DJY and Sukyoung

[ajk]

Apparently nobody else will admit to this first, so...I was really touched by the scene Monday (#79) between DJY and Sukyoung. Thought it was the best scene of the week. We've seen so little of them together, and as for that whole arranged-marriage concept, yecch. But this was something entirely new. You could really feel the respect and admiration that they have for each other, and how comfortable they are with each other, like they're real equals. She's grown up and lost the snottiness that used to be there, and he finally sees her as a human being on his level instead of only a royal to be protected.

Made me wonder why there haven't been many more scenes with the two of them together. Even when he was paralyzed and she was attending to him, we saw almost none of it. I hope we see a lot more of them with each other now (but of course as soon as the scene was over they got split up--sheesh). They make a great couple.

[teacher]

I thought that I saw a far-away look on DJY's face, and felt that he was thinking of Chulin.
If given his druthers, I bet he'd be back with her.

[gpaul]

Sukyoung has been in love with DJY for a long time, but she knew he was in love with Chulin. Although DJY does not love Sukyoung with quite the passion he felt for Chulin, I believe he does indeed love her.

[zorro]

I don't think DJ has any real passion for Sukyeong yet either. I thought he dodged the question of marrying her several episodes back (years ago??) with the excuse that he would constantly be putting her life in danger with all his escapades. This time with the King's heartfelt request, he had to oblige. But I do agree he has much stronger feelings for her now.

I wish they would give Sukyeong more to do. She's been stagnant for so long now, that according to your "relativity" theory (brilliant by the way) she should be pushing 40!

[Nalbal]

I agree that the passion DJY felt for Chulin just isn't there with Sukyoung, but I think that he respects her and admired her courage and endurance. And she does truly love him ---she's loved him for a long time, and continued to love him even when he wouldn't marry her before (remember when DJY's father and some of the others were pushing for a marriage? DJY said he'd remain single!)

However, there was an...awkward...moment between DJY and Sukyoung. He looked at her with "goo-goo" eyes, grabbed her hand and said with a whisper-
"..Darling!"
I don't know...maybe it was the translation, but it just seemed out of place. DJY has been pretty mild to Sukyoung so far (whether he admires/likes her or not) and out of the blue he just blurts out "darling"? It struck me as rather awkward.

Why didn't he just say "honey-bunch" while he was at it?

[chocopie]

Hmmm if that was the translation then it was not very good (not that I am surprised.) He called her Boo-in (부인), which is an honorific title for your wife. More like "dear wife" and he said it in an effort to show his utmost respect for her. "Darling" would be more akin to yuhbo (여보). Yuhbo can also mean "hey you" if spoken in a harsh way but Boo-in is alway very respectful. Hope that makes that scene more understandable.

[ajk]

Nalbal, it was translated as "dearest" rather than "darling," which fits with chocopie's comment about the respect (thanks for the clarification, chocopie). You're right, though, he said it like he felt a little odd about it and was testing it out to see how it felt to say it.

Remember, for a while there he could barely even bring himself to look at her because she was esteemed royalty and unattainable. So this marriage/equal thing feels weird to him and you could see that he still can't get the hang of it. I thought it was actually kind of funny in a culture-clash sort of way. No doubt the passion will be there once he gets past it.

The Chulin thing, sure they were attracted to each other, but she was always torn about going back to her tribe, even when she said she wasn't. And he had barely ever left his home when he met her. Never really felt to me like the kind of thing that would keep two people together and happy for a lifetime (although maybe that's too contemporary a view of it).

[JP Paulus]

i actually think Sukyoung is a waaaaay better match than Chulin.

Chulin, though militarily tough, is a mess emotionally. She doesn't know whther to kill DJY or kiss him or both.

With Sukyoung, she seems to have always been interested in DJY. She's also always been loyal to the kingdom, to the point where she knows that she just might be put on the backburner with DJY, but she's OK with that. She has the same value as DJY -- the Korean people, and she understands the costs involved with that.

i have never found her to be "prissy" or stuck up. She might have toyed with Namseng way back when he was tyring to impress her. But i think deep down she knew he would fail, though her words might have inspired Namsend to try harder and perhaps not fail.

[ronin]

I always found the "relationship" between Chulin and Dae Joyoung to be fake and very unrealistic. That's why before I rarely watched the show or changed to another channel midway through the series. It's another triangle "soap opera" drama romance like in the previous series. I know there's interracial and inter-ethnic relationship or marriage back then like it is now in some places. But the characters are supposed to be two very different ethnic groups with very different languages and culture (I think). They wouldn't understand each other unless if they're speaking Chinese which I think is the international language in medieval Asia like Medieval Latin and Ancient Greek languages to the medieval European and Muslim kingdoms, French language in the 19th century, and English in modern times. A proud female Khitan warrior like Chulin (who is very proud of her family clan and her Khitan tribe before) would never abondon her family and tribe for a foreign guy she just had an attraction to and a bunch of other strangers she's never been with. A person like her would never suddenly become a Goguryeon "citizen" unless if she's really a backstabbing traitor. Chulin would have kidnapped Sukyoung and Dae Joyoung for ransom to make a profit for her clan. People were politicaly incorrect back then. Dae Joyung would have been with Sukyoung or another Goguryeon noblewoman he can relate to because of their shared language, culture, and homeland.

[ajk]

Nicely put, ronin. Chulin was introduced as such a fierce warrior and so passionate about her tribe. The idea that she would just go soft and start flashing goo-goo eyes at some foreigner, much less turn her back on her tribe and follow him around, it was just too hard to accept.

The language thing, I guess we kind of have to put up with that in these shows or a lot of the characters would never interact. But you're right, the cultural divide would have been a big one even today, much less back then.

[Nalbal]

I think someone mentioned it in another thread, but I think that the flash-back of DJY and Chulin was very touching. It really showed how much they both have "aged" since back then. Even Chulin's face looked a little rounder and more child-like, and so did DJY's. I have to say that so far the make-up work in this series has been excellent.