[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner

[junee22]

@berny Hi chingu...sorry...I copy your image...it's because I found this an accidentally amazing...

Friends..remember when we discussed how Gwang Jong visions that HS has really similar with Wang Yo??? check it out..I've found a pic that shows WJ similarity with WS...kkkkkkk (credit to @berny)

A little similar??mayyybee??what do you think?? uri maknae prince has grown up 

[hobeverly1212]

Omg so many pages!!! At work n can't read Al the time... probably catch up on the latest 5-6 pages tonight.... 

 

[qwenli]

14 minutes ago, glacial said:

I can't imagine this ending right now because how will WS take HS's death??? omgg he loves her like, I've never seen a movie or book or anything where the guy loves the girl more than WS loves HS.  Even if they meet in the future, he won't be WS... IDK i won't expect a happy ending but.. i hope they have a lot of happy moments before the storm. 

Suggest u watch Empress Ki, the emperor there love the Empress to bits too 

[kasidhe]

Baekha and Wool Hee will have a child.  And from Baekha's line a King will emerge.  His name is Hyeonjong.   The writer really tried to follow Tong Hua's novel I think because in the original the 13th Prince did have a child.  Also this fit in with history also.  

[kyar7jizhenll]

@Hanazumi @ratgirlina @valsava "I heard about your plan from Wook. I was on my way back after receiving a letter" I watched Eng sub SBS version on KissAsian site and the above quotes are from there.  Of course, I do not know whether this sub was accurate as I don't understand Korean :) May be Korean speakers can help verify the conversation. From this, I got that CP was already on his way back to palace after receiving WW's letter and I assume he met Baek Ah on the way back as they came back together.

Don't know why my screen shots do not show up though I copied and pasted pics. I cannot do attachment either. I have no personal website either so not sure how to post my pics  So, technically inept  

The reason I mentioned the fact that WW contacted CP before Baek Ah reached to CP is for the sake of its importance on showcasing how cunning, calculative, clever and vengeful WW's is.  First, he wore armor to attend the banquet as he was already prepared to counterattack WY if WH's attempted assassination happened (in ep 12, he told his sister that he does not want to be upsurper of the throne but hero who attacked the traitor and that's why he stayed in WY's shadow. He was never on WY's side). However, at that time he was not too clear of the extent of WS's feeling for HS yet. Then, he overheard WS proposal to HS outside the banquet and the king lost conscious naturally.  Now, he saw WS more of a threat especially regards to HS's affection.  He also heard that WS would sacrifice everything for HS, would only become King for HS and he became very jealous and vengeful towards WS.  He realized that WS's has always been on CP side and he needed to make CP doubtful of WS loyalty.  Thus, he decided to get rid of WS by making him seem like a revolt and he asked his sister and his clan's army to block all the exists out of the capital the next morning so that WS could not get to CP. 

WW then tried to test HS's loyalty towards him and her feelings for WS by giving her incomplete information to trick WS.  He told HS of third prince and his planned attack to King's palace w/o telling her he already notified CP NOT ONLY to test HS's feelings and royality to him BUT ALSO to try to have proper reason to kill WS. However, he miscalculated the timing of CP's arrival and did not expect that WS would find a route to send Baek Ah to notify CP.  He made it seems like WS & General Park surrounded the king's residence and try to take the throne for himself, he and WY killed WS, then WY himself wanted to take the throne and he defended for CP by the time CP arrived. This way CP won't punish him for killing WS and general Park but would feel indebted plus he would be able to get rid of big CP's supporters and his love rival!  

There is no way that WW know Baek Ah left from unknown route as he did not know about WH & BA relation. He could not have sent letter to CP after BA left as it would take 2 days to reach CP.  Even if WH and BA used short-cut, CP and BA would NOT have arrived the next morning if CP was not already on his way back to palace since BA & WH were still resting at the forrest the night before.  Also, WW already told HS that she alone would not be able to reach to CP and knew that YH already blocked off WS leaving the city.  He was so sure that the only way WS could do after he heard the news of palace coup from HS (before CP arrived) was to defend them with army which would look like WS is trying to take the throne for himself.  That's what WY accused of General Park and WS when they arrived to king's palace with army.  WW probably already knew about CP's illness (plus CP is a lot older than him) and the throne would be passed to him after getting rid of WY and WS.  He was very cunning, trying to kill three birds with one stone except CP arrived before WS was killed and HS eventually found out about his move using her to kill WS (HS said that in her conversion with WW that he was trying to use her to kill WS and how could he do that after knowing she felt so miserable the fact that she caused Lady Oh's death.

@zi4r Ww has always been clever and is someone with big ego though he did not show it till ep 12. He seems to find ways to blame others or find other faults to make himself less guilty.  Basically, he has "narcissistic" personality if not as extreme as "antisocial".  He is very charming and considerate to others (to his wife, HS, brothers, and even to poor citizens) but deep down he only cares about himself, thinks he deserves the best because of his family background as well as his talent in both literary and military, blames others not to make himself feel guilty and does not mind to manipulate others not to make his hands dirty and achieve his goals (eg. using WY's hands to kill the King and WS). 

 

Edited October 5, 2016 by kyar7jizhenll
Add screen caps, grammar

[berny]

4 minutes ago, junee22 said:

@berny Hi chingu...sorry...I copy your image...it's because I found this an accidentally amazing...

Friends..remember when we discussed how Gwang Jong visions that HS has really similar with Wang Yo??? check it out..I've found a pic that shows WJ similarity with WS...kkkkkkk (credit to @berny)

 

A little similar??mayyybee??what do you think?? uri maknae prince has grown up 

 

Hi chingu....well they (potray) as brothers after all.... 

Wang Jung (14th Prince) though younger... has potential too as he is smart and courageous as his brother.
And he seem to have a good heart  (unlike the notorious Yo).
But how (aside from being good friends with HS) is he going to evolve in terms of being close to HS?
Would he become a baddie too if gets influenced with self-preservation, power & greed...and for not getting the girl he wants (like we know who *WW* )

[dzareth]

15 hours ago, millie10468 said:

Isn't it possible the King just asked for her. Doesn't seem quite illogical to me considering she's the only connection he has to his beloved Lady Oh.

 

Allow me to clarify. Should HS be asked by the king to attend to him due to her link with Lady Oh, I would have expected the king to promote her a bit and be more presentable.

[hrkharis]

1 hour ago, berny said:

When the MLSHR staff is a WS ♥ HS shipper....  lol

He cannot contain his feels...ha ha ha

 

And just to tally:

WS-HS kisses   (on lips)  =        

WW-HS  =  0

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

WS-HS  backhug =  ♥  ♥

WW-HS  =  0 

 

WHY? why ?  is Ha Neul (WW)  not getting any ? ? ? 

 

 

Because HS will not end with WW. She will end up with WS. That's how Kdrama always illustrate that if there is a love triangle, we should note that the female lead will not do a romantic kiss on the two male actors. So we can see that the female lead will only do a passionate kiss to the first male lead. The second male lead will only get a kiss on the forehead.
I've never seen in Kdrama, a female lead splits the passionate kiss or the romantic kiss to the first male lead and to the second male lead at the same time in a drama. 

[WeunXK]

 

 

Spoiler

c as labeled

==============

 

 

[lavendre]

As much as I'm pleased with yday's episode 13, I am honestly worried about the pace and development of the upcoming episodes. It took them almost 13 episodes for the love story of WWook and HaeSoo to finally kaput. And we're left with 7 more to show HaeSoo and WangSo love story progression, battle of the throne, death of 2 kings, marriage between YeonHwa and So?  

Oh my, there are awfully lot of things to cover, isnt it?Does this mean WangSo gets 1 to 2 episodes to romance the girl he has been dying for before everything goes south? Poor dude. Whereas our Darth Wookie had the girl's heart for more than 10 episodes. I feel that its too late for HaeSoo and WangSo's love story. I'll try to keep my expectations low with regards to their 'epic' love story because I am not sure how the writers are going to potray the unforgettable heart-wrenching love between HaeSoo and Wang So shown in the cversion. 

[enigmatic_zephy]

23 minutes ago, junee22 said:

A little similar??mayyybee??what do you think?? uri maknae prince has grown up 

Uri maknae is the only one who is driven by reasons of HS safety rather than lust ( Comeon.. even the truest of the love have lust as a component.. romance etc..)

 

In that sense, 14th truly is HS's savior..

 

( not to be misconstrued as putting down WS or WW)

[leejoongi1trash]

Ah, I see how they are going to spin this off. WW will pretend to be on CP side and insinuate that WS and WY were on it together (that way it will follow history there were rumors of WY and WS plotting treason during CP reign but he ignored it). WW will then be close to CP and manipulate him, he will come to know then of CP weaknesses and use it to his advantage. I will not be surprised if he is the one to bring back WY to kill the new king.  

And Jung darling will blame WS for WY death and join 8th prince not knowing anything (doesn't even know 8th wanted to kill of WY like an animal). Jung has grown up but still he doesn't know anything too naive to be really considered an "adult" like he himself said it. He still doesn't understand the intricacies of palace politics and life? And he expects us to believe he has matured. And gosh leave the girl alone she wants to leave the palace why does everyone want to bring her back (expect So). Wait for me bulls**t, don't they consider her opinions? Anyway at this point Jung is Wook trash so let's see how that goes.

[freckledcontessa]

Waiting here at the airport for my flight. Can't wait to lie down on our bed and watch the episodes again. 

Backreading now and i am still at page 925.

Anyone planning to go to SK later this year? I am planning to go back but alone this time.  I am nice. A bit b1+chy but that is according to my husband.

[leejoongi1trash]

10 minutes ago, dzareth said:

 

Allow me to clarify. Should HS be asked by the king to attend to him due to her link with Lady Oh, I would have expected the king to promote her a bit and be more presentable.

 

 

Yes but he is dying there is no time for that, priorities need to find CP. CP once he becomes the king will take care of that

[kasidhe]

The last episode really showed WS humanity.  WS became like a king that Soo was afraid of because that is what the throne does to a person.  WS is much more humane than any one of the prince because he tried to protect his older brother's dignity and also keep is younger brother's respect as a brother to Yo.  He cried because he felt guilty in killing his hyeong which goes against all Asian fillial mentality.    In Asian society fillialty is so important. Filliaty to your parents and to your elders that is also the reason why Wook asked to Yo how can you kill your father.  However because of his all consuming love for Soo he becomes a King that goes against his upbringing and his belief. That is what is being on the Dragan throne means.

[arabela]

I'm guessing till now pretty anything important was said about the last 2 episodes. 

I cannot contribute with something more, so I will just say my predictions for the ending  a mixture of guessing and my own fantasies

• my guess is they will stay pretty much close to the novel's ending , like there will be a miscariage, HS will want to leave the palace and her love story with WW will make WS let her go ; in the international version she will die without WS, but in the SBS version - in WS's arms  cant stop myself amusing how much they want to make the show more fan service for the korean public  
• there will be a transformation of WS, probably justified by his need to protect HS or maybe the throne, to become/or must become ruthless, that will cause HS to want to leave the palace; I have to say that I like very much the idea of their entanglment around his crimes: their friendship begin in fact with her acceptance for him after he killed those monks and with her understanding for his pain; and we see at ep 13 ending, they get even more closer around his guilt for stabbing his brother and her understanding it and the confort she can give him; So, maybe this will be her fundamental message for him, that also people around him and history will look at him as being ruthless and tyran, she can understand and forgive him, and even more love him; no wonder he is in a way feeling like nothing counts without her; I have to confess I would much more like the idea of her being able to love him even if he would need to be ruthless and reign in fear, than the idea of making him the man he was not in history; More than she having the power to tranform him or more than he being so HS-centered that he can give up anything for her, I would like to see that she was able to see his soul like noone in history saw it, to know his deep regrets and love him despite his ruthlessness and despite her being unable to stay near him till the end and wanting to leave. 
• having confirmed Lady Oh saying that people dont really change - HS made WW look for a while like he would change for her, only to become in time even more like himself; same could be with WS, who seems now to be so changed by HS, only probably to see him coming back to his own nature when he will think this will be best for protecting her or the throne (just to mention that his nature is not at all a bad one, cause even without HS we could see him as being able to have regrets, guilt, loving feelings, just that there was noone till HS to really trust him; in fact he really is a good person, just that, like for other characters, times and circumstances dont let him stay this way and bring out what is worst in him)
•  having the scene with WS standing alone and lonely as a king, just like in HS vision
• having WS unsecure about HS feelings after he will learn/suspect about her love for WW - oo, how will he remind she was asking him to spear WW life and all those gesture that he now consider to be normal because they were once relatives!!; And I hope that after these two last episodes, there are more people now who could believe that HS did in fact love WW; I find it hard to believe anyother way and more I find hard to understand why WS would become jealouse in the future when he will already have HS heart ..... his jealousy could be cause only be him feeling that once upon a time she also gave her heart to WW ... 
• they will meet in the future - I am 99,99% sure about this kind of ending ... also I have to say now, unlike earlier posts, that I like more the Cnovel ending ... maybe I understand more why the novel's writer said she cherrished her ending more than the one in Cdrama - in fact is not about an ideal, absolute, love thougher than time and history, but more about the how much great love can be even if it doesnt have the power to change destiny, people, history, even if it is not more powerfull than death, even if it doesnt end happily, even if it breaks your heart ... like real love in real life  it doesnt have to be perfect to be impressive!!! it doesnt have to be ideal in order to be great!! 

[amisyka77]

A spot on song for HS-WS epic love story

Their one-thousand-years love

 

Spoiler

 

"A Thousand Years"
 

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

 

 

 

[atgirlina]

17 minutes ago, dzareth said:

 

Allow me to clarify. Should HS be asked by the king to attend to him due to her link with Lady Oh, I would have expected the king to promote her a bit and be more presentable.

he probably would but he died. soo only cared for that last few days, after he was already very ill. because jimong secretly asked soo to prepare the king the tea lady oh used to serve him with.

[Yippeun_eonnie]

BLOOD TEARS

October 4, 2016

The throne is a powerful, yet lonely place to be. So steps up to defend the throne for the Crown Prince, knowing it is the right thing to do and what his late father wanted. Soo decides to choose integrity over loyalty, aware that she can’t change the course of history. For those who are not tempted (yet) by trappings of the crown, being pulled into a melee with interested individuals will only lead to heartache, heartbreak, bloodshed and tears.

Woo Hee fails to assassinate the king since the man himself faints first. Baek Ah, who I assume only suffers a nick, urges her to leave before anyone realises she meant to kill the king. The king is urgently carried to his quarters, clearly on the verge of death. He cynically muses that life is futile – he is here one day, gone tomorrow. He is happy at least to have two loyal comrades in Ji Mong and General Park. He makes them promise to look after the Crown Prince and 4th Prince when he is gone – he is done with his war, while those living have to carry on the fight.

Soo is at Damiwon preparing tea for the king and she thinks back about So’s proposal. The Korean version ends the scene here. I know I said I’ll review according to the Korean version but I think I’ll mix it up a little for this review. In the international version, Soo is reaching for a jar of tea when Jung appears and helps her take it from the shelf. He feels bad that is unable to help her but reassures he would be able to in time. He is now an adult and can take responsibility of her. He will keep his distance from for now and will prove his worth as time passes. Soo smiles gently, touched and amused by the youngest prince’s devotion.

The two queens are prevented from entering the king’s quarters. Yo, Wook and Won approach the outside of the king’s quarters, but are stunned to see General Park and his guards guarding the place. They claim they are here to see the king but General Park just smiles and said the king ordered that no one would be allowed to see him. If anyone insists, he would be taken as committing treason and suspected of trying to stop the Crown Prince from taking the throne. Won whispers that he can’t find So.

The king comments that Soo’s tea tastes and smells exactly like how Lady Oh made it. He weakly orders her to go to the Crown Prince, who needs to come back as quickly as possible from where he is to assume his heir-apparent position. The king informs Soo that he would be dead before the Crown Prince returns so they need to keep his death a secret till then. He warns her that would be people trying to talk to her once she steps out of his room. He instructs her to tell them that she is simply getting more tea for him as instructed. He warns her that if any man asks her whether he is dead, that person is eyeing the crown.

Soo runs as fast as she can with her limp, and runs into Wook, who asks her where she is headed. Soo mumbles that she is getting more tea for the king when Wook asks whether the king has already died. Soo is reminded of the king’s warning and demands outright whether Wook is after the throne. Wook admits he is but is doing it for her – he realised how powerless he was before when he could not help her, so now he craves power. He asks Soo again whether the king has already passed away and she numbly replies that she is getting more tea for him. She walks past him and he informs her dully that the Crown Prince is faaaar away south and won’t be able to return in time. He tells her that he and Yo will be spearheading a revolt the next day.

Spoiler

The queens are finally allowed to see the king but all the king sees is Lady Oh. He calls her name and breathes his last. Meanwhile, So is on his way to get the Crown Prince but his path is blocked by Yeon Hwa and guards. I think So figured something was amiss when he noticed Wook wearing armour under his robes and decided to get the Crown Prince anyway. He realises that Wook is involved since Yeon Hwa is involved. I’ll review the international version here for this segment. Yeon Hwa informs So that all roads to Songak are blocked and wonders why he is supporting the Crown Prince and not fighting for the throne himself. So says if he gaining the throne will help him gain someone’s love, then he will become king. When Yeon Hwa scoffs that the crown is not something so insignificant just to founded on love for someone, So returns that this is exactly how insignificant the crown is to him. So for the international version, both conversations, Soo-Wook and So-Yeon Hwa, are interweaved to present why each prince wants to become king. The Korean version simply cut short the conversation between So and Yeon Hwa.

Baek Ah is with Woo Hee, who is about to escape. Baek Ah demands to know why Woo Hee is after the king’s life and she snaps that his father killed her entire family, except her…thus her scars from that incident. Baek Ah apologises on his father’s behalf and apologies that he is the son of the man who killed her family. I like that he is rather matter of fact about the whole thing and doesn’t criticise, defend or advocate his father’s actions. He simply takes it as it is.

When Yo hears from Jung that Soo has been secretly brewing tea for the king, he figures she is the only one who knows whether he is alive or dead. He orders her capture. The Korean version shows Soo attempting to find So at the tower but he is nowhere to be seen. AHHH.. now I get it when in the international version, So asks her later why sought him out earlier. So this scene was deleted from the international version. So Soo tries to flee the palace but sees Won asking the guards about her. Someone yanks her and it is So, who has returned to the palace.

She quickly informs him that king has passed away, stating the last she saw him, he had trouble breathing. She also says that the king wanted her to get the Crown Prince back to the palace. Soo divulges that Yo is planning to revolt the next day and needs to be stopped. Ah…she didn’t mention Wook’s involvement. But So is sharp and asks how she knows, which she brushes off as not being important at this moment. So laments that the Crown Prince is in Hubaekje and all the roads are blocked. Soo brightens, saying she knows someone who would know a way to Hubaekje.

The person is currently being accompanied by Baek Ah, in the middle of escaping from the palace. The two couples run into each other and while So is suspicious of Woo Hee, he relents in light of the situation since both Soo and Baek Ah vouch for her. So informs Baek Ah that Wook and Yo will be leading a revolt the next day – So is disconcerted that he knows about Wook’s involvement but did not mention it to her earlier. Woo Hee says there is a way to Hubaekje that only she is aware of.

Meanwhile, Wook is plotting his path to the throne. Yeon Hwa wonders why he doesn’t just storm the palace now and take the throne since the Crown Prince isn’t around. Wook says he doesn’t want to be known as a traitor and he is prioritising – he is thinking who to get rid of first…Yo or the Crown Prince. His path to the throne has to flawless and without mistakes. He is more worried about someone betraying him.

That is, Soo, who is currently in the throne room. So pops up behind her, asking her why she is staring at it so hard…does she want to sit on it? HEH. Soo demurs that she isn’t interested and So replies many have risked their lives to sit there. Soo laments that the king abandoned Lady Oh to keep his seat and now… So will be fighting his brothers the next day. He wouldn’t hurt them…would he?

So clips she is worried about Wook…since they are relatives? EH? Does it he really not know or is he just testing her. If she cared for him so much, then why did she seek So out to stop him? Soo shares that Wook wants the throne because of her – he wants to amass power because he was powerless to help her before. Soo sighs that the king asked her to just go with the flow and watch things unfold and that’s why she is on the Crown Prince’s side. But if anything happens to Wook, she would be scarred for life.

So snorts with an indulgent smile and promises he’ll do his best not to harm Wook. Anyway, he doesn’t want to kill Wook, too. GAAAAAH. I love, love, love So here for being so reasonable and understanding about Soo’s concern for Wook but I’m really not sure whether he knows they were in love before. Yikes.

So adorably gripes that he may get injured during the fight too – isn’t Soo worried about him? Soo gazes at him with a resigned smile, reiterating to herself he is Gwang Jong and if history is accurate, So will live. So muses everyone must die one day, obviously wondering whether he would meet his maker in the battle the next day. Soo assures him that he would be fine and he smiles confidently and turns to stare at the throne in determination. The international version has him saying that Soo’s words (of being sure he is not going to die) makes him feel invincible. They both turn to study the throne that is causing brothers to turn against each other, lovers to betray and abandon each other.

Wook’s mom wants to cover the king’s face with his robe but Yo’s mom refuses to let her. So steps into the room coolly and both queens wonder why he is allowed in here. So states he is here to pay his last respects to his father. He kneels by his father’s bedside, overcome with emotion. Flashback to two years before in Shinju. Ji Mong hands So a box which contains a mask. So comments that the king sends him a new mask every year…which is the only fatherly duty he does. The King is parked in his palanquin some distance away, watching So fondly from afar. OMO…

So looks up, spots his father and smiles happily that his father cared enough to come to Shinju to see him in secret. The king settles back in his sedan, satisfied that he got to see his son yet overcome with sadness that he had to sent this particular son away. OMO…this scene broke my heart. I wonder if So is only remembering now at his father’s deathbed that the king did indeed care and love for him in his own way. He always thought he was being discarded by his father, always filled with hurt, but seeing the older man in death, it hits him that his father did what he thought was best for him.

I do think the king did love So and sending him away was the only way to protect him. So’s scar is partially his fault and he feels guilty, which is why he sent a new mask every year. He wanted to tell his son he had not forsaken him. He had General Park train him in secret and I bet my favourite heels that no one else in the palace knows the king visits So on the sly. So sheds tears and stands up. He takes the robe and covers his father. DAMN. I love it that both queens daren’t stop him, even his own mom. I love that So is the son who extends his father his last act of dignity; a beautiful, meaningful reciprocation of his father’s hidden love for him, an acknowledgement that his father tried his best to protect his scarred son’s dignity throughout his life.

Still shaking with tears, So orders Ji Mong to check with General Park how many soldiers and weapons they have on hand because at the next daybreak, Yo and Wook would be leading a revolt. The late king wanted the Crown Prince to be the heir and So states they have to follow his will. He’ll hold the fort till the Crown Prince comes. Both queens are shocked and horrified. Yo’s mom threaten to kill So if he touches Yo. So utters through gritted teeth that she can be accused of plotting treason yet she is making such pompous demands – she sure is one greedy individual. GAHHHHH. So’s fierceness here is glorious. He shrugs off his mom and stalks out. Wook’s mom stops the other woman from creating a spectacle – they both are in danger of losing a son soon and they should be thinking of ways to save them instead of stirring up more trouble.

Baek Ah is with Woo Hee, who is leading him to the Crown Prince. They have their moment and Baek Ah kisses her.

Dawn comes, and Wook and Yo are outside the palace. The place is too quiet though – it is as if their arrival is expected. Wook says it doesn’t matter since half of the troops are with the Crown Prince. He also has one request – that if So stops them, Wook wants him killed. DAMMMMN. And we have the naïve So earlier stating he doesn’t want to harm or kill Wook if possible.

The duo storms the palace, and find So and General Park waiting for them with a meagre number of soldiers. General Park warns them they are committing treason but Yo claims he is just worried about his mom. Wook spots Soo standing behind So’s soldiers and accepts bitterly that she has betrayed him. They draw their swords and Wook rushes to attack So first. He is getting pretty personal about this. They clash swords while Soo watches them in growing agitation.

It’s an even fight though I’m biased and love how LJK wields his sword. But suddenly, reinforcements arrive for So and it’s the Crown Prince, with Baek Ah by his side. Wook points his sword at Yo and the latter realises belatedly that he has been totally played by Wook. The Crown Prince commends Wook for informing him of Yo’s revolt in advance and he had been making his way back to the palace. Wook is one conniving fellow. Now he has the Crown Prince’s trust but I’m not too sure whether General Park and So are equally convinced. I hope not.

Ji Mong announces the king’s death and names the Crown Prince as the new king. The Crown Prince rushes forward to see his father but Wook drops to his knees in front of him and hails him as the new king. So follows suit and soon everyone is kneeling before the devastated new king who doesn’t even have the chance to grief for his father properly. Awww…tears run down Baek Ah’s face as he kneels to the new king, while mourning for his father. Yo’s mom comes out in a daze, her hair turned white overnight.

Soo meets with Wook and wonders why he lied to her. He refutes that she betrayed him, informing So of his so-called plans for revolt. Did she want him to die? Soo argues she was following what the king wanted and it was the right thing to do. Plus, So promised that he wouldn’t kill Wook. Wook is livid that Soo pleaded So for his life…so I wonder whether So could have killed Wook if he wanted to when they fought earlier. it dawns on her that Wook had wanted to kill So during the revolt and was using her to do so. OUCH.

Soo reminds him he once wanted to leave the palace with her. Well, they can do it now since the new king would have no qualms releasing her. Wook doesn’t budge, saying something else will happen again and nothing will change. Soo doesn’t believe anymore that Wook wants to become king because of her. She steps back and issues that she won’t be treating Wook the same way anymore. Wook inquires accusingly whether her feelings have been affected by So and she Soo asks whether Wook ever trusted her even once or have ever completely trusted her? She turns to leave and he states curtly he’ll win her back one day. Soo answers sadly that would be difficult task and they go their separate paths…never tread on a common one ever again.

Yo is chased by soldiers, with So, Wook and Jung after him. Yo is cornered at the edge of a cliff and when Wook raises his bow and arrow, So stops him, saying that they shouldn’t turn this into a hunt. Jung offers to stop Yo but So intercepts that Jung won’t be able to fight Yo till the end since they are brothers. So steps up to fight Yo instead. Awwww…he is willing to be responsible for the outcome and he would rather be the bad guy than have Jung do the deed.

So fights Yo and pricks him in his chest, driving him to the edge of the cliff. Yo retaliates and So ends up stabbing him, and Yo falls off the cliff before So can catch him. So is shaken that he has killed his own brother – which means he didn’t mean to kill Yo and probably just wanted to wound him and take him back to the palace. Yo’s mom goes berserk at the news of her eldest son’s death.

So is sitting stoned by the river and Soo arrives to join him. She asks tiredly why he wants to see her…and notices that he is crying. He chokes out that he doesn’t expect her to forgive him but he knows she’ll understand him. He blurts out that he killed his own brother and breaks down. Soo starts with patting his shoulder and finally, she embraces him as So cries his heart out. She understands.

OMO. LJK. Flawless again in this episode. Pitch-perfect emoting and boundless charisma oozing from every pore. But I have to commend KHN for turning in a great performance as Wook turns more ambitious, ruthless and cunning. I actually prefer this Wook than the placid one since he adds more depth, colour and intrigue to the story.

We can be certain that Soo doesn’t like So at all in a romantic sense at this point. Rather, she is touched and moved by what he has done for her so far, and sympathises with his inner conflict. That last Soo-Wook conversation is a major turning point for the whole story since Soo will now distance herself from Wook after he refused to give up his quest for the throne for her. This is when the So-Soo love story starts to develop more comprehensively.

Kudos to how the writer wrapped up the tumultuous father-son relationship between So and the king. So discovers in the end he always had a place in his father’s heart. It’s ironic that while the other princes were vying for their father’s favour in the palace, So didn’t have to do anything to earn his father’s attention and affection despite being sent away. The yearly gift of mask spoke volumes – So may have been seemingly abandoned but he was not forgotten. The king does have his selfish reasons regarding the crown prince, but ultimately, he did what he had to do to ensure So remained relevant to the royal family down the road, and developed enough strength and character to handle those against him.

I still get the idea that Soo is just reacting to whatever, whoever is around her and goes with the flow just because the king told her to. I would have liked better if she had made the decision herself. At least she showed some backbone when she confronted Wook – before the revolt and after. The thing is, LJK and KHN are much better actors than IU, which doesn’t help much to her underwhelming screen presence. I don’t mind her as Soo simply because LJK is just killing the role and dragging everyone along with him laboriously to the finish line with his amazing performance, blistering charisma and powerful screen presence. He is just eating up the screen and spitting it out through those glorious eyes.

The preview shows that Yo didn’t die and is back for revenge with a new hairdo. HA. Wook’s machinations will kick off in full drive from the next episode and it would be interesting to see how and why So begins his quest for the throne.

https://breathlesssurvival.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/22117/

[hanatanada]

Actually in the previous episodes, the love story had already started. It started from the time when haesoo stopped wangso from knocking the rocks over and showed concern about his injuries despite knowing that he killed people. That was when a relationship had formed between them as person to person and as they get to know each other more and more, their relationship got deeper and deeper, even if it may not have been love immediately, their relationship was much deeper than the relationship between haesoo and wangwook. This naturally progressed to love when wangso drank that tea for her, even if she was in denial. I actually appreciate how their friendship was showed more than love scenes as it made me realise the depth of their relationship, be it love or friendship.