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The Moon That Embraces the Sun: Episode 14

Woohoo, things finally get good with some major, major developments up in this hizzy. I’d been slowly losing interest with every episode, resigning myself to the fact that maybe this would just be one of those dramas that lost steam as it went on. Thankfully, I think it just found its second wind.

I’m not going to cry about the loss of the child actors because that was always going to happen so there’s no use saying “I miss the kids” in every episode. What I missed wasn’t the kids, but the sense of a smoothly unfolding plot, and once Yeon-woo lost her memory and the two brothers basically turned into Mopey and Piney, it felt like the drama was just hanging on to one very simple plot element and dragging it out till kingdom come.

Now things take a huge turn, finally kicking the plot into motion again after spinning its wheels for ages. Better late than never.

SONG OF THE DAY

Wheesung – “눈물길” from the drama’s OST. [ Download ]

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EPISODE 14 RECAP

Wol is spared the greater charge of plotting against the king, but because of her and Yang-myung’s confessions, she’s culpable for seducing a member of royalty (using her dark arts), she’s to be driven out of the capital to care for the sick. She’s given a leather patch to wear as a scarlet letter, marking her as a lewd woman.

Hwon sits with Queen Grandma, his game face on as he smiles pleasantly and compliments her tea selection. It’s a special kind with health benefits, and he replies that it’s also known for growing more potent with age: “It’s like you in that way.” Did you just call Granny old? She laughs, saying it’s not a bad thing.

She makes sure to remind Hwon that he now owes her one, and that she’ll come to collect on that later — he’ll have to grant her a favor in return. I’m pretty sure she’s going to demand your firstborn, so I’ll give you a big hint now: Rumplestiltskin.

The king’s council informs him of an upcoming solar eclipse, and the ceremony that the court will hold on that day. They advise the king to be particularly cautious, because an eclipse is a big heavenly deal. With the folks in this drama being so superstitious, it strikes them as a bad omen to have the sun (aka king) completely covered by another entity (aka the moon). As an aside, can we take that symbology a step further for some solar-lunar convergence/covering happytimes, please? I mean, if we’re going to be so literal with the whole sun-moon business…

Hwon agrees to their advice to be careful. The ministers then inform him that Wol is going to be sent away the day before the eclipse, which angers Hwon — she was declared innocent of their trumped-up accusations, so why the punishment? But now both Yang-myung and Wol have been endangered by their nobly stupid attempts to save each other, because their association opens them up to the whole plotting-to-overthrow-the-king storyline that we saw in the previous generation, with Prince Uiseong and Ahri.

Yang-myung discovers this firsthand when he finds his path blocked by officers, who inform him that his movements are being restricted on royal orders. More like royal council orders, but in this drama the council basically pulls the little puppet strings. Yang-myung fumes thinking it’s Hwon’s doing.

Wol receives an unexpected visitor at her cell that night: Hwon, who reminds her of the order not to leave until he found a way to calm his chaotic feelings. He says that she had been right: “I had not been seeing you, but seeing her through you.”

Wol’s face crumples at that, as Hwon continues, “Now you can leave.” He offers her the chance to say anything to him, even if the words are hateful. But she says no, there’s nothing to say.

Hwon staggers out of the prison and breaks down into sobs in front of Woon, saying that he could offer no soft words for the woman who’d given him such comforting words when he needed them. Woon tells him he has done what he can to protect her, in his own way, but Hwon sobs, “Can you call this protecting?” I know, right?

Minister Yoon mulls over the matter of Wol’s familiar face, unable to place where he’s seen it before. Yesterday I assumed this was a reference to Yeon-woo, but today Minister Yoon lands upon the eerie resemblance to Ahri, whom he’d similarly tortured. He recalls how she’d defied him and vowed that the heavens would punish him for his evil deeds.

That night, Bo-kyung hears the crying sound again coming from the dead princess’s Hidden Moon Building, and asks her court lady if she hears it. But it’s only Bo-kyung who does, and that fact is almost as alarming as the crying sound itself. And then when she glances in her mirror, instead of her own face she sees 13-year-old Yeon-woo’s.

Ah, but tonight Queen Grandma hears it too. Like Bo-kyung, she’s unnerved when her court lady can’t hear it, but she’s sure it’s coming from the Hidden Moon Building.

Nok-young looks up into the skies with fear, understanding that the heavens will insist on uniting the connection that human hands have tried to sever. She feels the gathering energy for the impending “blood wind that will rage,” which nobody will be able to escape.

Min-hwa is also a bundle of nerves, though hers is fed by the guilt and trauma over Yeon-woo’s death. She cries alone in bed, thinking of Grandma’s words that manipulated her child’s mind into thinking that Min-hwa was the reason Yeon-woo was killed.

She perks up to hear that her husband has returned early from his trip, and rushes to see him. She grabs Yeom in a backhug and tells him how she missed him, and he turns and hugs her face to face.

The queen dowager calls the head of the royal astrology department to ask about the rumored crying sound, and is a little mollified when he chalks it up to the disturbance of the coming eclipse. But she gets defensive when he asks if she heard it herself, and she dismisses it as a ghost story.

The astrology official suggests she call the head shaman of Seongsucheong to deal with it, but the queen refuses. After all, telling the powerful (and currently angry) shaman who threatened to reveal your murder plot that you’re hearing the victim’s voice just gives her more ammo to use against you. She orders him to deal with it alone, and secretly. He suggests a memorial service to console the spirit, but since this is a rite performed by Seongsucheong, the queen is reluctant. He has one alternative proposition…

Nok-young bribes the prison guards to visit Wol, and gasps in horror to see her bloodied condition. The first thing Wol does in her tortured, battered, and soon-to-be-exiled state is apologize for worrying everyone, which sort of makes me want to slap her. You’re good, we get it. We don’t need to see the little birds braiding your hair to get the point.

Nok-young tells Wol of once having a best friend, whom she last saw sitting in this very prison. And that friend’s last words were to beg her to protect Wol. Tearily, Wol asks if that woman was her mother. Nok-young shakes her head no, saying that in trying to protect Wol, she endangered her.

Wol counters, telling her that she raised her well. She reminds her of the time Wol had been so dead-set against becoming a shaman that she’d been about to end her own life, but Nok-young had told her that if God had chosen her, there was a reason for it: “That no matter the pain or the despair, he had given me the ability to bear it. From then on, I began to think that there is no such thing as meaningless pain. God must be giving me this pain I feel now be for a reason.”

Yeah, or maybe there are sadistic fuckers using you as a political pawn. Just sayin’.

At that, Nok-young removes her outer cloak, rises to her feet… and sinks into a deep, respectful bow. Oh, now that’s lovely.

At Seongsucheong, Seol and Jan-shil arrive in time to hear a group of young shamans gossiping over Wol’s fate, gleeful in their schadenfreude. The leader is the girl who’s always been jealous of Wol, and she’s all but cackling.

Seol screams and attacks, knocking down the leader with a satisfying kick and drawing her sword on the others. They run scared.

Nok-young tells Wol she will have tribulations to face in the future, but that she alone will know what to protect and what to leave behind: “But do not seek answers from outside, but from within yourself.”

Wol is confused at the cryptic words, and also at the sudden change of address, now that Nok-young speaks in jondae and calls her “agasshi,” the equivalent of Lady. She urges her to remember that she is strong, and that her wisdom will lead her to make the right choices. Well, thankfully somebody remembers Yeon-woo’s supposed to be wise, since she seems to have lost that with her memory.

Nok-young ends by telling her to believe in herself, adding silently to herself that Wol ought never to forgive her.

She returns to find Seol waiting for her, brimming over with fury. Is she just going to leave Wol to rot in prison? Seol says she’s done everything Nok-young ever told her to do, including lying about Wol’s past to her.

Nok-young says that even if everything is cast in darkness, nothing can block the brightness of a waxing moon — so they can do nothing but wait for the moon to wax. The truth will come out in time, and it’s all in Wol’s hands.

Hyung-sun regards the despondent Hwon with sympathy, and tells him he’ll go make a snowman — understood to be code for letting him see Wol — but that this is the last time: “When spring comes, the snow will melt.” It’s a lovely moment in one of the drama’s subtler, more poignant relationships. Hyung-sun is showing himself to be quite wise, restraining Hwon from giving in to all his emotional impulses, but it’s not at the expense of feeling.

So Hwon, disguised as a nobleman with Woon, watches as Wol is led away by officers, wearing her scarlet letter.

Bo-kyung is enraged to hear that last night, Hwon was seen heading toward the Euigeumbu prison, and berates herself for letting Wol live. But another passing glance at her mirror shows Yeon-woo’s face yet again, spooking her further. She screams and throws her vanity chest from her, cutting her hand on broken glass.

The physician is called, but Bo-kyung screams that nobody is to be let inside. She shakes uncontrollably, holding her bloody hand.

Hwon encounters the physician on his way in, however, and arrives in Bo-kyung’s chamber unannounced. He sees the damage and takes the dressing cloth to bind her hand. Bo-kyung tells him he’s not the only one with a longing heart, because hers feels the same — he was her first love. She asks how he, after so painfully losing his love, could be so cruel to her.

At that, he leans forward to hold her while she cries, thinking that they’re all so sad and hurting — himself, Bo-kyung, his brother, “and her.”

Wol’s very public procession through the city attracts the attention of the people, who see her mark and hurl both insults and objects at her. Her mother is walking nearby and hears the commotion, and upon glimpsing Wol, she starts with immediate recognition. She pushes her way through the crowd and yells Yeon-woo’s name, which might be more affecting had we not seen her mistaking every random street urchin for her dead daughter in the past.

Wol turns back briefly at the sound, but her mother falls in the crowd and goes unseen.

But then the royal officers hand off Wol to new hands, accompanied by a bribe. She’s alarmed at this change in plans — if she’s not going to her intended destination, then something shifty’s afoot. She challenges her new captor — is he really defying royal orders? The man drags her away, saying he answers to a more frightening power.

Yang-myung hears the news that Wol disappeared in transit and never arrived at her destination. Perhaps she was attacked by robbers en route. He heads out immediately, only to be confronted by Woon, who tells him to go back inside.

Yang-myung takes out his sword, remembering that Woon can’t draw his without royal order. So will he break his loyalty to that rule to defend himself, or not? Yang-myung starts to fight him, and Woon gives a final warning — that holding a sword out of anger or love is a dangerous thing — before drawing his sword.

They fight, but Woon readily disarms Yang-myung, sending his sword clattering away as he asks, “Who is your anger directed toward?” Yang-myung says, looking desolate, “If I knew that, I wouldn’t be acting like such a madman.”

Woon asks why Yang-myung can’t understand how the king feels; Yang-myung counters, “How can you not understand your friend’s feelings?”

Yang-myung asks if Woon will report that he raised a sword to him. Since Woon is acting on royal orders, it’s equivalent to defying the king, aka an act of rebellion. Woon replies that although he has not forgotten his duty, today he was acting as a friend. Awwww.

It’s nighttime by the time Wol is taken to her new destination, and she’s surprised to find that she recognizes where she is: the palace. The queen dowager’s astrologer is there to greet her, and now we’re clued in to the suggestion he’d proposed to the queen to rid the palace of the ghost. They can use Wol as a spiritual vessel, capturing the ghost’s spirit in her body during the eclipse.

He calls it a type of sacrifice, because this practice is dangerous for the vessel. In cases where the ghost is strong, the shaman can go mad or die, which is why shamans rarely perform the ritual. But hey, this shaman is an expendable presence, right? I do love that they’re unwittingly reuniting Wol with her “ghost,” thinking it’ll serve their purposes when I suspect we’ll be met with a surprise.

The royal astrologer shuts Wol up the Hidden Moon Building with a brief explanation that she’s to comfort a ghost. Wol looks for an exit but finds all the doors and windows barricaded, and marked with talismans.

Now she recalls the gossip about the dead princess crying and realizes with some shock, “The soul I am supposed to comfort is the king’s woman?” Aw, that’s got to hurt — even though we know she’s really just jealous of herself at this point.

The day of the eclipse arrives, and preparations are made for the ceremonial rites. One Euigeumbu investigator is curiously absent: Hong Kyu-tae, the king’s secret mole. His hyungnim goes looking for him and finds him, hilariously, embracing a dead half-naked dude.

The officer jumps back and gives him the shifty eye, but Hong Kyu-tae is immersed in his investigation and wonders if his hyungnim has ever seen a dead body that hadn’t gone cold. If a living person holds a dead person long enough, can that heat transfer? (Side note: Who else thinks the royal physicians must’ve bribed their way through royal medical school if they buried a body that was still warm?)

The hyungnim retorts that if that happens, the body ain’t dead yet. Thank you. Somebody give the man a medical license.

Hong Kyu-tae reports his findings to Hwon: The body expired from an unknown illness, and bore no marks of poisoning or murder. The body remained warm for hours, although the doctor had confirmed that her pulse had stopped.

In the morning, Wol wakes up to find she’s not alone in the room. Her 13-year-old self sits there with her back to Wol, who has expected something of the sort and addresses her sympathetically. She asks what happened to make the girl cry — is it because she misses the king? Is there something she wants to tell him? She asks to know what it is, so she can do what the ghost wishes.

Yeon-woo slowly turns to face Wol — and Wol’s eyes widen, as though in recognition.

And Wol awakens. She’s in the same room as before, but no Yeon-woo this time. Are we in a dream, or are we in a possession? Wol painfully crawls from her sleeping position, gasping for breath.

She drags herself toward the door, mirroring young Yeon-woo dragging herself out of bed the night she was attacked by dark magic in this room. Ah, so it looks like possession, allowing Wol to relive the story the ghost wants her to see.

Hwon takes his place at the rites, as the court awaits. The eclipse begins.

Nok-young narrates as the eclipse reaches its zenith, explaining the heavenly event that will reunite that severed connection, and how everything will be returned to its rightful place.

Hwon sits under the darkened sky, mulling over the details — an illness with no source. A murder leaving no trace. He thinks of his own mysterious illness, and connects the dots: spiritual attack.

Wol collapses at the door, flashing back to eight years ago when she heard Nok-young explaining to her father that Yeon-woo was suffering a spiritual ailment. She remembers the coffin she was trapped in, and being pulled out. Looking up at the face of Nok-young. Her father feeding her the medicine. Dying in his arms.

Are the dots finally connected? Wol cries, “Father. Mom. Mom!”

More flashes: seeing young Hwon for the first time, running through the palace with him, the puppet show they watched together. All her memories come flooding back, and Wol cries in great, anguished wails.

Nok-young comes to Ahri’s grave and thinks sorrowfully that Wol will have uncovered her own secrets, but now is headed for a different, new kind of pain. She prays for their protection.

As the eclipse ends and the sun reappears, Hwon comes to a conclusion: “Black arts.” He orders Hyung-sun to bring Seongsucheong’s head shaman to him, but secretly. He needs to ask her whether one can kill using such arts.

The queen’s astrologer comes to Hidden Moon Building, ready to have Wol’s dead body disposed of quietly if necessary. He finds her in the room, hunched over creepily, and sends his officer to check whether she’s dead.

Wol raises her head slowly, and he asks nervously if she was able to console the ghost. Wol answers, “Yes. That girl will cry no more.”

 
COMMENTS

Finally! I think it took way too long to get here, but at this point I’m just relieved that we’re here at all. At first I worried that Wol’s memories would again be interpreted as shamanic visions, since she could have just believed that she was possessed by the ghost, and that the memories belonged to the girl. But coming face to face with the dead princess, and realizing that she looks just like herself at that age — that provides a jolt she hasn’t had before. (I suppose that’s the flaw in using flashbacks for memory sequences, since WE see what Yeon-woo looked like as a child, but Wol wouldn’t be seeing herself in her memories.)

So I’m relieved to find that the amnesia arc is indeed over — Nok-young’s comments are fairly decisive about Wol recovering her memory — and that we can proceed to the fallout. Because in stories that hinge great big dramatic devices like amnesia (or birth secrets, or identity swaps), the fallout is way more interesting than the setup anyway. Are we gonna get a taste of some revenge? Oh, I hope Wol gets all revengey on the queen’s ass. Pretty please?

Wol finally stepped it up as an interesting character in this episode, after being rather placid and frustratingly passive for a while. I understand why she was that way, given the whole shamans-are-not-people line of thinking that has been drummed into her head, but it doesn’t mean I liked her for it. But I love the ending of this episode, since an angry Wol — or should we call her Yeon-woo now? — is a much more compelling character. I want to see her go all-out and finally put her wits to good use in combating the old bat and her cronies, and giving Bo-kyung what-for.

Now that she knows what her rightful place is, and has an understanding of how things have been stolen from her, I anticipate a fiery clash. And while I thought her reunion with the king as an adult left something to be desired, now I’m on pins and needles to see how the reunion goes, now that she’s in possession of her full identity.

Nok-young foretold of things returning to their rightful places, and if we’re going to get a restoration of order and a downfall of our villains, we’re gonna have to get this train movin’. Lots of ground to cover in three weeks, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — maybe it’ll speed up the plodding pace and recapture some of that early excitement. And speaking of remaining episodes: Extension rumors are, as yet, simply rumors. The articles reporting an extension cite no sources, while the subsequent reports denying the story cite an actor’s agency and the production company. The current situation: Nothing has been decided. It may happen, but I wouldn’t count on it yet.

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Thanks for the recaps! I find the story interesting enough to follow but not interesting enough to actually watch entire episodes except for the few childhood ones. I hope Yeon-woo gets some revenge - you know, get all Count of Monte Cristo up in the evildoers faces.

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I am one of those who have no time to watch this show, so I am very grateful for these recaps! This coupled with my seldom used imagination, makes for very interesting shots in my day hehe

I didn't want to bring this up, but since you said Rumplestiltskin first, I would just like to humbly recommend ABC's Once Upon a time for people who like warped ( NOT RA) fairytales hehe.... Thats all ... *gulp*

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love that show .And the guy playing Rumplestiltskin,he was born for that role

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yaaay =D He is isn't he?

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Finally something interesting is happening again! I was starting to lose hope in this drama as all the mopey face and all the baddies winning every round was starting to piss me off! Now we are talking!! COME AT ME WOL!!!!!! I love this episode!! Thanks for the recap!!

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I guess because I only like Yang Myung in this whooleee drama, Woon is pissing me off. He's so handsome but asdfsaldf why can't he see that the KING HAS EVERYTHING (and will get everything) and Yang Myung gets NOTHING! asdf

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Really? The king has everything? The guy doesn't have any power as a king and is basically a puppet used by the baddies, has none of the ministers on his side, can't do anything to save the woman he loves, his brother is most likely going to plot to overthrow him, the only people he can really trust and who are on his side are Hyunsung and Woon. How is that having everything?

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heh..this, ditto.

perhaps i'm one of the minority who's still rooting for the King...go, Hwon, go! ^.^

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at least he has the crown. Yangmyung doesn't have anything.

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I hear you Jo. By the numbers-

Daddy's love, openly expressed: King 1, YM 0
First place in Mom's prayers: King 2, YM 0
Heart of girl both love: King 3, YM 0
Crown/kingdom: King 4, YM 0
Woon's undivided loyalty: King 5, YM .5

I'm just sayin' !

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Thank you for the recap!

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Okay this is frustrating. For how long do I have to wait to see a storyline for Seol? I get that she's not one of the bigger characters but seriously, with too many episodes in to their adulthood, the writers should have already thought to give the other (more interesting, really) characters a break. Oh well. It is what it is.

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If Wol becomes vengeful, maybe she'll send Seol to carry out her plans...And then one of those plans may involve or affect Princess Min-hwa which in turn affects Prince Yeom.

Thanks JB for this wonderful recap! :)

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I remember that in one of the episodes, it was said that the moon will bring down punishment, especially on the Queen Dowager, Bo-kyung's father, and maybe to Bo-kyung herself...

I mean... this drama's going to be vengeful!!!

MoonSun came with an extreme comeback. I wish, though, Yang-myung and Hwon will participate in Wol's bringing of divine punishment. Now... That will be DAMN FUN.

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Was I the only one expecting EXO K or EXO M to start singing during this episode? The eclipse tie-in would have been perfect.
SM Entertainment you missed a primed opportunity *sigh*

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FINALLY~! COMPELLING EPISODE! I LOVE the ending so much! “Yes. That girl will cry no more.” It's like a hidden way of saying, I'M BACK! I'm finally SUPER excited for next week's episode. Thank-you so much for the recaps!

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I need to see more of Woon's side. Writers, give him some story for goodness' sake. I know he's deep, sensitive and quiet but... that's just that. I hope next week's episodes make a breakthrough. I'll have my fingers crossed.

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jv u r absolutely fantastic loved the episode cant wait for more thank you so much!!!!!!!!!

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Lols. Thanks for the recap! I can feel some of your irritation and anger leak out, which is always fun.

It'll be fun to see how the King and council deal with the fact that the King now suddenly has 2 wives, neither consummated. I was disappointed in Yang Myung here, because it sounded like he was resolved to do something from the previous episode only to get written off again.

I really hope he rises to challeng Hwon's power and ruler status- maybe not seriously, but even in just an instigating way - too lash out and keep his brother-king on his toes would be fun.
At this point I almost wished Wol had shaman powers of some sort. After all the crap she's been through, some actual power compensation would be fun for her anger-revenge mode. Seriously, so far it's only been, evil-empty girl-bride of Hwon, power-empty shaman girl, power-empty shaman adult, past-memory-empty life, love-empty avatar for Yeonwoo-and hwon's love.....wowzers. Someone, fill the girl with something!

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lol cldnt agree more pls fill her with sth,anything!

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omg finally she got her memory back...i have been just reading recap because the plot is just dragging. Now I am going to watch this episode :)

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Well, it's about time they did something. Gonna be honest though, I'm still wary about the next few episodes. I watched this episode after skipping the last 3 or was it 4?

Anyway, I'm still detached about HGI's acting even if she did step up a little bit. I read some stuff earlier excessively praising her acting and I was like, Eh?. One scene does not make her a good actress and is no guarantee that she'll be good in next week's episode. Not holding my breath. Besides, I think it has more to do with the new plot & character development. The character became more interesting not HGI's acting per se.

So that ends my rant.

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Lol same here. She did good in ONE scene and some people called her daebak. Hilarious.

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The problem with HGI is her eyes are very vacant. That last scene with Wol did nothing for me. I have no clue what emotions she was trying to convey. She looked like she was about to crack a smile, and not the devious kind.

Her acting in the regaining of memory scene was ok, decent, if you want to be generous. But, she's not a good actress. This scene actually further proves that she isn't. The editor did is a good job here. Notice the quick cuts to multiple angles and closeups, and the extensive flashback scenes. It did well to make up for the tension that was lacking in HGI's acting, it distracted viewers from her big weakness (which is that she has no intensity in her eyes).

I haven't been one of the ones commenting harshly on her acting. Fortunately for her, she's really pretty and has a natural warmth in her screen presence, so I can overlook the poor acting and haven't been too bothered by it because she does look the part. All the praise she's getting for this one scene though is a bit bizarre. It seems fans of the drama are trying to overcompensate for all her acting criticism by excessively praising her for simply being able to wail loudly and stare blankly with a straight face. Sure, she didn't completely blow it, so that's a relief. But silencing the critics? Proving she's an excellent actress? Yeah, no.

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Noticed that these 2 episode recaps both had Wol's torture photo as cover picture. Were the episodes really that boring that only her torture was exciting? lol.

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Seriously man....Why do I feel only for Yang Myung!
Why is that these characters dont get the happy ending that they deserve man. He lost his friend, his brother but he strill loves them man.

But back to the main character Wol....@$%@$@%$ its about time she remembered!!! :)

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I laughed out loud at "I’ll give you a big hint now: Rumplestiltskin." I do not think I will be watching this drama (I already have 30 shows in my queue in Dramafever), but I will continue to read the recaps because they make me laugh even during the tense parts.

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FINALLY! GEES some progress. Why couldn't this happen last episode or even the episode from last week. This drama better get a f***ing extension I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

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She's back! and none too soon....
Getting tired of Wol who was such a goody 2 shoes wuss.

Hope smart Yeon Woo gets even with the old bag Queen Dowager, Queen Bo Kyung, and her father. REVENGE TIME!!! I hopes she scares the living daylights out of Bo kyung and kicks her out of the palace.

Hwon has got to find out that WOL is Yeon Woo. Hurry up Woon and find out the truth. More Woon...please.The king's character is driving me crazy.Is he that stupid? He has to stop fainting and get some romance back with the real Yeon Woo.

Also, Yeom should slap his wife for lying to him for 8 years. She's been smiley face to him all these years with a terrible lie which affected his family.

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Not following this drama, I'll take a look after all the episodes have been subbed. Too busy watching SU:FBB (drama of the year?), DH2 sticking around because of Jinwoon need to see how his story plays out. Started watching What's Up and I am loving it and last watching Ojakgyo Brothers, beautiful drama waiting for subs for the last couple of episodes.
Wow now I know why my days seems so short he he he.

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I hope you're right with Wol's change of character and be Yoon hoo because this show is losing me. I still love KSH but geezz let's have some excitement here!

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Finally :) Interest is back on train :D

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lol Rumplestiltskin?OMG JB can we be besties?

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glad Wol Finally got back her memory.Lets hope she gets her Smarts back in the process.
But then again, she Was buried alive so i'm thinkin she suffered from oxygen deprivation to the brain...that cld explain her passiveness and cluelesness so far.
Still,i'm not getting my hopes up. One never knows what idiot plan she will come up with(i hope the writers do not do that thing they have been doin in the past episodes) so just to be on the safe side,i'm not getting my hopes up too much...just a tiny lil bit.

cuz as George .W. Bush says

"fool me once...shame on...shame on you...fool me ,you cant get fooled again."

lol was he really the president of the US?I know this is random
okay i'll stop now

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Your recaps always makes me laugh.. Your little sarcastic notes that you ocassionally add in really make my day.

Woot! Finally.. we're going to see some more action~ next wednesday come quickly.

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haha, this post was more sarcastic than usual-- including the use of profanity , but i guess it's because the past few episodes have been really dragging

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Did anyone else take a look at King Hwon's eclipse robe and think Super Song Sam Dong?

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yeah, lol.. and all i could think about was that all he needed was a microphone and sing in front of his ministers!

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Still waiting for Viki to finish subbing :(

Oh well, That will give me something to watch this weekend.

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Now I'm watching Dream High because of KSH. I think Dream High is better drama with more interesting story than Moon/Sun. Sam Dong character is way...more charming than the King Hwon.

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However, the fact he can play both Hwon--bitter cold and a bit of a Jerkface, and then Sam Dong--warm and easy-going country boy (He isn't from Busan, so you might miss the joke where Jason is, but he isn't...). That speaks volumes to talent. He has gravitas as an actor. I didn't mind the whole Makjang thing because of his acting.

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@Kim Yoonmi: I agree with you :) I become admire of KSH acting skill and been following his drama since Will it snow for christmas, Dream High and Moon/Sun. He's able to bring 3 very different characters successfully. But what I mean about Sam Dong character more charming than Hwon, is because now the script make Hwon mopey and helpless, there's no heroic value in him. Although I understand it's because of his condition, still effect me of not liking the drama because of the character. After all, Hwon is indeed the main character of the story, right? If I cannot sympathized with him then I don't have any reason to like the rest of the story.

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Probably my taste, but I often like watching characters for growth rather than if I can be BFF with that character. Prosecutor Princess and Oh Soo Jung were like that for me--I really didn't like either character, but watching them change into more likable or understandable characters was pleasurable.

Hwon is warming (or KSH is trying in the face of weaker acting) to Wol. I like the subtle acting on KSH's part that shows he's changing even if Ha Ga In isn't really pulling her weight at times to justify those changes.

I think this drama would have fallen apart if it weren't for KSH. As good as JIW is, with his character alone, there is no weight to this drama. Praying that Ha Ga In pulls her weight a little. Or just bring back Kim Yoo Jung. She's better at the role. TT

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I promise not to watch this episode until the next one is out.. I will end up biting my nails to root for a week if I do.. I am so glad I did not get off the Moon/Sun boat to soon.. I was right about the eclipse all along.. :) The question is, will we see Yang Myung flip to the dark side in the episodes to come? 'coz if not it will a be an epic disappointment.. a clash between the two suns will be supernova-lishly hot indeed.. :)

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I just adore your comment on the amnesiac, "noble" Wol. I had found her quite annoying- always crying and staring at ppl wide-eyed. And that I-don't-know-my-way-out attitude almost makes me want to side with the evil Yoons and torment her a little more, but I just can't bring myself to like the Yoons either (I love villains, but these Yoons lacks the "cool" air the Jangs from Dong Yi possess).

Now that the sweet vendetta mode (seemingly) is on, I'd love to give this glorious avatar of Yoen Woo a toast while munching my beloved potato chips.

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I love your recaps and thought your Rumplestiltskin
reference was a hoot!

Now all we need for Wol to capture Hwon's heart
100% (and body too :-) ) so that there is no space
for Bk in his bed. OMG! This is starting to get so
interesting.

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Am I the only one who dislikes Min-Hwa?.. That little brat got the boys when she doesn't deserve him.. poor Seol I hope she could be with Woon..

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I feel like Min-Hwa has not matured at all as a character. She still acts childish.

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They were saying all would be returned to its proper place. Wouldn't that include the princess giving up Yeom and he goes back to the king's side as a counselor? And opens the way for a relationship with Seon? Would her silence earn her the death penalty?

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Hell Yeah! Like Jb i've been waiting for centuries for her to regain her memories. :) whoopie! time to kick some villain's butt (hopefully). >:PP

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Quick Note, but the Shamanism in here does not represent the shamanism that is actually in Korea--in any style of it. Just thought I would note that if anyone thought they were learning about the Shamanism of Korea.

This is more of a borrowed from Muism, but tamed down for Christians and looks like a wannabe-shintoism version of the religion. The whole praying to fire bit, the lack of music during ceremonies, the lack of channeling of gods/goddesses, the heavy emphasis on charms, black magic using animatism rather than animism, etc is more a pseudo Shinto (though Shinto is also animistic) than it is Muism. *shrugs* But then Korean dramas haven't ever been kind to the Mudang, which is why the shamans in this drama are called Munyeo instead, probably not to step on the heels of Muism.

Count me as really disappointed that they didn't try to emulate the religion... ^^;; I thought I was poised to learn something. Instead, if you are curious, look up Kkut on You Tube. I would have *loved* to see the well-composed Nok-young take on the persona of a God to ask it to do her bidding--dancing around in colorful shaman clothes and a man's hat--insulting the monarchy through her channeling! And then the sound of the instruments rise around her. Great fun. The bowing to an empty altar and flames... BOOORIIINNNGGG. I think the draggy 5 hours would have been a lot more fun with some real kkut.

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Actually, it's more like "the last air bender"

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Was talking about real-life religions.... rather than fictional ones which took from a few of the religions I mentioned.

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Enjoyed this recap! The pace has finally picked up and hopefully the writers can tidy up the loose ends by episode 20. Hallelujah that Wol has regained her memory while we chomp at the bit for the good vs evil revenge resolution and not to mention Hwon getting some action before his balls turn blue ....

This is just a personal observation regarding Ha Ga In's emotive expressions: Trademark 'deer in the headlights' stare covers pretty much all of her emotional reactions with the occasional 'furrowed eyebrows' giving heft to angry, shock or anguish. The recent 'tortured' episodes garnering kudos for her acting talent are misplaced; rather, her tortured performance(s) (no pun intended) registered an unexpected deviation from her cardboard cut-out repertoire. There's no question that Ha Ga In has a beautiful face, it'd be really a wonderful thing if she had an acting skill set to support an otherwise vacancy when on screen.

I'm in the camp rooting for more expanded Woon and Seol screen time. Their lack of scenes prompts a subliminal curiosity to search them out and fill the void.

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LOL at all the people who think Wol is now gonna kick some ass and get revenge. I hope so and it would spice things up but that's not YW's character? (she's a good girl as we've had pounded into our heads)

I'm not expecting much going forward. She's gonna do more "self-sacrifice" garbage to protect everyone. *sigh* Praying that I'm wrong.

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i second u on that, she will surely do some idiotic self sacrifice shit.

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I swear when watching the episode, I had decided to drop this one and jumped fully on KBS2, couldn't take the supernatural thingy anymore (including an eclipse), the ending saved the whole episode.

Also I'm not so excited for next week, they could give us half we expected; Wol in possession of YW, does that to protect the King and YM and everybody, actually the whole universe!

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So... I have to say this, you pity MY and don't pity H??

I mean, MY thinks his brother has everything he wants...

But because he is the king he has nothing. He can't do what he wants, can't go where he wants, can't choose the girl he loves, is controlled by the ministres, by the queen, dowager and have is responsible for the life of the entire nation/people of his country.

MY has freedom, can choose the girl he wants to marry and everythime he feels troubled he can run far way... (do his trips), he don't have the responsibilies that the king has and all. . . and still he complains! Okay, the girl he loves doesn't love him and she loves the king.

How is this the king's fault? The girl choose to love the king not was forced to marry him or whatever. The girl choose not to run and rejected him many years ago, yet he still cling to this love that he knows will never be his.

WTH? Stop whinning and do something useful!

Also, he thinks his brother wants power and doen't like him, but truth is Hwon is doing this because he loves his brother and doesn't want him to be in danger. Hwon can't even be friendly and have his brother close! Because if he has MY will be in danger....

But MY doesn't understand the king's burden and doesn't even try to understand, all he cares is his poor one sided love and how it is unfair... grow up!

Now, what? He'll go to the dark side because of what?
Because H didn't let him be in danger? (That is why he kept MY far from Wol or didn't let him save her)

Hwon already have everyone's back turned against him, now even his brother will do this too? Please.

I'm happy Hwon has HS and Woon.

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Thank you! I'm so sick and tired of (many, not all) people confusing their love of JIW as an actor and the MY character.

Was his initial story heart breaking and full of interesting character growth/potential? Absolutely! But the MY that exist now, feels like a shadow of his teenager years; when he loved and believe in his brother and was willing to walk away from the girl he loved. People whine and complain about how he has nothing, but in reality I pity the current puppet King. A slave to politics, he has no freedom or abilities to protect those he loves (and that includes his brother).

I know a lot of people love his character, but I just find myself annoyed with him recently.

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haha, you watch once upon a time!

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Thank you very much again, JB for another wonderfully thorough, concise and entertaining recap.

Must tell you that I was keeling over with hilarious laughter at your "Mopey and Piney" verbiage! You are seriously Awesome with your wit!! :)

AT LONG LAST! "bout darn time this drama got going to more interesting and engrossing actions...can't wait 'til next week....sure hope there'll be plenty of exciting scenes, also involving Seol/Woon match-up.

I cried at the Mom/Wol glimpse scene...hope they'll show a reunion of Mother & Daughter, and of course, with dear brother, Yeom. Very keen to know how he'll react when he finds out his princess knew "all along"...

Most poignant and heartrenching scene was Wol/Yeon Woo's "memory flash"...whoa! seriously good acting by Han Ga In.

My waning interest of the last couple of weeks in this drama has suddenly been perked up by this last episode! Let's hope it continues to rejuvenate...

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I agree with everyone who are getting somewhat exasperated with Yang-myung...to be honest, the only time I felt anything for his character was the last scene with young Yang-myung and young Hwon, where he berates the prince for being unable to protect Yeon-woo properly. LMH's acting was stellar and I really did feel for him and the injustice of it all, and whatnot.

But as lovely as JIW is, I find adult Yang-myung terribly uninteresting. I think partially it's because I found that they failed to set up the relationship between Yang-myung and Yeon-woo in such a way that I'd find myself still caring 8 years later. It doesn't help that we rarely get to see an interesting side to him. I mean, yeah, we get it, he's heartbroken, he's pining away for his lost love, he wishes he could do something to protect her, okay, sure. But where's his love for his brother that was so poignantly conveyed in their childhood years (recall the fantasy scene where Yang-myung automatically picks up a fallen toddler Hwon, despite himself), and what should be his adult ability to deal with shit and move on? I feel like he's gone backwards in time in terms of maturity and it's really annoying.

I don't have as much of an issue with the underdevelopment of minor characters such as Min-hwa or Seol (though further characterization would be very welcome), but when the writers renege on the development of what could have been a brilliantly layered, tragic character, well, I'm left sitting there trying not to lose my shit. Seriously. Severe disappointment over here.

Hopefully next week's episode is better in terms of characterization on all fronts, cause I'm finding it's this drama's biggest liability.

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not forgetting his friendship with his teenage buddies are not connected and also with the citizen.

He is at random only connected to wol with that past folorn love, and depict as a lonely person.

Poor script writng for yang myung's character.

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Finally she regains her memories! I was waiting for that inthe last 3 episodes! Your right JB the past episodes are loosing momentum! Well its back again! I cant wait for the new epis and wonder how Wol will get back at the grandmother and her cronies!

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Thank you for all the comments , for an english speaking fan like me of korean drama you guys is very much helpful to me to understand fully the story line.I tried my best to understand it in Korean dialect thru actions aand really very excited for the next episode. Hopefully the YW or wol will kick some ashes and throw them to the distinguished guest to blind them.

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Wow. I got chills at the end. Bravo Han Ga-In.
I was getting bored of this drama after the last few episodes, but I am all in again! <3

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that's one heck powerful episode.. i like it too much that I might go insane if I didn't see the nest episode!

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this time, HAN GA IN'S ACTING MADE THE EPISODE!! <3 omg that scene, when she cried, wowwwww. imo, that was really an amazing acting.

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thanks for the always awesome recap, JB!

happy happy joy joy that she finally got her memory back. SHE'S ALIVE!!! *cue thunder and lightning* Can't wait to find out what she's gonna do now that she knows who she really is. Argh! I can't take the suspense! I said to myself I won't read anymore and I won't watch anymore until this drama runs its course so I can watch the whole thing in one sitting. Who was I kidding, right? My drama dependence on this show will put a druggie to shame. The cliffhangers lure me in and even if, as Yumi said, the next episode fails to deliver, I still come back week after week.

And I'm all for revenge towards the baddies!!!
1. For BoKyung's dear Daddy - pull out his beard, one hair at a time. with a tweezer.
2. For Queen Dowager - no Botox for 1 year. or until she croaks. whichever comes last.
3. For BoKyung - chastity belt for her - and then throw away the key --> in the ocean.
4. For the other 3 esteemed members of the Council of Evil - undecided: turn them in to Hyung-Sun's eunuch-in-training (first task: snowman-making while doing Hyung-Sun's trademark shuffle) or turn them into NoKyung's shaman-in-training (first task: spend the night in a wooden box under 6 feet of dirt)

Anyway, on a side note - Woon, you make me swoon. Still in Lee Hwon's ship although Yang Myung-gun, my heart breaks for you. And more Seol scenes, please. *sigh* This week is soooo long.

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@luna - re: Woon, you make me swoon"

you and me both. Song Jae Rim makes my motor...run ~ ~ ~ hummmmmmm

I liked your comments a lot, especially tweezering monkey-sideburns-Yoon and a botox ban for halmoni-with-the-plaster-face ~ well done.

imma have'ta look away concerning BoKyung's chastity...because frankly she and MinHwa have been waiting 8 (!) years to get laid. Even Vulcans don't go that long...(\[。◕_◕。]/)

-----► the council of evil have become cardboard for me. There's little or no *gray* area to feel anything for them...basically they're like human road-bumps. I wouldn't miss them if they never appeared on my screen again.

and since I'm on a mini-rant...what's with all the wasting of time on walking, waiting outside, or courtyard scenes?

We KNOW that characters have to walk from building to building and that they have to encounter or pay people off...or have tea with crazy-ass Dowagers.

Can we please set those scenes to a musical score with two or three paragraph conversations?...then DRIVE THE PLOT FORWARD...by having the REAL characters develop between each other.

There's a whole lot of *OBVIOUS* that sucks up the precious minutes of each episode.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: ....that the film editors either have little to work with or they're intentionally dragging ~~~

...I'm in a mood to talk a lot about this show, but it seems like most of my favorite 'commenters' are weary of it. I promise I'm not ENTIRELY critical...if anyone wants to camp here with me until the next episode. :)

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that was one FUNNY interpretation..."Rumplestiltskin"!! haha!!!

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I really really really felt in love with little Yeon Woo played by Kim Yoo Jung! She took my tears and made the film my first and most favorite Korean historical drama so far! And Yeo Jin Goo & Kim soo Huyn are so good acting, also! Love them & the film! Hope my life be back as usual when the film end! So emotional whenever thinking of it! T.T

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Aieee, thanks for the recap!

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