This was a much better episode. They dialed way back on the juicing-up and let the story tell itself like they should have been doing the whole time. And there was some good material in it. Not entirely, but even one stretch that was among the best in the series.
Wow the crown prince was married while he was gallivanting around like that? Never even thought about him having a wife at that point, but there’s his father-in-law. Ewww. Poor woman.
(click for full size) So the actor is shorter than the actress, apparently...and their scenes are being shot to hide that. Okay fine, whatever, it wouldn’t be the first time. KBS probably has a Choi Soo Jong Technical Manual developed on how to handle it. But why give us this camera shot? It was so odd and distracting, what was the point? Not only have you exposed the whole thing you're trying to hide, he looks ridiculous standing there on the one little stone in that whole yard.
Taejong: ““Do you believe he truly and sincerely regrets his actions?” Hwang Hui: “The crown prince will definitely change.” Why would Hwang think so? The prince regrets getting caught, certainly, and he probably does regret the actions too...but for heaven’s sakes he committed kidnapping and rape! Yes we’re viewing this through contemporary Western eyes, but this isn’t the prince’s first trouble. They sure did cut him a lot of slack. Even if Choongnyeong hadn’t been in the picture, it’s hard to see Taejong letting him keep his position after so much terrible behavior. In this version of it, Choongnyeong even helps him out some by his presence forcing Yangnyeong to try to clean up his act. Which bought him more time, until his zipper got the better of him yet again.
“Grand Prince Choongyeong is hosting a party to thank us for our hard work.” At the same moment that Yangnyeong returns to the palace? Wow that is a low blow. I wonder if such a thing really happened or if it was staged this way to juice up a reaction from the crown prince one more time.
“Being able to sit around and discuss the classics takes me back to when I was studying for the State Examinations.” Well THIS party sure sounds like a raucous drunken blowout. Somebody call the cops!
So Choongnyeong’s wife goes and tattles on her husband to his mommy. Okay sure she’s worried about her husband’s welfare, but was that necessary? Can’t she try to do something about it herself? Maybe not, she doesn’t seem to be the go-getter type like her mom-in-law.
Queen: “Ask yourself at least once if what I am saying is wrong.” She really trashed her husband, that was nasty...but yes she is wrong. Or at least hasn’t practiced what she’s preaching, taking shots at her husband for character flaws. Does she think Yangnyeong’s character is worthy of a king? I’d very much like to have heard her take on that.
(click for full size) Don’t mean to go off-topic, but dang those are some nice built-in bookshelves.
Teenage boys glaring and talking trash at each other...I don’t care if they’re princes, it’s just sad. Stop it, both of you, you're embarrassing yourselves. Maybe they’re early 20s at this point, but whatever, it’s just awfully weak. Too much of this. Tough macho men in their silk robes, blecch.
But then we get a gem. First the meal that Ha Ryun and Lee Sookbeon are sharing. Lee says “Take a good look at how I take care of things.” Ohhhh you just know that won’t go well. It was funny. But you could see them on opposite sides about their situations...and then that painful sigh from Ha, and the little head-shake like this isn’t the way things should be....
Ha to Taejong, the next morning: “I am not a good person. I was born greedy for wealth. I could not overcome my instinct, and harmed you, your majesty. From now on, please let me be punished. Only after that, can I die with honor.” What a terrific character, how many times have I said that...and the little touch of music, for once it was just right.
“Take away Lee Sookbeon’s merit subject certificate and letter of appointment.” And then the complete 180 with Sookbeon, totally lacking in remorse and even seeking revenge on the people who called him out for his wrongs. The contrast was so perfect and so well-thought-out...whoever wrote this should be put in charge of the Hyeonjong drama. And the next one after that. Bravo.
The next scene fizzled. The ministers sit down with the crown prince to give him a chance to discuss politics. But right off the bat they throw something at him that’s so difficult that the ministers themselves have no clue how to resolve it. That was awfully rough—maybe acid-test necessary but unreasonable, felt very unfair to him. But what made it fizzle was that the prince had no answer, not even the first hint of something tentative to say about it. If this is such a prominent issue, there’s no way he’d have been so completely caught off guard by it. Maybe he'd say the wrong thing but he wouldn’t say nothing. So I just didn’t think it made sense.
Well here come the drums again, but this time you had to laugh. You have a lousy day at work...come home and try to relax and shake it off...but here comes mom, shows up and barges in without even a knock, to chew you out...and within minutes here comes dad to let you have it too. That is a baaaaad day right there.
Overall a much better episode than 29. Mostly it made you think about the substance of the story and not get distracted by flaws in the storytelling or production.