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Post by ajk on Nov 12, 2023 15:10:44 GMT -5
It's up on Kocowa already, with subs.
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Post by sageuk on Nov 12, 2023 17:43:31 GMT -5
Gang Gamchan’s wife sure is pleasant.
Nice to see Khitans without dreadlocks. And with throat singing as part of the soundtrack.
I can’t decide if Mokjong genuinely cares about his cousin or just wants to use him as a shield against Kim Chiyang’s influence. That flashback in the first episode could indicate the former since he bothers to comfort him before he leaves.
Also you may have spoken too soon regarding animals
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Post by truth on Nov 12, 2023 18:34:57 GMT -5
I have to say Mokjong's actor is the MVP of the 1st 2 episodes.
This drama is nothing like the previous traditional historicals as KBS decided not to hire the usual KBS traditional historical actors and wrote the drama like how fusion historicals like Six Flying Dragons would be written.
Compare this drama with the way previous traditional historicals like Jeong Dojeon and Jingbirok were written, and you'll understand what I mean.
There are only 3 actors that are acting in a "traditional historical style acting" in this drama so far: CSJ, Lee Wonjong(Kang Jo), Baek Seonghyeon(Mokjong)
And from the 3, Mokjong pretty much carried the 1st 2 episodes in my opinion.
* Good news: The rating rose to 6.8.
Also, the rating might not fully reflect the entire amount of viewers for this drama because this drama is actually being shown on Netflix in Korea.
Many people might just be watching this on Netflix instead of on TV.
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Post by ajk on Nov 12, 2023 18:55:26 GMT -5
Most of this one was terrific. But three things damaged it, and really pissed me off. Will save that for the end. Heck of an opening. Exactly what I wondered, yes they do think they can kill all the witnesses. And that court lady, talking that way to a prince, that’s exactly the kind of person you’d expect to be working for this Cheonchu. Still it seemed like there was a flaw; if he drinks the tea and the monks aren’t killed, it will be known that they were held at knifepoint while the prince died of “indigestion”...right? Isn’t that a problem? “No. Even if I obediently die, the people outside will not live. You would not let all of those who witnessed all of this live. I must stay alive.” And there it is. Nice piece of writing there. OK but now we’re on our third chase scene in two episodes already. Let’s not make a habit of this please. I remember the Seondeok series had so many of them, it became a running joke to laugh at them. “She is still my mother--I will not paint her in a bad light.” “My mother would never cross that line.” Seems like he should know better by now. But maybe he’s never really crossed her before, that could be. That was a fun scene with Choi Soo Jong. The henpecked husband rolling his eyes, haven’t seen him do that sort of stuff.  (click for full size)Anybody have any comments about Mokjong’s wardrobe? Is it wrong for him to be wearing this? “Would you say they outnumber those who are trying to bribe you?” Loved that, the kid looked like he just about wet himself. Yi Choochong: “It would never occur to him that I would be in support of the Right Senior Executive.” Well who saw THAT coming, liar liar pants on fire. “Guizhou needs at least one crazy man like you.” He was a significant character in IE but wasn’t given any kind of a personality or backstory like this. I liked it! Another example of what apparently is going to be the style here, of fleshing out characters and making them more complete and human. “See? The dragon is furious.” Generally it doesn't work well when the weather changes instantly to drive a plot point in a historical, but fair enough this one was very funny. I was trying to figure out how close Samcheong Temple was to Sinhyeol Temple. Seems like Wang Sun got there and back implausibly fast. Samcheong is on a mountain called Bibong Peak, but I couldn't find a location for Sinhyeol. Anybody know where it is, or was? Okay now my issues. One, I’ve complained repeatedly during other series about showing little kids in danger, how it’s a cheap stunt for melodrama and suggests the writers can’t come up with anything better. “We’ll kill the boy first!” And he’s whimpering and grabbing onto Jin Gwan. That was lazy, garbage writing right there. Awful. Two, not only did they use the kid, they used the elderly. Yes in history there was a palace fire. But why add this to it? Such a sweet thing, all of those old people getting honored by the king, isn’t that nice? Next thing you know they’re getting burned and trampled. Completely unnecessary and more of the same, just a cheap, repulsive stunt. (I’m assuming that this is not part of the historical record. Even if it was, it was way unnecessarily overdone.) And three…Yesterday I was thinking it but I didn’t even want to type it. But yes, they introduced the cat so they could kill it. What on earth are they thinking? After that horse died in the previous series, you just know this is going to blow up into an issue. Viewers are going to demand to know about that cat’s welfare. Yes I’m sure the cat is fine, I don’t think the director could possibly be that stupid, but why even show this? It’s completely unnecessary; we never doubted that the food was poisoned and by the time they showed it, the story had moved on way past the food anyway. And it’s just going to revive the horse controversy, which is the last thing anybody who supports historical dramas wants to have happen. Somebody should have nixed that while it was still on paper. (Oh and it’s not even original. God of War did the exact same thing. And it was just as unnecessary there.) BOOOOOOOOO Bottom line, this was a promising first weekend. A lot to like, and even the stuff that went a little over the top, it makes for fun viewing. I just hope they don’t pull any more of the cheap stunts that we got today. It just takes away from all the good stuff, and it won’t help us get more historicals. |
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Post by sageuk on Nov 12, 2023 19:11:18 GMT -5
At least no cats actually died in the making of this drama. I hope.
I hope they gave the cat actor treats at least.
I can’t help but doubt that peasants would have been allowed in the palace during the Lantern Festival.
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Post by truth on Nov 12, 2023 19:18:17 GMT -5
Anybody have any comments about Mokjong’s wardrobe? Is it wrong for him to be wearing this? Why would you say it's wrong? “Guizhou needs at least one crazy man like you.” Is that how the subtitle is calling the city? If so, the subtitle is totally off and the subtitle creator might be a Chinese person. The city is called Gwiju in Korean. Guizhou is a Chinese pronunciation of Gwiju. For place like Liadong(Yodong in Korean), I understand why they would use a Chinese version of the name since Liadong/Yodong is now part of China and has been part of China ever since the fall of Balhae. However, Gwiju has never been part of China and is still not part of China today so I don't understand why they would be using a Chinese version of the name in subtitle. Korean netizens would be furious if they find about this. I was trying to figure out how close Samcheong Temple was to Sinhyeol Temple. Seems like Wang Sun got there and back implausibly fast. Samcheong is on a mountain called Bibong Peak, but I couldn't find a location for Sinhyeol. Anybody know where it is, or was? It's Samcheon, not Samcheong. Both Samcheon and Sinhyeol Temple are located in today's Seoul. Sinhyeol Temple's name was changed to Jin-Gwan Temple after Hyeonjong took the throne though. “We’ll kill the boy first!” And he’s whimpering and grabbing onto Jin Gwan.  The little kid looks like this character from Up in my opinion lol But yes, they introduced the cat so they could kill it. What on earth are they thinking? After that horse died in the previous series, you just know this is going to blow up into an issue. Viewers are going to demand to know about that cat’s welfare. Yes I’m sure the cat is fine, I don’t think the director could possibly be that stupid, but why even show this? It’s completely unnecessary; we never doubted that the food was poisoned and by the time they showed it, the story had moved on way past the food anyway. And it’s just going to revive the horse controversy, which is the last thing anybody who supports historical dramas wants to have happen. Somebody should have nixed that while it was still on paper. (Oh and it’s not even original. God of War did the exact same thing. And it was just as unnecessary there.) BOOOOOOOOO The cat is so obviously a doll. You can tell by comparing the dead cat with the cat from the 1st episode. The color of the feet doesn't even match. In history, it was crows that died after eating the poisoned food. They changed the dead animal to a cat in this drama. |
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Post by sageuk on Nov 12, 2023 19:20:39 GMT -5
Can confirm that the subtitles are using Chinese way of saying Gwiju, Guizhou.
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Post by truth on Nov 12, 2023 19:24:29 GMT -5
Can confirm that the subtitles are using ㅅChinese way of saying Gwiju, Guizhou. That is horrible. Why would they do that? I'm guessing the subtitle creator might be a Chinese person. Gwiju was not part of China except maybe for a brief period of time after Goguryeo fell to Tang and is still not part of China today. |
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Post by truth on Nov 12, 2023 22:20:20 GMT -5
“Guizhou needs at least one crazy man like you.” Guizhou is a name of Chinese province in Southwest China en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GuizhouThe correct subtitle for the Korean city mentioned in this drama would be Gwiju or Kuju, not Guizhou. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_KujuTwo, not only did they use the kid, they used the elderly. Yes in history there was a palace fire. But why add this to it? Such a sweet thing, all of those old people getting honored by the king, isn’t that nice? Next thing you know they’re getting burned and trampled. Completely unnecessary and more of the same, just a cheap, repulsive stunt. (I’m assuming that this is not part of the historical record. Even if it was, it was way unnecessarily overdone.) In 1007, Mokjong invited elderly people over the age of 80 and threw a party for them. The palace fire happened in 1009. It seems like the writer lumped the two events together. Also want to point out that the all characters in this drama refer to Mokjong as "Emperor" in Korean, not a "king." The title of Cheonchu drama was the "Iron Empress," not "Iron Queen" and the title of Wang Guhn drama was "Emperor Wang Guhn," not "King Wang Guhn." Same logic here. |
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Post by sageuk on Nov 12, 2023 22:35:20 GMT -5
Even peasants?
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Post by truth on Nov 12, 2023 22:41:49 GMT -5
Yes, even peasants. Mokjong also invited disabled people to the same party as well. |
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Post by simisteve on Nov 13, 2023 17:25:41 GMT -5
For the record, KBS America is indeed showing this un-subbed. And in time with the Domestic and KBS World feeds as well, which I've never seen before (based on Eps 1 & 2, this weekend).
It was disappointing that here, the opening credits are shown in a tiny window, surrounded by an ad for a Toyota Mini-Van.
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Post by truth on Nov 14, 2023 8:58:34 GMT -5
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Post by sageuk on Nov 14, 2023 15:11:09 GMT -5
I wonder how Gang Gamchan is going to end up in Hyeonjong’s court, considering he’s just a magistrate here for the time being.
My initial thought was that they’re going to repeat the made up plot point that he was friends with his father but who knows…
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Post by MTR on Nov 17, 2023 16:45:36 GMT -5
Yes, even peasants. Mokjong also invited disabled people to the same party as well. Caligula did similar,he invited the elderly and homeless to a big feast on a barge and than sunk it .Vlad Teppes also invited the elderly and homeless to a feast and had the doors locked and burned the building . |
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