So I had a big problem with this one. Maybe just being too picky, maybe not.
We donโt really have a good feel for how much time has passed since Taejong took the throne. (Especially because some events have been moved around by the writers.) It still feels like heโs only been the king for a very short time and is still establishing himself and consolidating his power. So it just didnโt seem believable to me that anybody would take the abdication seriously, at least not without questioning Taejongโs sanity. Of course they had to look like they were taking it seriously...but for Bangwon to go through so much conflict to get to the throne and then turn right around and dump it, for no apparent reason...why was no one doubting it or scratching their heads for a motive? Nobody even speculated out loud about the surface premiseโAw heโs just teaching his kid a lesson. The queen saw through it...and yes sheโs a smart one, but nobody else? You couldnโt take it seriously.
And then to go through all of that hassle about staging the whole abdication threat...and you arrest the Min brothers for what reason? Because they looked around for a moment before starting to cheer with everybody else? If youโre willing to arrest them for something so obviously phony and stupid then why go through all of that hassle in the first place? Just plant some evidence on them and be done with it.
The concept of it was fiendishly cleverโteach your kid a lesson and bag your political enemies at the same time. If it had been set up better it could have been brilliant. But what we got here just didnโt sit right at all.
The real history of this is that six years after taking the throne, Taejong did talk about abdicating (I donโt think he actually did it) but later withdrew what he said...but in the process the Min brothers actually said incriminating things against him, and thatโs what they got busted for. I donโt know if that was a setup to bust them like it was presented here. But either way, that makes sense because plenty of time has passed, and you have real evidence to use for the exile.
click for full size What a great image to start the episode. Do we really need all of that loud, tense music with it? Of course notโhis expression tells it all.
Ha Ryun: โWe are already enemies of the Min clan. When the crown prince comes to power, the Min clan will not leave us unscathed.โ That was an excellent scene. We got that Ming storyโwhich we now realize is probably in Taejongโs head too, and influencing his thinkingโand also were reminded that the crown prince was raised by his grandparents. So now we can understand why Taejong has it in for the Mins. โWe have to do it even if we do not want to. That is the way for us to survive.โ Great stuff and it makes perfect sense.
The other thing I found strange about the whole situation is that Taejong is still a young man when all of this is happening (in his 30s). The Mins are all talking like itโs only a matter of a few years before the crown prince takes over and then theyโre on easy street. Why would you pin your hopes on that? Taejong could easily live for another 30-40 years.
So this episode gives us five more contestants in the ongoing game of I Got a Bad Deal! First letโs meet the princeโs assistant tutor. The boy is squirmy and bored and has done well so far...you tell him he doesnโt need to memorize all of that Mencius, just make sure you understand it...and you get fired? If Taejong wanted his son to memorize, then he should have told the tutors that up front. Bad deal.
Next we have Eunuch Song. The tutor says the kid can take a break, so the kid runs out the door to go see his brothers...and next thing you know his eunuch is getting flogged 30 times, like he had any control over any of it. Thereโs a bad deal right there.
Next is the crown prince. Heir to the throne or not, there was way too much of the adultsโ stress and unhappiness dumped on the poor kid. And youโd think that Taejong might be just a little bit sympathetic to the pain that a fatherโs disapproval can cause...but nooooo. Might as well arrange the therapy appointments now, heโs gonna need a lot of them and the schedule fills up fast. Now thatโs a seriously bad deal.
And finally, the Min brothers. Kneeling out there in the courtyard on little or no sleep for at least two days, possibly more...finally they get the announcement they were hoping for, they realize theyโve endured and survived...and their moment of surprise gets them fired and exiled? Yep we have our winners.
(Frankly after that bit of evil laughter from themโmaybe not evil, but selfish-triumphantโthey deserved exile for committing a KHD cheap stunt! Never with the evil laughing please. Ever.)
Wow the queen was extremely classy about the new consort coming into the palace. Really nice to her. And then the consort even covered for her when Taejong questioned her. You really didnโt know what sheโd say...that was a good scene.
click for full size Whatever else you want to say, the series still looks great. The indoor scenes are sharp-looking too.
โYour uncles are not strong-willed, and they will make a mistake.โ Well there was the line of the episode right there...dropped into the momโs conversation with her son. Would like to have heard more about that.
Once again the pounding, loud dissonant music was over-used in this one. Getting the feeling that whoever is in charge of the music has never worked on a historical before, and maybe never even watched one.