Post by ajk on Mar 21, 2021 2:30:30 GMT -5
Yow-wee was this one ever jam-packed with biggies. Most powerful episode in quite a while.
“It was wrong to kill Master Sukchong. And I still cannot believe you buried his followers alive.” WOW. Holy buckets, what a fantastic scene. The only problem with it was that it just sort of happened on the spot—we didn’t get any sort of indication that WG was going to do this, and it didn’t really flow smoothly from his just being there. But once he started in, it was hold-your-breath the whole time. WG handled it well and didn’t back down, very impressive. And in the middle of it, the one tear of frustration falling from Goongyae’s eye. And when it was done--“I thought you were different”—you knew that things had changed big-time. Tip of the cap to both actors (yes I said it, CSJ did well) and the writers too. A major turning point.
And then when we came back to them, the way WG was looking at Goongyae, it was reality punching WG in the face at last. And on the way home, “Something irreparable and irreversible has happened to him.” Now I don’t know why he concluded that it was permanent—and frankly you can fault the writers for that; there’s no reason for him to think that for certain—but the fact that he does think so is enormous.
And now suddenly Ahjitae is apparently deciding to abandon Goongyae permanently? Another huge moment. But now how is he going to justify his own role in what’s happened? Or maybe “rationalize” is the better word for it. Does he think WG will now make his idea of Great Northern Empire happen? Or does he say mea culpa and fess up that his mess needs fixing now? Let’s see him worm his way out of this one.
Yi Honnam: “His majesty wouldn’t punish us for no reason unless he’s gone completely insane!” Of course at that moment we’re all thinking the same thing: you poor clueless bastard.
And then the sequence in the village, well there ya go, more proof of what good it does for a series to get out among the commoners. One of the most unforgettable images of the series, that barn full of innocent people burning alive.
And the Shillan soldiers, same again. Heck of a backdrop to the narrated text.
■Chronicles of Koryo volume 1 writes about Goongyae’s acts of savagery like this: “Goongyae ordered all of Shilla’s surrendered soldiers killed, and grew increasingly violent. Under groundless charges of treason, he ruthlessly killed nearly 100 men a day, many of them his warriors and officials. He claimed to possess the power to read people’s minds, and warned that those caught with treasonous thoughts would be severely punished.” Albeit this record may be somewhat exaggerated, there is no doubt that Goongyae was changing and becoming dissolute. While brutal tyranny continued in Majin, Kyun-hwon was near the city of Geumsung, which was called Naju in Majin.
“General Sudal will be the superior commander for this operation.” Yay! It will be entertaining, whatever happens.
And then after everything that happens...we get what for an ending? WG staring at Ahjitae on his front porch? Really? It left me giggling, it was so trivial compared to the rest of it all. Yeah okay they have to end the episode when the 48 minutes runs out, so I’m not really faulting them for it...it was just like ooooh will he let him in? Will he or won’t he? Yawn. Of course he’ll let him in. Unfortunate point to have to stop. Otherwise bravo, well done.
“It was wrong to kill Master Sukchong. And I still cannot believe you buried his followers alive.” WOW. Holy buckets, what a fantastic scene. The only problem with it was that it just sort of happened on the spot—we didn’t get any sort of indication that WG was going to do this, and it didn’t really flow smoothly from his just being there. But once he started in, it was hold-your-breath the whole time. WG handled it well and didn’t back down, very impressive. And in the middle of it, the one tear of frustration falling from Goongyae’s eye. And when it was done--“I thought you were different”—you knew that things had changed big-time. Tip of the cap to both actors (yes I said it, CSJ did well) and the writers too. A major turning point.
And then when we came back to them, the way WG was looking at Goongyae, it was reality punching WG in the face at last. And on the way home, “Something irreparable and irreversible has happened to him.” Now I don’t know why he concluded that it was permanent—and frankly you can fault the writers for that; there’s no reason for him to think that for certain—but the fact that he does think so is enormous.
And now suddenly Ahjitae is apparently deciding to abandon Goongyae permanently? Another huge moment. But now how is he going to justify his own role in what’s happened? Or maybe “rationalize” is the better word for it. Does he think WG will now make his idea of Great Northern Empire happen? Or does he say mea culpa and fess up that his mess needs fixing now? Let’s see him worm his way out of this one.
Yi Honnam: “His majesty wouldn’t punish us for no reason unless he’s gone completely insane!” Of course at that moment we’re all thinking the same thing: you poor clueless bastard.
And then the sequence in the village, well there ya go, more proof of what good it does for a series to get out among the commoners. One of the most unforgettable images of the series, that barn full of innocent people burning alive.
And the Shillan soldiers, same again. Heck of a backdrop to the narrated text.
■Chronicles of Koryo volume 1 writes about Goongyae’s acts of savagery like this: “Goongyae ordered all of Shilla’s surrendered soldiers killed, and grew increasingly violent. Under groundless charges of treason, he ruthlessly killed nearly 100 men a day, many of them his warriors and officials. He claimed to possess the power to read people’s minds, and warned that those caught with treasonous thoughts would be severely punished.” Albeit this record may be somewhat exaggerated, there is no doubt that Goongyae was changing and becoming dissolute. While brutal tyranny continued in Majin, Kyun-hwon was near the city of Geumsung, which was called Naju in Majin.
“General Sudal will be the superior commander for this operation.” Yay! It will be entertaining, whatever happens.
And then after everything that happens...we get what for an ending? WG staring at Ahjitae on his front porch? Really? It left me giggling, it was so trivial compared to the rest of it all. Yeah okay they have to end the episode when the 48 minutes runs out, so I’m not really faulting them for it...it was just like ooooh will he let him in? Will he or won’t he? Yawn. Of course he’ll let him in. Unfortunate point to have to stop. Otherwise bravo, well done.