Post by ajk on May 10, 2021 5:12:26 GMT -5
A couple of wobbles in the beginning and ending of this one due to overselling WG, but the stuff in between more than made up for it.
Sudal did himself proud in the opening. Stared down Goongyae and frankly got the better of him. But then he turns to WG and says “I thank you for your last acts of kindness towards me.” Huh? What acts of kindness? WG denied him the honorable death he asked for, and instead brought him here to this humiliation. And he calls WG a “true hero.” Why? That was ridiculous. And then his last words were “Farewell, General Wang.” This is more of the putting-WG-on-a-pedestal stuff that I haven’t liked at all. There’s no reason to do it and it almost feels like desperation, the writers trying hard to sell WG as a selfless hero to make the character more appealing. Sudal would not have spent the last moments of his life so fixated on WG, no way. It messed up an otherwise compelling scene.
But at least WG did step forward to try to stop the execution, full credit to him for that.
And the wobble was brushed aside by the scene between WG and Goongyae. One of the best scenes from both of them, terrific work by both actors. And the music, one of the best scored scenes of the series. Absolutely first-rate. The music certainly has picked up a ton since the beginning.
Goongyae: “You can’t stop a horse from running. Though it may be tired and out of breath, it has to continue.” Ah but you can change its direction! WG missed the primo comeback there!
“Ahjitae may look cleverer than Wang Guhn but he is not.” Yes he is, Jongkahn. “Our real problem is Wang Guhn.” We’ve had enough of this.
WG to Buyong: “You show undue interest in that subject, my lady. I know of nothing.” Come on dude, who do you think you’re talking to? You repeatedly called out another woman’s name when you were boinking her--you think that won’t stir up Buyong’s curiosity just a teeny tiny bit? Yes she probably shouldn’t be poking at it, but you should man up with her and clear the air. Grow a pair already.
“Such cruelty for an enemy general is unheard of!...Yes we must avenge his death.” aaaaaaaand there it is. Yes they might get their butts kicked in their present beaten-up condition--and ironically it could all work out well in the end for Majin, if Kyun-hwon can’t restrain himself sufficiently—but it just wasn’t a good idea to rile them up unnecessarily.
Great job by the guy playing Kyun-hwon, reacting to Sudal’s death, totally believable...and again the music was scored very, very effectively.
Neunghwan: “A war fought in a state of fury cannot be won.” This time he’s right. Somebody better talk KH down the next morning.
WG: “A man must walk the righteous path and preserve his integrity. Ahjitae is a man who uses tricks and shortcuts for his own selfish gain. Why should I fear him?” Because he’s good at it, that’s why.
Perhaps? Again with this business about WG being the ultra-pure unstained symbol of cleanliness and decency. Have said this before but I just can’t believe that the real WG was the squeaky-clean boy scout that they’re trying to pitch him as in this series. We’re only approaching the halfway point, though, so we’ll see what we’re left with by the end.
Sudal did himself proud in the opening. Stared down Goongyae and frankly got the better of him. But then he turns to WG and says “I thank you for your last acts of kindness towards me.” Huh? What acts of kindness? WG denied him the honorable death he asked for, and instead brought him here to this humiliation. And he calls WG a “true hero.” Why? That was ridiculous. And then his last words were “Farewell, General Wang.” This is more of the putting-WG-on-a-pedestal stuff that I haven’t liked at all. There’s no reason to do it and it almost feels like desperation, the writers trying hard to sell WG as a selfless hero to make the character more appealing. Sudal would not have spent the last moments of his life so fixated on WG, no way. It messed up an otherwise compelling scene.
But at least WG did step forward to try to stop the execution, full credit to him for that.
And the wobble was brushed aside by the scene between WG and Goongyae. One of the best scenes from both of them, terrific work by both actors. And the music, one of the best scored scenes of the series. Absolutely first-rate. The music certainly has picked up a ton since the beginning.
Goongyae: “You can’t stop a horse from running. Though it may be tired and out of breath, it has to continue.” Ah but you can change its direction! WG missed the primo comeback there!
“Ahjitae may look cleverer than Wang Guhn but he is not.” Yes he is, Jongkahn. “Our real problem is Wang Guhn.” We’ve had enough of this.
WG to Buyong: “You show undue interest in that subject, my lady. I know of nothing.” Come on dude, who do you think you’re talking to? You repeatedly called out another woman’s name when you were boinking her--you think that won’t stir up Buyong’s curiosity just a teeny tiny bit? Yes she probably shouldn’t be poking at it, but you should man up with her and clear the air. Grow a pair already.
“Such cruelty for an enemy general is unheard of!...Yes we must avenge his death.” aaaaaaaand there it is. Yes they might get their butts kicked in their present beaten-up condition--and ironically it could all work out well in the end for Majin, if Kyun-hwon can’t restrain himself sufficiently—but it just wasn’t a good idea to rile them up unnecessarily.
Great job by the guy playing Kyun-hwon, reacting to Sudal’s death, totally believable...and again the music was scored very, very effectively.
Neunghwan: “A war fought in a state of fury cannot be won.” This time he’s right. Somebody better talk KH down the next morning.
WG: “A man must walk the righteous path and preserve his integrity. Ahjitae is a man who uses tricks and shortcuts for his own selfish gain. Why should I fear him?” Because he’s good at it, that’s why.
■True path and loyalty—perhaps this was his inspiration. Neungsan would later bravely give up his life in the battle of Daegu to save his master Wang Guhn, and make his mark as the greatest loyal subject of Koryo.
Perhaps? Again with this business about WG being the ultra-pure unstained symbol of cleanliness and decency. Have said this before but I just can’t believe that the real WG was the squeaky-clean boy scout that they’re trying to pitch him as in this series. We’re only approaching the halfway point, though, so we’ll see what we’re left with by the end.