Post by ajk on May 31, 2013 22:53:34 GMT -5
Note: This thread is specific to Episode 62. For comments about the series as a whole, please start separate threads. I'll have a couple of my own pretty soon but not just yet.
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The queen is grateful for the people's support, but understandably rather somber about the whole situation. And now she's looking weak and a little woozy, so she leaves the cheering crowd and starts to slowly walk back home, perspiring visibly. But now, wait a minute, there's a star in the sky that's caught the people's attention--exceptionally bright, shimmering, and now it suddenly falls from the sky--a shooting star. At that moment, QSD staggers from sudden pain and falls to the ground.
At Myeonghwalsan Fortress, Bidam and his forces saw the star too--and Bidam pounces on it as an omen. "The heavens are on our side!", he shouts. "For a new Shilla!" Wild cheers all around. "I will gain control of this country," he thinks to himself, practically channeling his mother, "and then, Deokman, gain you as well."
Now QSD is in bed, Alcheon standing nearby and a worried physician hovering over her but unable to offer any treatment. She sends the physician away, and Yushin happens to enter at the same time. Yushin has had enough of this and wants to know what's wrong with her. She launches into a story/flashback about a dream she had when she was still on her own as a kid, looking for Munno, in Manno County...and being hugged by a lady in a white dress. She had the same dream last night, she says, but couldn't see the woman's face either time. Which is relevant...how? She doesn't explain; she only gives Yushin the go-ahead "to execute this plan of yours. Do it tonight."
Yushin and Alcheon leave her, and Alcheon spills it; tells him what her condition is--we don't hear it, though--and it's bad enough to fill Yushin's face with concern and worry. So he goes back inside and watches her sleep. (I guess all the local paint had dried.)
Now Yushin is presenting his plan to eliminate the rebel threat. "We will all attack at once, from every corner." No feints, no diversions. Four gates, four attacks, all-out.
Bidam and Misaeng correctly assume that a quick, powerful attack is coming. If they can just hold out until tomorrow, they believe, they'll be invincible because so many additional nobles' troops from outlying provinces are on their way.
Not just four attacks--they'll all be simultaneous. With Yushin holding the main force in reserve for when the gates are open. It's an ambitious plan...with one problem, as Seohyeon points out: how to give a signal to coordinate the attack, without the enemy knowing that it's a signal. Yushin thinks about it, and has an idea: "We will push that star back into the sky." Something to not only signal the attack, but also to raise the troops' morale after seeing the falling star and wondering if it was a bad omen. But what does that entail?
Nighttime: Flaming arrows rain down on the troops outside Myeonghwalsan Fortress and the first attack commences. Shillans fighting Shillans, this is an awful thing to have to see, especially as the injuries and deaths start to tally. At one point Wang Yun, who's one of the Supporters, sounds a horn signal to retreat into the fortress, but Alcheon captures him as the rebels flee, and that's one less Supporter in the fortress. Now we see some kind of a big, weird contraption being hauled forward towards the battlefield.
Word of the amassing troops on all four sides reaches Bidam and the Supporters inside the fortress. It's all a deception, Bidam is convinced. "You must not let the movements of anyone but Yushin's main force concern you. If we can resist until tomorrow, victory shall be ours." Deploy no one and stay in defense mode, he instructs. Not everybody looks sold on that, but they comply. But now Yeom Jong comes running in, all flustered about something going on that he can't even describe.
It's the star that fell. The star is climbing back into place! Rising right back to where it was in the sky. Everyone is baffled and confused...except Misaeng. Of course not him, he's pulled off enough of these shenanigans to know he's not looking at a star coming back to life. "It's a kite," he says with a laugh. "Just a kite." Okay, that contraption we just saw being hauled, it looked like it could have been a kite; would need to be set on fire but that would explain it. But why? Just to restore morale? Bidam, impressively, immediately diagnoses it: "No! It's a signal. A military one! It's to divert our troops' attention."
And wow is it working. While the rebels inside the fortress are totally distracted looking up at the sky, government troops led by Imjong scale the fortress walls, ambush the rebels and get the east gate open. Alcheon comes charging right in, leading a large force. But wait, who's the last guy running in with the main force...it's Santak! Found himself a uniform and snuck in. Good to see he didn't fall off that ledge where we last saw him.
Bidam gets the news about the east gate. And now more news: Bakui and Dukchoong have led troops through the south gate. "Immediately transfer troops to the eastern and southern gates," he orders, "and lure the enemy towards the western gates. I will lead the troops firsthand and head there." He walks away, by himself...and is shocked to see Santak come running up to him. Santak whispers into his ear...we don't hear it, but we know it must be the word on Yeom Jong and that palace guard he planted to trick Bidam about QSD's intentions...and Bidam staggers off without a word, dumbfounded by what he's now realizing is a complete blunder on his part.
Inside the Supporters' meeting room, Jujin and Sueulbu and Yeom Jong are getting frantic. Time to get out while we can, they figure; head for the north gate. Jujin and Sueulbu run from the room. Yeom Jong stays behind momentarily to gather important papers...uh-oh, big mistake dude, because here comes Bidam, strolling calmly into the room and glaring at him. "Rat bastard," he mutters. "Royal Palace guard...Heuksan!"
Yushin has arrived now, and leads more troops through one of the open gates. It's only a matter of time now.
Yeom Jong is actually laughing at Bidam about having repeatedly fooled him, about his weakness for the queen, and how "It was your desire to become king, to gain everything!" Even if QSD had embraced you immediately and openly, he says, you still would have done all of this, because you're so insecure. "But you know that? Her Majesty, until the very end, trusted you. You were the one who did not trust her. What ruined this devotion of yours was neither Her Majesty nor me. It was none other than you." He's laughing his cynical laugh, gathers his stuff and starts to leave...but he laughed at Bidam once too often. Bidam draws his sword, grabs Yeom Jong by the collar, turns him and skewers him clean through the midsection. And stands there while Yeom Jong dies. Then Misaeng comes running in to urge Bidam to evacuate. He sees what just happened, and from his look of resignation, apparently he's not surprised it came to this. Bidam is muttering and totally unhinged now, and starts to leave the room...but Misaeng blocks his path. "Slay me as well." He laughs a little. "And I thought you took after my sister. How foolish could I be?" I was foolish to trust you, he says, as Bidam pushes him out of the way and starts to leave. "My sister was mistaken about you as well." That devotion of yours, it ruined everything. "So you still want to deny you weren't the one who ruined that devotion?" Now his amused cynicism is turning to distraught crying--almost a shock to see Misaeng like his. "You were the cause of your own downfall. You pitiful man." Bidam knows this now, and wonders why Misaeng didn't you warn him about it. I did, Misaeng answers. And so did Mishil, and Seolwon. "You just chose not to listen." Bidam turns and, oddly, forces a slight smile before he walks out the door, leaving Misaeng standing there alone.
Next morning: Looks like it's all over. We see Supporters being led by government troops out of the fortress, their arms bound: First Jujin and Sueulbu, then Ho Jae and Piltan. Yushin watches this, visibly dismayed by their betrayal. Imjong and Dukchoong report that the fortress is under control now...but "still no trace of Bidam, Hajong, Misaeng or Bojong." They're still within our perimeter, Yushin believes; he orders them found at all cost. And now look at this, QSD shows up at the fortress gate. Yushin asks her the uncomfortable question: What to do with Bidam if we get him? I already ordered him executed, she answers; "Why are you asking me again?" But come on, he's right to ask again. Just to make sure she's sure.
Misaeng and Hajong did indeed escape out of the fortress, and now we see them out in the countryside--at Mishil's tomb. Misaeng is reflecting on the life he had. "It was quite the journey. A most intriguing one." Hajong seems too worn out to do any reflecting, but he tells his uncle he envies him and they share a chuckle. Then Misaeng points out, You're Yushin's father-in-law; "I suppose he will spare your life." Will he? Don't look now but we're about to find out, because Imjong is leading a platoon that's running onto the scene to capture the pair. Imjong's isn't the least bit indecisive. "Traitors, accept your orders!" Hajong is shaking and whimpering but Misaeng is resigned and even smiling and laughing. I don't think this will end well for the pair, but we don't see it.
Bidam has ditched his military uniform and is wearing the kind of black outfit we saw him wearing in his younger days. He's out in the countryside, walking along with only Santak for company. Bidam is headed right to the main government troop encampment! Where QSD and Yushin are. Which Santak points out. Bidam turns to face him. "You may leave." Save yourself. Bidam hands him a gold amulet, I guess a reward payment for his work. And tells him, "Leave for a far, faraway place. Forget this all, forsake the blade, and instead use sickle and hoe." I have unfinished business, he says; something to say to someone. Santak offers to go with him, come what may. But Bidam simply says "Go. Now." And walks on alone. Santak kneels and bows, a gesture of respect, then watches Bidam walk a bit, and then turns around to being his own lonely journey. But no sooner does he turn than an arrow pierces his stomach! Good heavens--what's going on? It's Bakui and a platoon of government troops, emerging from the woods. Santak turns back around and shouts a warning to Bidam, and takes two more arrows in the back (That is NOT COOL). In seconds, Santak is lying on the ground dead. Of all the people to die, him? Wow. The troops run towards Bidam and Bakui points his spear. "Traitor Bidam, accept your orders!" Bidam doesn't even flinch. "The man who slays me will be lauded by the pages of history. Come!" He draws his sword. Now the whole platoon is charging him, of course one at a time (!), and he's killing them left and right.
Alcheon runs into the tent where QSD and Yushin are waiting, with news that Bidam was found and is resisting. Then some commotion outside the tent, and the three emerge to see Bidam on the scene. Surrounded by 22 troops in a tight circle, all pointing their swords at him. But he has a sword and a leather strap to trip them with, and in precisely 41 seconds he manages to kill nine of them. At that point everything stops. And Yushin steps forward. To fight him? No. "It's all over," he says calmly. "Stop murdering people and come with me." Bidam looks past him and spots QSD in the distance. With regret he tells Yushin, "we never had the chance to engage in a real duel." And then, wrapping his sword tightly to his wrist, he asks Yushin, "Will you do it for me?" As in, kill me? Or duel me? Yushin knows the answer and steps forward, and suddenly the two of them are whirling and flailing at each other. But wait, now Bidam is fighting is way towards the queen. And now running on top of troops who hold their shields over their heads, conveniently for him (VERY stupid-looking). He stops, assessing the scene and wanting to get to the queen to say something to her. (Why doesn't he just ask Yushin's permission and spare all this?) He fights on, killing more troops (this is getting ridiculous) and getting closer to her, but still 70 paces away. And now the Gayan crossbow unit shows up. Sets up in front of the queen, and a dozen arrows fly though the air at Bidam. He dodges them. Another dozen arrows. He dodges those too. A third dozen, which Bidam uses the body of one of his soldier victims to absorb. Seriously? Wait a minute--three of them got him. One in his right side and two in his left. QSD shuts her eyes and winces a bit as Bidam staggers and falls to his knees. Blood pouring from his mouth, he leans on his sword and staggers back to his feet, moving farther forward and now just 30 paces from the queen. He kills several more soldiers who charge at him (the arrows still sticking out of him) but now enough is enough and Imjong, Dukchoong, Seon Yul (Hey! Haven't seen him in a while) and Bakui step forward and start roughing him up. Bidam fights them off, impressively so, but they knock him down a few times and take most of the fight out of him. Still, he's kept moving forward and now he's just ten paces from the queen, who's watching this with tears in her eyes (for Bidam and not for all the dead soldiers in his wake. Shame on her). So it's up to Alcheon and Yushin to step forward and slash him with the final blows. Bidam tries to speak; we see him weakly whisper "Deokman...Deok...man" and reaches out to her, but then finally falls. And dies. With that, all of the troops turn to QSD and kneel before her. "The insurrection has been subjugated," she tells them, and then launches into a speech. "What is left in this country now is one mind, one spirit, and one united power vying for our grandiose unification, and walking along that path with resolve. All the nobles, the Hwarang and our troops, you all must convey to my people the wishes I hereby have affirmed, the end of this insurrection, and the advent of our grandiose achievements." It seems out of place, an address like that right now, right here, but she feels it necessary to remind her people what she wants from them and the troops all cheer her for saying it. As she listens to the cheers, though, suddenly she goes woozy and falls to the ground. And as she stares at Bidam's lifeless face, goes unconscious.
She's been brought home and put to bed. We see her waking up, with Manmyeong watching over her and relieved to see her reviving. She's been out for more than three days! Alcheon enters and is similarly relieved to see her revived. She thanks him for his good work--hardly what he expected to hear from her at the moment--and then offers him the Sangdaedeung position! Wait, not offers him; he doesn't know what to say so she tells him it's an order. "Follow my wishes." She's gentle about it so maybe it's not being forced on him, but what can he possibly say but Yes.
Later, she's sitting alone with Yushin. Asks him what Bidam tried to say to her as he died. Apparently she didn't hear it and wasn't able to read it from his lips. Yushin doesn't want to tell her--"I could never repeat something of such insolence"--but she orders him to and so he tells her about "Deokman." Which makes her think back to Episode 57, the evening conversation that we now see in flashback; her unhappiness that no one is even allowed to address her by name any more, and Bidam promising her that he will, treasonous or not...Flashback ending, she cries a little (What must Yushin be thinking by now), and then asks him to take her out to see the countryside. She's awfully weak but it probably would do her some good, if only for her state of mind.
So Yushin assembles a royal party and they all take her to a beautiful cliff that overlooks a broad, deep valley with mountain peaks behind it. It's nearly springtime; the trees are still pretty bare but everything will start budding and blooming soon. "I came into contact with many people," she tells Yushin, reflecting on her life. "Some of them protected me, others became fierce rivals of mine, and others even...loved me. Many came and went, but the one who has always remained by my side is you, Lord Yushin. We walked along that arduous path together. And it was only possible because of you. It is to you that I can entrust this nation, and all its aspirations left to fulfill, with full confidence and peace of heart. If the unification of the Three Kingdoms is not borne out of our hands, we will never know if this land will remain ours, or be ruled by someone else." Oh, and that dream she had twice, with the lady in the white dress? "I think I know who embraced me." Who was it?
Suddenly we've flashed FORWARD, at least thirteen years into the future, and we're seeing Queen Seonduk's tomb. Yushin is walking up to it--a much older Yushin. He's surprised to find Alcheon there (also looking much older). Apparently he thought Alcheon had stepped down from this post and returned to his hometown. But no, he's still serving. "You live up to your post until the very last moment, I see." They reflect on the Battle of Hwangsan Plains (in the year 660; see link in info thread), which allowed Shilla to subjugate Baekje. A great victory by Yushin, which they've both come to QSD's tomb to tell her about, in spirit. "The next step," Alcheon adds, "is Goguryeo."
"Now I know." Back to QSD. "The person who embraced me and shed tears." Again he asks who it was. Sohwa? Queen Maya? (What about Mishil?) "Yushin," she again digresses, "We once tried to escape, didn't we? Remember? Shall we do it now?" "You are making me feel awkward," Yushin tells her; "Why are you saying such things?" We don't know...and we'll never know. She closes her eyes, and as tears start to flow down her face, she weakens and goes limp. Her hand falls to her side--with her finger still wearing the Bidam ring. Yushin realizes that his queen is dead.
Now it's her dream again--the young Deokman in Manno County, suddenly being embraced by the woman in white. She squirms out of it and walks on...but then turns back and demands, "Why are you so suddenly embracing people like that?" At that, the woman turns around. It's QSD. She looks at her younger self, and thinks, "Deokman, the path ahead of you will be arduous. And it will be painful. You will lose loved ones, and experience utmost loneliness. It will be more barren and dim than in the desert." The girl hears none of this, of course, and asks again--more gently this time, because of the tears now in the woman's eyes--who she is. But QSD is still talking only in thought. "For it will seem like you have the world, but in truth you will not be able to gain anything." Giving up on getting an answer, the girl finally says, "You sure are peculiar." And turns to walk away, looking awfully puzzled--but then, suddenly, flashing a sense of happy resolve that may simply have been her mood...or maybe something meaningful passed wordlessly between them and just now took hold. Can't tell. Then with one final look back at her hugger, the girl heads into the busy Manno County street, ready to begin looking for Munno and encounter what life has in store for her. QSD watches her fade into the crowd. "But, still, you must endure it. All right?" And finally, she speaks. "Endure it," she says, a smile overcoming her tears as she thinks about what the young girl's future holds. "Endure it to the end."
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The queen is grateful for the people's support, but understandably rather somber about the whole situation. And now she's looking weak and a little woozy, so she leaves the cheering crowd and starts to slowly walk back home, perspiring visibly. But now, wait a minute, there's a star in the sky that's caught the people's attention--exceptionally bright, shimmering, and now it suddenly falls from the sky--a shooting star. At that moment, QSD staggers from sudden pain and falls to the ground.
At Myeonghwalsan Fortress, Bidam and his forces saw the star too--and Bidam pounces on it as an omen. "The heavens are on our side!", he shouts. "For a new Shilla!" Wild cheers all around. "I will gain control of this country," he thinks to himself, practically channeling his mother, "and then, Deokman, gain you as well."
Now QSD is in bed, Alcheon standing nearby and a worried physician hovering over her but unable to offer any treatment. She sends the physician away, and Yushin happens to enter at the same time. Yushin has had enough of this and wants to know what's wrong with her. She launches into a story/flashback about a dream she had when she was still on her own as a kid, looking for Munno, in Manno County...and being hugged by a lady in a white dress. She had the same dream last night, she says, but couldn't see the woman's face either time. Which is relevant...how? She doesn't explain; she only gives Yushin the go-ahead "to execute this plan of yours. Do it tonight."
Yushin and Alcheon leave her, and Alcheon spills it; tells him what her condition is--we don't hear it, though--and it's bad enough to fill Yushin's face with concern and worry. So he goes back inside and watches her sleep. (I guess all the local paint had dried.)
Now Yushin is presenting his plan to eliminate the rebel threat. "We will all attack at once, from every corner." No feints, no diversions. Four gates, four attacks, all-out.
Bidam and Misaeng correctly assume that a quick, powerful attack is coming. If they can just hold out until tomorrow, they believe, they'll be invincible because so many additional nobles' troops from outlying provinces are on their way.
Not just four attacks--they'll all be simultaneous. With Yushin holding the main force in reserve for when the gates are open. It's an ambitious plan...with one problem, as Seohyeon points out: how to give a signal to coordinate the attack, without the enemy knowing that it's a signal. Yushin thinks about it, and has an idea: "We will push that star back into the sky." Something to not only signal the attack, but also to raise the troops' morale after seeing the falling star and wondering if it was a bad omen. But what does that entail?
Nighttime: Flaming arrows rain down on the troops outside Myeonghwalsan Fortress and the first attack commences. Shillans fighting Shillans, this is an awful thing to have to see, especially as the injuries and deaths start to tally. At one point Wang Yun, who's one of the Supporters, sounds a horn signal to retreat into the fortress, but Alcheon captures him as the rebels flee, and that's one less Supporter in the fortress. Now we see some kind of a big, weird contraption being hauled forward towards the battlefield.
Word of the amassing troops on all four sides reaches Bidam and the Supporters inside the fortress. It's all a deception, Bidam is convinced. "You must not let the movements of anyone but Yushin's main force concern you. If we can resist until tomorrow, victory shall be ours." Deploy no one and stay in defense mode, he instructs. Not everybody looks sold on that, but they comply. But now Yeom Jong comes running in, all flustered about something going on that he can't even describe.
It's the star that fell. The star is climbing back into place! Rising right back to where it was in the sky. Everyone is baffled and confused...except Misaeng. Of course not him, he's pulled off enough of these shenanigans to know he's not looking at a star coming back to life. "It's a kite," he says with a laugh. "Just a kite." Okay, that contraption we just saw being hauled, it looked like it could have been a kite; would need to be set on fire but that would explain it. But why? Just to restore morale? Bidam, impressively, immediately diagnoses it: "No! It's a signal. A military one! It's to divert our troops' attention."
And wow is it working. While the rebels inside the fortress are totally distracted looking up at the sky, government troops led by Imjong scale the fortress walls, ambush the rebels and get the east gate open. Alcheon comes charging right in, leading a large force. But wait, who's the last guy running in with the main force...it's Santak! Found himself a uniform and snuck in. Good to see he didn't fall off that ledge where we last saw him.
Bidam gets the news about the east gate. And now more news: Bakui and Dukchoong have led troops through the south gate. "Immediately transfer troops to the eastern and southern gates," he orders, "and lure the enemy towards the western gates. I will lead the troops firsthand and head there." He walks away, by himself...and is shocked to see Santak come running up to him. Santak whispers into his ear...we don't hear it, but we know it must be the word on Yeom Jong and that palace guard he planted to trick Bidam about QSD's intentions...and Bidam staggers off without a word, dumbfounded by what he's now realizing is a complete blunder on his part.
Inside the Supporters' meeting room, Jujin and Sueulbu and Yeom Jong are getting frantic. Time to get out while we can, they figure; head for the north gate. Jujin and Sueulbu run from the room. Yeom Jong stays behind momentarily to gather important papers...uh-oh, big mistake dude, because here comes Bidam, strolling calmly into the room and glaring at him. "Rat bastard," he mutters. "Royal Palace guard...Heuksan!"
Yushin has arrived now, and leads more troops through one of the open gates. It's only a matter of time now.
Yeom Jong is actually laughing at Bidam about having repeatedly fooled him, about his weakness for the queen, and how "It was your desire to become king, to gain everything!" Even if QSD had embraced you immediately and openly, he says, you still would have done all of this, because you're so insecure. "But you know that? Her Majesty, until the very end, trusted you. You were the one who did not trust her. What ruined this devotion of yours was neither Her Majesty nor me. It was none other than you." He's laughing his cynical laugh, gathers his stuff and starts to leave...but he laughed at Bidam once too often. Bidam draws his sword, grabs Yeom Jong by the collar, turns him and skewers him clean through the midsection. And stands there while Yeom Jong dies. Then Misaeng comes running in to urge Bidam to evacuate. He sees what just happened, and from his look of resignation, apparently he's not surprised it came to this. Bidam is muttering and totally unhinged now, and starts to leave the room...but Misaeng blocks his path. "Slay me as well." He laughs a little. "And I thought you took after my sister. How foolish could I be?" I was foolish to trust you, he says, as Bidam pushes him out of the way and starts to leave. "My sister was mistaken about you as well." That devotion of yours, it ruined everything. "So you still want to deny you weren't the one who ruined that devotion?" Now his amused cynicism is turning to distraught crying--almost a shock to see Misaeng like his. "You were the cause of your own downfall. You pitiful man." Bidam knows this now, and wonders why Misaeng didn't you warn him about it. I did, Misaeng answers. And so did Mishil, and Seolwon. "You just chose not to listen." Bidam turns and, oddly, forces a slight smile before he walks out the door, leaving Misaeng standing there alone.
Next morning: Looks like it's all over. We see Supporters being led by government troops out of the fortress, their arms bound: First Jujin and Sueulbu, then Ho Jae and Piltan. Yushin watches this, visibly dismayed by their betrayal. Imjong and Dukchoong report that the fortress is under control now...but "still no trace of Bidam, Hajong, Misaeng or Bojong." They're still within our perimeter, Yushin believes; he orders them found at all cost. And now look at this, QSD shows up at the fortress gate. Yushin asks her the uncomfortable question: What to do with Bidam if we get him? I already ordered him executed, she answers; "Why are you asking me again?" But come on, he's right to ask again. Just to make sure she's sure.
Misaeng and Hajong did indeed escape out of the fortress, and now we see them out in the countryside--at Mishil's tomb. Misaeng is reflecting on the life he had. "It was quite the journey. A most intriguing one." Hajong seems too worn out to do any reflecting, but he tells his uncle he envies him and they share a chuckle. Then Misaeng points out, You're Yushin's father-in-law; "I suppose he will spare your life." Will he? Don't look now but we're about to find out, because Imjong is leading a platoon that's running onto the scene to capture the pair. Imjong's isn't the least bit indecisive. "Traitors, accept your orders!" Hajong is shaking and whimpering but Misaeng is resigned and even smiling and laughing. I don't think this will end well for the pair, but we don't see it.
Bidam has ditched his military uniform and is wearing the kind of black outfit we saw him wearing in his younger days. He's out in the countryside, walking along with only Santak for company. Bidam is headed right to the main government troop encampment! Where QSD and Yushin are. Which Santak points out. Bidam turns to face him. "You may leave." Save yourself. Bidam hands him a gold amulet, I guess a reward payment for his work. And tells him, "Leave for a far, faraway place. Forget this all, forsake the blade, and instead use sickle and hoe." I have unfinished business, he says; something to say to someone. Santak offers to go with him, come what may. But Bidam simply says "Go. Now." And walks on alone. Santak kneels and bows, a gesture of respect, then watches Bidam walk a bit, and then turns around to being his own lonely journey. But no sooner does he turn than an arrow pierces his stomach! Good heavens--what's going on? It's Bakui and a platoon of government troops, emerging from the woods. Santak turns back around and shouts a warning to Bidam, and takes two more arrows in the back (That is NOT COOL). In seconds, Santak is lying on the ground dead. Of all the people to die, him? Wow. The troops run towards Bidam and Bakui points his spear. "Traitor Bidam, accept your orders!" Bidam doesn't even flinch. "The man who slays me will be lauded by the pages of history. Come!" He draws his sword. Now the whole platoon is charging him, of course one at a time (!), and he's killing them left and right.
Alcheon runs into the tent where QSD and Yushin are waiting, with news that Bidam was found and is resisting. Then some commotion outside the tent, and the three emerge to see Bidam on the scene. Surrounded by 22 troops in a tight circle, all pointing their swords at him. But he has a sword and a leather strap to trip them with, and in precisely 41 seconds he manages to kill nine of them. At that point everything stops. And Yushin steps forward. To fight him? No. "It's all over," he says calmly. "Stop murdering people and come with me." Bidam looks past him and spots QSD in the distance. With regret he tells Yushin, "we never had the chance to engage in a real duel." And then, wrapping his sword tightly to his wrist, he asks Yushin, "Will you do it for me?" As in, kill me? Or duel me? Yushin knows the answer and steps forward, and suddenly the two of them are whirling and flailing at each other. But wait, now Bidam is fighting is way towards the queen. And now running on top of troops who hold their shields over their heads, conveniently for him (VERY stupid-looking). He stops, assessing the scene and wanting to get to the queen to say something to her. (Why doesn't he just ask Yushin's permission and spare all this?) He fights on, killing more troops (this is getting ridiculous) and getting closer to her, but still 70 paces away. And now the Gayan crossbow unit shows up. Sets up in front of the queen, and a dozen arrows fly though the air at Bidam. He dodges them. Another dozen arrows. He dodges those too. A third dozen, which Bidam uses the body of one of his soldier victims to absorb. Seriously? Wait a minute--three of them got him. One in his right side and two in his left. QSD shuts her eyes and winces a bit as Bidam staggers and falls to his knees. Blood pouring from his mouth, he leans on his sword and staggers back to his feet, moving farther forward and now just 30 paces from the queen. He kills several more soldiers who charge at him (the arrows still sticking out of him) but now enough is enough and Imjong, Dukchoong, Seon Yul (Hey! Haven't seen him in a while) and Bakui step forward and start roughing him up. Bidam fights them off, impressively so, but they knock him down a few times and take most of the fight out of him. Still, he's kept moving forward and now he's just ten paces from the queen, who's watching this with tears in her eyes (for Bidam and not for all the dead soldiers in his wake. Shame on her). So it's up to Alcheon and Yushin to step forward and slash him with the final blows. Bidam tries to speak; we see him weakly whisper "Deokman...Deok...man" and reaches out to her, but then finally falls. And dies. With that, all of the troops turn to QSD and kneel before her. "The insurrection has been subjugated," she tells them, and then launches into a speech. "What is left in this country now is one mind, one spirit, and one united power vying for our grandiose unification, and walking along that path with resolve. All the nobles, the Hwarang and our troops, you all must convey to my people the wishes I hereby have affirmed, the end of this insurrection, and the advent of our grandiose achievements." It seems out of place, an address like that right now, right here, but she feels it necessary to remind her people what she wants from them and the troops all cheer her for saying it. As she listens to the cheers, though, suddenly she goes woozy and falls to the ground. And as she stares at Bidam's lifeless face, goes unconscious.
She's been brought home and put to bed. We see her waking up, with Manmyeong watching over her and relieved to see her reviving. She's been out for more than three days! Alcheon enters and is similarly relieved to see her revived. She thanks him for his good work--hardly what he expected to hear from her at the moment--and then offers him the Sangdaedeung position! Wait, not offers him; he doesn't know what to say so she tells him it's an order. "Follow my wishes." She's gentle about it so maybe it's not being forced on him, but what can he possibly say but Yes.
Later, she's sitting alone with Yushin. Asks him what Bidam tried to say to her as he died. Apparently she didn't hear it and wasn't able to read it from his lips. Yushin doesn't want to tell her--"I could never repeat something of such insolence"--but she orders him to and so he tells her about "Deokman." Which makes her think back to Episode 57, the evening conversation that we now see in flashback; her unhappiness that no one is even allowed to address her by name any more, and Bidam promising her that he will, treasonous or not...Flashback ending, she cries a little (What must Yushin be thinking by now), and then asks him to take her out to see the countryside. She's awfully weak but it probably would do her some good, if only for her state of mind.
So Yushin assembles a royal party and they all take her to a beautiful cliff that overlooks a broad, deep valley with mountain peaks behind it. It's nearly springtime; the trees are still pretty bare but everything will start budding and blooming soon. "I came into contact with many people," she tells Yushin, reflecting on her life. "Some of them protected me, others became fierce rivals of mine, and others even...loved me. Many came and went, but the one who has always remained by my side is you, Lord Yushin. We walked along that arduous path together. And it was only possible because of you. It is to you that I can entrust this nation, and all its aspirations left to fulfill, with full confidence and peace of heart. If the unification of the Three Kingdoms is not borne out of our hands, we will never know if this land will remain ours, or be ruled by someone else." Oh, and that dream she had twice, with the lady in the white dress? "I think I know who embraced me." Who was it?
Suddenly we've flashed FORWARD, at least thirteen years into the future, and we're seeing Queen Seonduk's tomb. Yushin is walking up to it--a much older Yushin. He's surprised to find Alcheon there (also looking much older). Apparently he thought Alcheon had stepped down from this post and returned to his hometown. But no, he's still serving. "You live up to your post until the very last moment, I see." They reflect on the Battle of Hwangsan Plains (in the year 660; see link in info thread), which allowed Shilla to subjugate Baekje. A great victory by Yushin, which they've both come to QSD's tomb to tell her about, in spirit. "The next step," Alcheon adds, "is Goguryeo."
"Now I know." Back to QSD. "The person who embraced me and shed tears." Again he asks who it was. Sohwa? Queen Maya? (What about Mishil?) "Yushin," she again digresses, "We once tried to escape, didn't we? Remember? Shall we do it now?" "You are making me feel awkward," Yushin tells her; "Why are you saying such things?" We don't know...and we'll never know. She closes her eyes, and as tears start to flow down her face, she weakens and goes limp. Her hand falls to her side--with her finger still wearing the Bidam ring. Yushin realizes that his queen is dead.
Now it's her dream again--the young Deokman in Manno County, suddenly being embraced by the woman in white. She squirms out of it and walks on...but then turns back and demands, "Why are you so suddenly embracing people like that?" At that, the woman turns around. It's QSD. She looks at her younger self, and thinks, "Deokman, the path ahead of you will be arduous. And it will be painful. You will lose loved ones, and experience utmost loneliness. It will be more barren and dim than in the desert." The girl hears none of this, of course, and asks again--more gently this time, because of the tears now in the woman's eyes--who she is. But QSD is still talking only in thought. "For it will seem like you have the world, but in truth you will not be able to gain anything." Giving up on getting an answer, the girl finally says, "You sure are peculiar." And turns to walk away, looking awfully puzzled--but then, suddenly, flashing a sense of happy resolve that may simply have been her mood...or maybe something meaningful passed wordlessly between them and just now took hold. Can't tell. Then with one final look back at her hugger, the girl heads into the busy Manno County street, ready to begin looking for Munno and encounter what life has in store for her. QSD watches her fade into the crowd. "But, still, you must endure it. All right?" And finally, she speaks. "Endure it," she says, a smile overcoming her tears as she thinks about what the young girl's future holds. "Endure it to the end."
THE END