Post by ajk on Aug 22, 2021 15:48:58 GMT -5
This one was a big change of focus, and it was a good time for one. Got out of Chulwon for the majority of it and got the Daeya Fortress attack.
Overall I thought it was the best battle sequence of the series so far. The length of it and the total commitment to it, very impressive. Yes the flaming arrows were waaaay overused, but when are they not. But the boulders dropping and then the flaming logs, those looked nasty and very realistic. And the stunt work was amazing. Guys running around with flaming arrows flying by them, some guys getting shot with them, the logs plowing over soldiers and horses, some of it I don’t even know how they pulled it off, and it kept going and going. Even the scene of the aftermath, with so many dead bodies everywhere, it looked realistic and shocking. Still not sure how the princes got out of their so easily but I suppose it’s possible if enough soldiers die opening up a path to the rear.
The whole thing would have packed a little more punch if we had gotten to know the Shilla side better beforehand. I’ve mentioned that before and yeah you can understand why the writers haven’t done so, but it would have helped here.
Kyun-hwon: “We outnumber the enemy 2 to 1.” Shilla general: “Their force is twice our size. It won’t be easy to defeat them.” Okay this almost never happens in this series but something isn’t right here. 2 to 1 is not enough for anybody to win in this situation and certainly both sides would know it. The Art of War says
Of course that doesn’t stop someone in power from making a poor decision to launch an unfavorable attack. It just is not believable that everyone else would see this as a good position for Bekjae (and that nobody said otherwise to KH beforehand).
Shilla general: “The poor wretches are delirious thinking that they’re winning.” Okay that was darned funny.
(Not formally a narrated text but it served the purpose of one.)
Chu Huhjo dying, he’s been part of the series since way back in Episode 6. Long time.
Kyun-hwon: “But they were full of confidence! How could this be?” Really dude? This is something I haven’t liked. KH seems to switch back and forth almost randomly from being impulsive and reckless on one hand, and then insightful enough to knowing he’s messed up by being reckless and impulsive. He’s not a dumb guy. Writing him like this has to stop.
But the quibbles aside it sure was nice go get out of Goongyae’s head for most of an episode and get such a good battle story.
Overall I thought it was the best battle sequence of the series so far. The length of it and the total commitment to it, very impressive. Yes the flaming arrows were waaaay overused, but when are they not. But the boulders dropping and then the flaming logs, those looked nasty and very realistic. And the stunt work was amazing. Guys running around with flaming arrows flying by them, some guys getting shot with them, the logs plowing over soldiers and horses, some of it I don’t even know how they pulled it off, and it kept going and going. Even the scene of the aftermath, with so many dead bodies everywhere, it looked realistic and shocking. Still not sure how the princes got out of their so easily but I suppose it’s possible if enough soldiers die opening up a path to the rear.
The whole thing would have packed a little more punch if we had gotten to know the Shilla side better beforehand. I’ve mentioned that before and yeah you can understand why the writers haven’t done so, but it would have helped here.
Kyun-hwon: “We outnumber the enemy 2 to 1.” Shilla general: “Their force is twice our size. It won’t be easy to defeat them.” Okay this almost never happens in this series but something isn’t right here. 2 to 1 is not enough for anybody to win in this situation and certainly both sides would know it. The Art of War says
The superior militarist strikes while schemes are being laid. The next best is to attack alliances. The next best is to attack the army. The lowest is to attack a city. Siege of a city is only done as a last resort... If the general cannot overcome his anger and has his army swarm over the citadel, killing a third of his soldiers, and yet the citadel is still not taken, this is a disastrous attack... So the rule for use of the military is that if you outnumber the opponent ten to one, then surround them; five to one, attack; two to one, divide. If you are equal, then fight if you are able.
Of course that doesn’t stop someone in power from making a poor decision to launch an unfavorable attack. It just is not believable that everyone else would see this as a good position for Bekjae (and that nobody said otherwise to KH beforehand).
Shilla general: “The poor wretches are delirious thinking that they’re winning.” Okay that was darned funny.
■ Kyun-hwon: “Daeya Fort was a point of strategic importance back in the era of Old Three Kingdoms. Our ancestor General Yoonchoong captured successfully seized this fort from Shilla’s renowned general Jukjuk. Choi Seung Woo: “Yes, the castle lord at the time was the son-in-law of Kim Choonchu who later became the king of Shilla.”
(Not formally a narrated text but it served the purpose of one.)
Chu Huhjo dying, he’s been part of the series since way back in Episode 6. Long time.
Kyun-hwon: “But they were full of confidence! How could this be?” Really dude? This is something I haven’t liked. KH seems to switch back and forth almost randomly from being impulsive and reckless on one hand, and then insightful enough to knowing he’s messed up by being reckless and impulsive. He’s not a dumb guy. Writing him like this has to stop.
But the quibbles aside it sure was nice go get out of Goongyae’s head for most of an episode and get such a good battle story.