Post by ajk on Aug 9, 2020 1:02:12 GMT -5
Loved this episode, except for the ending. And WG made several missteps throughout the episode so he wears the dunce cap.
Along with the as-usual wonderful visuals that always come with these narrated texts, we got this map:
And that’s why Kyun-hwon didn’t go straight east like I asked about last time. Because straight east puts him through that green area, which is Sangju region and controlled by his grumpy old dad Ajakae who resents him. Should have remembered that Sangju was in the way. There ya go. Thank you writers!
I wonder if the real Kyun-hwon rode in front of his army like we’re seeing. In the past I’ve complained about showing kings doing this when there was no way in heck that the real king would have done it. But with this guy, you have to think he might well have done it.
They continue to hard-sell this Geumsung operation as entirely WG’s, which isn’t fair or accurate. And now we learn that Bok Jikyum actually has played a crucial part in preparing it, with the entire cavalry unit that’s going to engage all ground resistance. We should have seen and heard more about this earlier.
Ahjitae (scholar): “Geomancy is also a science based on research and observation over innumerable years.” Goongyae (leader of country) “No, no. Giving weight to such things only makes life weary.” Hmmm....this isn’t a partisan political blog and I’m not a partisan person...but you have to laugh at this scene. Or cry.
Why is it that every time we see the empress, two attendants are standing there in the same place holding her babies? Every single time? It’s on the verge of becoming a running gag. She had the twins, no worries we won’t forget.
Jongkahn: “Song-ak had all the requisites when we settled here, but not Chulwon. It is nothing more than a wasteland.” Still sticking to that, is he.
Several of Kyun-hwon’s advisors made the good observation that Shilla was surprisingly tranquil in the face of an oncoming army. Surprising that WG didn’t think of this. Tell Shilla to at least make it look like they were reacting, so as not to arouse suspicion. Oops.
“Could they be up to something?” That was an outstanding scene, the Bekjae council meeting where they got the surveillance report. Right at the same level with the Oh Darin meeting with the Koryo envoys a few episodes back. Excellent in every aspect.
And then Jonglae playing Sudal for a sucker, that was priceless. I wonder if it really happened like this or if this is just filler. Either way it was very well done by both actors.
WG: “This is his majesty’s work. Only he has the power to command.” Well if it were me and I had a surprise operation ready and it was inevitably about to be discovered, I’d have gotten Goongyae’s advance okay to launch as soon as it was ready, and had an advance proclamation from him ready to read to the troops so they didn’t need to sit there and wait for him to show up in person. Now they’re just twiddling their thumbs while precious time slips away. Oops.
“It is only natural for people to gather under a big tree.” Another excellent scene, the local nobles meeting with Park Jiyoon. The way they’re gradually giving us the first few murmurs of concern, it’s been planned out very well by the writers.
Jongkahn: “A menacing power is growing silently like poisonous mushrooms. We must find them and pull them out by the root!” Still sticking to that, is he.
There is no liquid in Lord Yu’s wine goblet. None in WG's either. You can tell when they “sip.” Put some water in them! It's obvious and it looks dumb! Sheesh.
And for that matter, why is WG getting himself drunk when he has to go to battle tomorrow? Nothing like leading a major military operation with a hangover. Oops.
Wait a minute, sounds like Yu broke out the surprise extra-strong wine and is getting him drunk on purpose. “Buyong will serve you in bed tonight.” Oh good grief. “He will be your master forever. Serve him well.” So it’s back to pimping. Fortunately WG looks like he’s absolutely drunk out of his gourd and in no condition to do anything.
Oh wait, he’s not. He’s hallucinating about Yunhwa. So he isn’t over her after all. And now he’s calling out her name. Boy that’s gotta make Buyong feel wonderful doesn’t it? And that’s the ending? Seriously? Ugh. This sure wasn’t WG’s finest hour. But otherwise an excellent episode. The build-up to this invasion reminds me of some of the build-ups to attacks by Yi Soon-shin in IYSS. Palpable tension, great stuff.
In March of 903, 7th year of King Hyogong’s reign, Bekjae’s army led by Kyun-hwon was rapidly advancing towards Surabul. Surabul was located opposite direction of Geumsung. While Geumsung was the heart of the southwestern coast, Surabul was the heart of the southeastern region. Kyun-hwon did not anticipate aggression from Koryo as the war had come to a state of lull, and the news of serious trouble in Koryo over the relocation of its capital was widespread. Reassured by report of Goongyae’s absorption with the matter, Kyun-hwon left his kingdom unguarded, and marched on to subjugate Shilla. He was oblivious about the forthcoming attack on Geumsung.
Along with the as-usual wonderful visuals that always come with these narrated texts, we got this map:
And that’s why Kyun-hwon didn’t go straight east like I asked about last time. Because straight east puts him through that green area, which is Sangju region and controlled by his grumpy old dad Ajakae who resents him. Should have remembered that Sangju was in the way. There ya go. Thank you writers!
I wonder if the real Kyun-hwon rode in front of his army like we’re seeing. In the past I’ve complained about showing kings doing this when there was no way in heck that the real king would have done it. But with this guy, you have to think he might well have done it.
They continue to hard-sell this Geumsung operation as entirely WG’s, which isn’t fair or accurate. And now we learn that Bok Jikyum actually has played a crucial part in preparing it, with the entire cavalry unit that’s going to engage all ground resistance. We should have seen and heard more about this earlier.
Ahjitae (scholar): “Geomancy is also a science based on research and observation over innumerable years.” Goongyae (leader of country) “No, no. Giving weight to such things only makes life weary.” Hmmm....this isn’t a partisan political blog and I’m not a partisan person...but you have to laugh at this scene. Or cry.
Goongyae’s imperial city...It was located in a village now called Heunwon, within Chulwon County of Kangwon Province. A local legend attributes Goongyae’s hasty decision in selecting the site for the palace as the cause for cutting short a regime that would have lasted 300 years to less than thirty.
Why is it that every time we see the empress, two attendants are standing there in the same place holding her babies? Every single time? It’s on the verge of becoming a running gag. She had the twins, no worries we won’t forget.
Jongkahn: “Song-ak had all the requisites when we settled here, but not Chulwon. It is nothing more than a wasteland.” Still sticking to that, is he.
Several of Kyun-hwon’s advisors made the good observation that Shilla was surprisingly tranquil in the face of an oncoming army. Surprising that WG didn’t think of this. Tell Shilla to at least make it look like they were reacting, so as not to arouse suspicion. Oops.
“Could they be up to something?” That was an outstanding scene, the Bekjae council meeting where they got the surveillance report. Right at the same level with the Oh Darin meeting with the Koryo envoys a few episodes back. Excellent in every aspect.
And then Jonglae playing Sudal for a sucker, that was priceless. I wonder if it really happened like this or if this is just filler. Either way it was very well done by both actors.
WG: “This is his majesty’s work. Only he has the power to command.” Well if it were me and I had a surprise operation ready and it was inevitably about to be discovered, I’d have gotten Goongyae’s advance okay to launch as soon as it was ready, and had an advance proclamation from him ready to read to the troops so they didn’t need to sit there and wait for him to show up in person. Now they’re just twiddling their thumbs while precious time slips away. Oops.
“It is only natural for people to gather under a big tree.” Another excellent scene, the local nobles meeting with Park Jiyoon. The way they’re gradually giving us the first few murmurs of concern, it’s been planned out very well by the writers.
Jongkahn: “A menacing power is growing silently like poisonous mushrooms. We must find them and pull them out by the root!” Still sticking to that, is he.
There is no liquid in Lord Yu’s wine goblet. None in WG's either. You can tell when they “sip.” Put some water in them! It's obvious and it looks dumb! Sheesh.
And for that matter, why is WG getting himself drunk when he has to go to battle tomorrow? Nothing like leading a major military operation with a hangover. Oops.
Wait a minute, sounds like Yu broke out the surprise extra-strong wine and is getting him drunk on purpose. “Buyong will serve you in bed tonight.” Oh good grief. “He will be your master forever. Serve him well.” So it’s back to pimping. Fortunately WG looks like he’s absolutely drunk out of his gourd and in no condition to do anything.
Oh wait, he’s not. He’s hallucinating about Yunhwa. So he isn’t over her after all. And now he’s calling out her name. Boy that’s gotta make Buyong feel wonderful doesn’t it? And that’s the ending? Seriously? Ugh. This sure wasn’t WG’s finest hour. But otherwise an excellent episode. The build-up to this invasion reminds me of some of the build-ups to attacks by Yi Soon-shin in IYSS. Palpable tension, great stuff.