one but just from the high level of the writing and the continuing thoughtfulness and introspection from so many of the characters, it made for a good episode.
Goongyae: “I am an incomplete being that is torn between being a god and man.” And then the way he talked about his dream of being normal and working by day and coming home to a wife and family at night, but he couldn’t because his destiny was elsewhere...that was total Jesus stuff. Wonder if that was intentional in the writing. Still, he hasn’t shown any sort of the supreme arrogance you always see from characters who think they’re more than human. Continues to be a fascinating character. An interesting scene, only slightly marred by WG standing on a box again so he’d be eye level with Goongyae. Stop that!
Yunhwa: “I’ve spent a night with his majesty. How will I ever face General Wang again?” Ummm....he turned away from you so this is his problem, not yours.
Haven’t mentioned this before but I like the way they’re dressing Goongyae. Simple but high-quality robes that continue to remind us that he isn’t an ordinary king. It’s what you’d expect him to wear.
Yu Jangja: “I am not worried about you since you have his majesty’s complete adoration, but feelings are fickle and impermanent. Wise men plan ahead for such instances.” Great stuff. I expected him to nag WG again about getting married, but no. This is a smart guy.
Park Jiyoon: “The citizens had in fact been sympathetic of Madam Bukwon.” Would have been nice to see that ourselves. We’ve kind of gotten away from seeing or hearing from the larger populace lately and that’s too bad.
That seaside cafe where the generals were eating was a gorgeous place to eat. Wow.
Yi Hunnam: “My thighs have fattened? That’s awful for a warrior.” Well the rich meal you’re eating doesn’t exactly help with that, does it.
KH gives Choi full command of the military? That is not a good idea. Choi is an extremely smart guy but he’s not the type to get the best out of leading an army. Not at all. Plus the top general hates him for not wanting to attack Daeya--which is stupid but it’s there.
For about half a minute I totally bought Park Sulhee having a shockingly good idea to curry favor with Ahjagae by sending him wine. He likes his wine, we know that...seemed like a great idea. Then I remembered the woman...and then he fessed up to it...and now please tell me we’re not actually going to see this happen. This is a matter of diplomacy and none of his business as a general. Let’s hope he had some wine in him and it was the wine talking. Especially after he got into so much trouble once before for disregarding orders and going off on his own, this would be just plain stupid. Why did no one else at the table shout some sense into him? Especially Neungsan, he already got in trouble the previous time because of Sulhee’s foolishness.
And since when is Sangju an enemy? They’re calling Sangju an enemy but Sangju is giving Kyun-hwon fits and that’s to Koryo’s advantage. Ugh, this seems to be the one thread of madness in an otherwise wonderful series so far.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatamsaka_Sutra
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uisang
“What? King Kyungmoon?” Uh-oh, the old guy stuck it to Goongyae again. Kind of hard to believe that nobody knew ahead of time which king’s memorial it was, but whatever. I was never clear on whether or not Huhwol wants to expose Goongyae as a fraud or wants to help him be a better leader. This doesn’t make it any clearer. Sure Goongyae has every reason to resent Kyungmoon...but what was with the momentary hallucination of the portrait bleeding? Goongyae went temporarily insane, is that it? Weird ending.
Goongyae: “I am an incomplete being that is torn between being a god and man.” And then the way he talked about his dream of being normal and working by day and coming home to a wife and family at night, but he couldn’t because his destiny was elsewhere...that was total Jesus stuff. Wonder if that was intentional in the writing. Still, he hasn’t shown any sort of the supreme arrogance you always see from characters who think they’re more than human. Continues to be a fascinating character. An interesting scene, only slightly marred by WG standing on a box again so he’d be eye level with Goongyae. Stop that!
Yunhwa: “I’ve spent a night with his majesty. How will I ever face General Wang again?” Ummm....he turned away from you so this is his problem, not yours.
Haven’t mentioned this before but I like the way they’re dressing Goongyae. Simple but high-quality robes that continue to remind us that he isn’t an ordinary king. It’s what you’d expect him to wear.
Yu Jangja: “I am not worried about you since you have his majesty’s complete adoration, but feelings are fickle and impermanent. Wise men plan ahead for such instances.” Great stuff. I expected him to nag WG again about getting married, but no. This is a smart guy.
Park Jiyoon: “The citizens had in fact been sympathetic of Madam Bukwon.” Would have been nice to see that ourselves. We’ve kind of gotten away from seeing or hearing from the larger populace lately and that’s too bad.
That seaside cafe where the generals were eating was a gorgeous place to eat. Wow.
Yi Hunnam: “My thighs have fattened? That’s awful for a warrior.” Well the rich meal you’re eating doesn’t exactly help with that, does it.
KH gives Choi full command of the military? That is not a good idea. Choi is an extremely smart guy but he’s not the type to get the best out of leading an army. Not at all. Plus the top general hates him for not wanting to attack Daeya--which is stupid but it’s there.
For about half a minute I totally bought Park Sulhee having a shockingly good idea to curry favor with Ahjagae by sending him wine. He likes his wine, we know that...seemed like a great idea. Then I remembered the woman...and then he fessed up to it...and now please tell me we’re not actually going to see this happen. This is a matter of diplomacy and none of his business as a general. Let’s hope he had some wine in him and it was the wine talking. Especially after he got into so much trouble once before for disregarding orders and going off on his own, this would be just plain stupid. Why did no one else at the table shout some sense into him? Especially Neungsan, he already got in trouble the previous time because of Sulhee’s foolishness.
And since when is Sangju an enemy? They’re calling Sangju an enemy but Sangju is giving Kyun-hwon fits and that’s to Koryo’s advantage. Ugh, this seems to be the one thread of madness in an otherwise wonderful series so far.
Busuk Temple follows the teachings of Master Uisang who is responsible for propagation of Avatamsaka sect in Korea. The most important teachings of Avatamsaka sutra are found in the Ten Land. It is the ten prescriptions of the bodhisattva. The last prescription reads like this: “Infinite Buddhas shower the spirit with rain of wisdom and manifest itself though mercy and compassion that put out the fire of suffering in all sentient beings.” In other words, a bodhisattva must attain enlightenment not only for himself, but possess the altruism to lead others to enlightenment. It is not unlike the spirit of this kingdom. Spirit of living for others, and acquiring happiness for the happiness of our peers.That actually was spoken by Goongyae and wasn’t strictly a narrated text, but it served the same purpose so I’ll treat it as one. If anybody is curious here’s a lot more detail, and yes Uisang is a real monk in Korean history:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatamsaka_Sutra
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uisang
“What? King Kyungmoon?” Uh-oh, the old guy stuck it to Goongyae again. Kind of hard to believe that nobody knew ahead of time which king’s memorial it was, but whatever. I was never clear on whether or not Huhwol wants to expose Goongyae as a fraud or wants to help him be a better leader. This doesn’t make it any clearer. Sure Goongyae has every reason to resent Kyungmoon...but what was with the momentary hallucination of the portrait bleeding? Goongyae went temporarily insane, is that it? Weird ending.