episode 32 - final episode

[ajk]

...is up on Kocowa now, with subtitles. 24 hours free with ads, then it goes behind a paywall and you have to subscribe.

[ajk]

This thread is just for episode 32. We’ll do a separate final-thoughts thread to review the series.

--------------------

32 was a lot like 29, 30, and 31. Lots of good stuff, much better than what came before them, some stiffness in the writing and a lack of good information about some things. The two differences: somewhat better on the information, and the good stuff was REALLY good.

Mainly the battle. A lot of this was as good as any battle scene we’ve ever gotten in a historical. Wonderful all around. The hand-to-hand combat that started the episode was outstanding. Great work by the stunt guys, really well staged, looked terrific.

(click for full size)

The cavalry shows up. What a gorgeous image that was. Worth every penny it cost. I can imagine the Korean audience went nuts over it. Then we got all of those interesting different weapons and tools that were used, again beautifully done and it flowed very naturally through the battle.

(click for full size)

And the CGI that was woven in with it was strong too—looked very real and convincing, not phony or contrived at all. Maybe a bit video-game-y at times but that’s the style these days so you can’t really fault that. Even the music—for the most part the music worked well and wasn’t too much for the action like it can be sometimes.

Only two things detracted from the rest of it. One, we saw it in the first episode, Gamchan stepping forward and whispering into a sword wagon and the entire army does a 180 and gets its nerve back. Wow that was bad. Obviously they wanted to give Choi Soo Jong a big dramatic moment, but it’s hard to believe that’s the best they could come up with. Sure when a commander steps forward and sets an example and throws himself into the battle, that can be inspiring, but this did not work at all. The other thing was putting Xiao Paiya on one of those moving camera platforms and pointing the camera right at his face. That looked like something you’d see in a Saturday Night Live skit, not at all worthy of the rest of the battle.

But otherwise, damn you just have to tip your cap. This was the most important thing in the series to get right and yes overall they got it very, very right.

(click for full size)

Anybody? Not a clue what the heck that was about. At first I thought it was a weapon, but apparently not.

(continued)

[ajk]

“I am hungry.”

(click for full size)

Intentional or not, goodness was that ever funny. Has to be one of the funniest moments ever in a historical. After everything we just saw, all the drama and intensity, what a line.

Then Gamchan stepped forward and picked up a dandelion that would never have been blooming on that date. Yes okay I’ll let it go, it's not that big a deal....

We know that XP and a very few men made it back alive, that part is accurate and I liked how they portrayed it. We’ve never talked about this but obviously there’s at least one place where the Yalu River is very shallow and easy to cross. We seemed to be at that very same spot often.

The moment with Kang Jo’s wife and Yang Kyu’s wife, Gamchan’s wife being so happy but sort of nodding to them and not showing too much happiness right there in front of the two war widows, that was very touching. Maybe the best moment of the episode.

Showing the awards being made by the jeweler, that was a nice touch too. And awarding them outside with citizens around, not sure it would have happened that way but that was a good choice.

(click for full size)

As soon you saw her you just knew this would deliver big-time. And it sure did. Another terrific scene with them. We’ll talk about this more but for now let’s give the actress credit, her name is Yoon Bok In and she was a perfect casting choice, totally nailed the role.

“You fought well. Now go and get some rest.” The Khitan emperor storms in, grabs the axe and screams, drops it and then walks away. No this was not adequate at all. For one thing, the relationship between those two has been some of the best writing in the series, but we’ve completely lost that. Such a shame. And more importantly, we got no better understanding of just why Khitan even attempted this invasion—why they thought what ended up happening wouldn’t happen. This was badly needed.

Hyeonjong: “A total of 9,472 people made commendable contributions in the war.” Wow he came up with that number awfully fast! Too fast, of course…but it’s interesting that such a detail survived to the present day.

It was fascinating to see all of the envoys from so many different places and wearing so many different styles of clothing, all lined up to give gifts to Hyeonjong. I wish we’d been able to see more of this (but it’s understandable that we didn’t). The music, though…wow that may have been the worst music choice in the series. Lousy music there.

As we got towards the end, they cleared up that business with the detained envoy, nice work on that. And then we got all kinds of good explanation about the aftermath of the war and how Goryeo positioned itself to maintain a peaceful existence for a long time. A lot of helpful information has been missing from the series time and time again, but here they got it exactly right. The big long lecture from Hyeonjong, I wish they’d found a more creative way to present that part of the story but at least we got it, so no complaints.

“Your hands are warm. They feel like my father’s hands that I held as a boy.” Sigh...Gamchan retiring, that should have come before the big-picture stuff, not after it. Okay yes give CSJ another big moment, but it felt like sort of a letdown. Very ordinary.

And then the ending, what the heck was that? It wasn’t good at all, just weird. Like some sort of zombie spirit took over Hyeonjong’s mind. And did we need to see those characters in particular? No creativity here at all. Iron Empress, for all of the faults that series had, the final scene out in the rice field was absolutely perfect. A wonderful way to end a series. Sorry to say but this one was a huge dud.

The final written text on the screen:

■ An illegitimate love child of the Imperial Family, the 18-year-old emperor was enthroned in the midst of political chaos. Nonetheless, Wang Sun managed to overcome his fate and defeated Khitan, which had the most potent military force at the time, leading Goryeo forward to peace and prosperity. Goryeo’s neutral and pragmatic diplomacy played a pivotal role in maintaining peace in East Asia for the following 150 years. After laying the foundations for peace, Wang Sun died in May of 1031 at the age of 40. In June of the same year, Emperor Yelu Longxu of Khitan also died. In August of the same year, Kang Gam Chan died at the age of 84.

[truth]

Mar 10, 2024 21:30:33 GMT -5 ajk said:

Showing the awards being made by the jeweler, that was a nice touch too. And awarding them outside with citizens around, not sure it would have happened that way but that was a good choice.

It did happen that way. The scene was 100% accurate.

Mar 10, 2024 21:30:33 GMT -5 ajk said:

“I am hungry.”

The Khitan emperor storms in, grabs the axe and screams, drops it and then walks away. No this was not adequate at all.

Historically, the Khitan emperor said "I'll tear your skin apart" to XP after he lost this battle.

Mar 10, 2024 21:30:33 GMT -5 ajk said:

And then we got all kinds of good explanation about the aftermath of the war and how Goryeo positioned itself to maintain a peaceful existence for a long time.

Difference between drama and history

Drama : Goryeo asks the Khitans for peace first and Khitans accept it.

History : Khitans asked Goryeo for peace first and Goryeo accepted it.

[ajk]

Wow that's a really significant difference--I wonder why they didn't give us the correct version. Doesn't seem like it would have done any harm. Actually it's kind of troubling that they switched it.

Good to know, thank you for that.

Were you impressed by how the battle was depicted? As much as Ansi in DJY?

[MTR]

I was very impressed with the battle . I just watched the last two episodes back to back .I know the obvious reference for the battle would be Game Of Thrones Ep Battle Of The Bastards, however i would say it was closer to Agincourt in Branagh’s Henry 5th .

The last two episodes were the best of the whole drama . I loved how they kicked the tension up a few notches in the battle of the sword carts . Obviously i don’t know Goryeo’s military tactics but the battle used formations favored by the Roman’s and Greeks not to mention the good old shield wall favored by both Vikings and Saxon’s . Obviously with all these cultures using similar tactics it was probably a no brainer for Goryeo .

It was up there with Ansi Fortress in DJY . The battle scene ranks up alongside some of the best . I loved how the plight of the ordinary soldiers were depicted .

The return home had the total feel good approach . The Khitan Emperor must have spent a small fortune on furniture . He does like to pound his fist and break tables and chairs .

The episodes are also on Daily Motion with a few annoying commercials .

I’ll save my final thoughts for that post .

[sageuk]

The battle of Gwiju was worth the watch, though I was a little put off by the fade to black before transitioning to them celebrating their victory.

Yeah those last few minutes were bizarre, primarily because a few of the people present tried to kill or harm him. I could somewhat accept Gang Jo being there considering he's all about defeating the Khitan and Hyeonjong's reign accomplished that but Dowager Heonae and Choi Jil made me raise my eyebrows.

How about just him walking in the throne hall or palace and have him think back to everything he went through just like how they did in Jingbirok?

I otherwise enjoyed the finale.

[sageuk]

Additional historical notes:

As shown in the drama, Gang Gamchan did in fact request retirement but it was not granted; instead, the king gave him a seating cushion and a walking cane. I remember seeing this custom in AOW in which Jeong Jungbu gets those. I think its considered a high honor to be granted those, though I don't recall the details of its significance.

Nine months after the battle of Gwiju, Gang was made Acting Defender in CHief, Executive CHief of the Chancellery and Executive Chief of the Ministry of Royal Secretaries, and was made Baron of Cheonsu County with a stipend village of 300 households (looks like his wife got her wish of getting land as a reward).

It wasn't until 1020, a year after the battle of Gwiju, that Kang Gamchan again requested retirement, a request Hyeonjong granted this time. He then made him Viscount of Cheonsu COunty with a stipend of a village of 500 households

So it is true Gang Gamchan asked twice if he could retire, the second time being allowed to do so, though historically it took longer for it to happen. It also happened after Hyeonjong sent an envoy to Liao "requesting to be a vassal again" and also returned a detained Khitan envoy. There is no record of a secret letter from Song requesting a pincer attack against the Khitan though I think it's not implausible.

[truth]

Mar 15, 2024 19:05:29 GMT -5 sageuk said:

There is no record of a secret letter from Song requesting a pincer attack against the Khitan though I think it's not implausible.

There was no secret letter, but Song did request Goryeo to help them in an attack against the Khitans, which Goryeo rejected.

[ajk]

Thanks guys, very interesting stuff. And always good to set the record straight.