Post by ajk on Apr 30, 2023 3:30:30 GMT -5
If you weren’t thinking about the clock ticking and the impossibly huge amount of stuff it seems like they need to cover in four episodes, this one was a lot of fun. The escape attempt, wondering how it would set up and play out...even knowing that he does get out of there, they did a nice job with it.
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Loved how Neunghwan doubted when no one else did. And then the queen, she knows Kyun-hwon better than anyone. The required I-smell-a-rat quota in any subversive plot, gotta have it and this was good.
Not complaining about the temple prayers at all--it’s been neat to hear all of the chants and songs--but one of the gourd players in this episode was consistently ahead of the beat and it was SOOO annoying. Even more than drink-from-an-empty-cup annoying.
But gourds aside, I loved that they’ve showed us so much of the praying and ceremony that we’ve seen at the temple. I wonder if some of the people involved were real monks. They certainly didn’t need to show it, or so much of it, but they did and It was excellent. Another example of how much money was spent to add things that weren’t needed but raised the quality level.
Employee of the Month award goes to Escort Choi. So much depended on her and she stepped up big-time.
I wonder why we never saw the kids. The writers have made such an effort in this series to show even pointless things and superfluous people simply because they’re in the historical record. And especially a couple of kids—considering how they show those two Koryo empresses in every episode just to break up the all-male storyline, you’d think they’d jump at the chance to show a couple of real kids. Weird. But give the episode credit for at least telling us what the record says.
And the Spouse of the Month is Lady Park, Kyun-hwon’s eldest daughter. She’s several steps ahead of her husband in figuring everything out. He’s lucky to have her. A shame we don’t even know her name! Almost certainly it wasn’t recorded or the writers certainly would have included it.
WG on what the astrology was saying: “These are merely predictions.” Yeah just once before this thing ends I’d like to see that astrologer fall on his face and make a complete damned fool of himself. Never gonna happen but dare to dream.
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BRAVO!!! WOOHOO!!! HOORAY!!!
So the actual escape operation, it left questions. They go to KH’s building…and they knock and wait to have to be announced? Valuable time wasted on pointless yakking right there. And then that business about subbing in fake guards, no that made no sense at all. Because sooner or later the real substitute guards should have shown up, and then what? The proper way to write this is to wait until the real substitutes show up and then kill them and hide the bodies. They’re already fed and liquored up so it would be an easy job, and then you’re not taking any risks. And it makes sense. A rare significant mistake in the writing there. And then why are they asking KH to walk so far when he’s old and in pain? More precious time lost. Yes he’s the emperor and you don’t touch the emperor, blah blah blah, but they’d have moved much faster if they picked him up and carried him somehow. Not the best part of the episode at all.
“So this is how it ends…I am running from the kingdom I created.” Another couple of genuinely sad, poignant moments with KH having to accept what’s happened. Although to be fair, he really has never owned up to his own share of the blame for causing this mess in the first place.
Another strong episode for the guy playing Badal. Absolutely perfect. Loved it. Grabbing his head and screaming, how funny was that.
Oh Darin explaining the complicated escape route: “They could sail directly to Naju, but Bekjae’s naval force is sure to block their passage. So they have chosen this route.” Nice touch for the writers to add that. Because it did seem a little convoluted and now we know why. Sure do appreciate the attention to detail.
Shin-guhm getting the news. “You call that an explanation!?” Well this isn’t the first time that Bekjae’s been embarrassed because the wrong people were drinking too much. In fact it’s not the first time that the exact same thing has happened, with Shin-guhm sending somebody alcohol and it comes back to smack him. Maybe the new, competent Shin-guhm isn’t permanent?
(click for full size)
Loved how Neunghwan doubted when no one else did. And then the queen, she knows Kyun-hwon better than anyone. The required I-smell-a-rat quota in any subversive plot, gotta have it and this was good.
Not complaining about the temple prayers at all--it’s been neat to hear all of the chants and songs--but one of the gourd players in this episode was consistently ahead of the beat and it was SOOO annoying. Even more than drink-from-an-empty-cup annoying.
But gourds aside, I loved that they’ve showed us so much of the praying and ceremony that we’ve seen at the temple. I wonder if some of the people involved were real monks. They certainly didn’t need to show it, or so much of it, but they did and It was excellent. Another example of how much money was spent to add things that weren’t needed but raised the quality level.
Employee of the Month award goes to Escort Choi. So much depended on her and she stepped up big-time.
■ A fleet of 40 warships...It is obvious that Koryo spared nothing in bringing Kyun-hwon. The historical records write about this time like this: “Kyun-hwon fled to Naju with his youngest son Neungyae, daughter Yaebok and concubine Kobe in the summer month of June and sought refuge in Koryo. Accordingly, Wang Guhn ordered General Yu Geumpil and a number of other high officials to take a fleet of 40 warships and welcome him at sea.
I wonder why we never saw the kids. The writers have made such an effort in this series to show even pointless things and superfluous people simply because they’re in the historical record. And especially a couple of kids—considering how they show those two Koryo empresses in every episode just to break up the all-male storyline, you’d think they’d jump at the chance to show a couple of real kids. Weird. But give the episode credit for at least telling us what the record says.
And the Spouse of the Month is Lady Park, Kyun-hwon’s eldest daughter. She’s several steps ahead of her husband in figuring everything out. He’s lucky to have her. A shame we don’t even know her name! Almost certainly it wasn’t recorded or the writers certainly would have included it.
WG on what the astrology was saying: “These are merely predictions.” Yeah just once before this thing ends I’d like to see that astrologer fall on his face and make a complete damned fool of himself. Never gonna happen but dare to dream.
(click for full size)
So the actual escape operation, it left questions. They go to KH’s building…and they knock and wait to have to be announced? Valuable time wasted on pointless yakking right there. And then that business about subbing in fake guards, no that made no sense at all. Because sooner or later the real substitute guards should have shown up, and then what? The proper way to write this is to wait until the real substitutes show up and then kill them and hide the bodies. They’re already fed and liquored up so it would be an easy job, and then you’re not taking any risks. And it makes sense. A rare significant mistake in the writing there. And then why are they asking KH to walk so far when he’s old and in pain? More precious time lost. Yes he’s the emperor and you don’t touch the emperor, blah blah blah, but they’d have moved much faster if they picked him up and carried him somehow. Not the best part of the episode at all.
“So this is how it ends…I am running from the kingdom I created.” Another couple of genuinely sad, poignant moments with KH having to accept what’s happened. Although to be fair, he really has never owned up to his own share of the blame for causing this mess in the first place.
Another strong episode for the guy playing Badal. Absolutely perfect. Loved it. Grabbing his head and screaming, how funny was that.
Oh Darin explaining the complicated escape route: “They could sail directly to Naju, but Bekjae’s naval force is sure to block their passage. So they have chosen this route.” Nice touch for the writers to add that. Because it did seem a little convoluted and now we know why. Sure do appreciate the attention to detail.
Shin-guhm getting the news. “You call that an explanation!?” Well this isn’t the first time that Bekjae’s been embarrassed because the wrong people were drinking too much. In fact it’s not the first time that the exact same thing has happened, with Shin-guhm sending somebody alcohol and it comes back to smack him. Maybe the new, competent Shin-guhm isn’t permanent?