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Faith: Episode 1

This looks like it’s gonna be a super fun one. The first episode of Faith is assured, beautifully shot, tightly plotted, and FUNNY.

I know “comedy” was one of the descriptors among the many thrown at this drama, but I wasn’t prepared to laugh out loud so much, and in such unexpected moments. It’s a sly kind of humor, the kind that sneaks up on you rather than announcing itself with setup-punchline. I dig it. A lot.

Even so, there’s also a strong fantasy-dramatic line running through it, and I can’t wait to see more of that. Faith cracks me up, but it’s still more of a fusion-fantasy-sageuk-comedic mix than an outright comedy.

And yes, Lee Min-ho is gorgeous. But you know what? I’d watch the hell out of this drama whether or not he was in it.

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Handsome People – “You” [ Download ]

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EPISODE 1 RECAP

We open with a nifty animated sequence—macabre, gritty, and quite compelling—that narrates the tale of Hwata, a legendary healer who could cure any illness he encountered. Animated needles jab into a brain with a satisfying squick, then a scalpel slices open a torso. Of all his talents, Hwata was especially gifted in surgery.

There was a ruler named Jojo who suffered from excruciating headaches, which Hwata healed. Impressed, Jojo proposed to make Hwata his royal physician… so Hwata fled, reluctant to spend his days doctoring just one person.

Jojo sent warriors after him, urging him to return and live a life of wealth and glory. The world would know him as the man who saved Jojo’s life. If he refused, they would kill him.

Hwata merely chuckled and said that the world would remember Jojo as the man who killed Hwata, the man who would save the lives of the world.

It was then that the sun darkened in the sky and the heavens sent down a strong wind. A portal opened up, and Hwata entered it laughing.

We segue into live action as a guard is blown back from the force while the portal pulses with mystical energy. It says something that I’m momentarily disappointed at the switch because the animation was so charming, if eerie.

We’re in the year 1351, near the Yuan-Goryeo border.

An entourage travels in the rain, guarded by warriors on horseback. One guard notices the red light in the sky and wonders, “Hwata?” Seems to be a well-known myth around these parts.

One rider is particularly indifferent to everything—even the suggestion that they’re being followed. This is CHOI YOUNG (Lee Min-ho), and he half-yawns, “I know.”

The royal carriage gets its wheel stuck in a puddle and he just sauuuuunters over like it’s no big deal. So are you the most senior bodyguard, or just the laziest?

One of the younger men zips through town and returns to report bad news. No boat until tomorrow. Choi Young is the one who addresses their royal charge, saying they’ll have to spend the night. Ah, so the most senior AND laziest.

This is the Woodalchi unit, comprised of warriors who guard the king, and Choi Young is its boss. (He’s often called General or Leader and sometimes simply Woodalchi. Choi is the surname, but I don’t anticipate anyone calling him Young-ah anytime soon. Other than me, I mean.)

On they go to an inn, taking it over. The cover story—to maintain the royals’ privacy—is that the travelers are a newlywed couple who are extremely sensitive. They they pay off the innkeeper to kick everyone else out.

The royals are ushered in quietly, and Choi Young settles back with a bottle of liquor. His second-in-command, BAE CHOONG-SEOK, doesn’t see how he can be so cavalier when (1) he knows they’re being followed, (2) he knows the followers are responsible for messing with their boat plans, and (3) the followers are expecting them to retire to this inn, since it’s the only one. So they’re sitting ducks, aren’t they?

Choi Young’s retort: Ya wanna wait in the street with a flag, then? Ha, it must be frustrating for a conscientious guy like Choong-seok to have to work under him.

Choong-seok asks for instructions about guarding the inn. Choi Young lies down already half-asleep and mumbles, “Handle it… really… well.” Ha. At least his No. 2 is competent to take over.

Now we meet KING GONGMIN (Ryu Deok-hwan), who silently works on a charcoal drawing while one of his advisors rants. The man, JO IL-SHIN, is keen on removing that head bodyguard who dares order them to travel in secret, with their faces tucked out of sight. No grand procession to proclaim His Majesty’s glorious return to Goryeo, after being taken away as a child? No pomp and circumstance?

Choi Young interrupts the tirade (yawning, heh) to tell King Gongmin that he’ll be bringing the queen to his room—it’s too difficult to guard multiple entries. He acknowledges that the king and queen aren’t on the best terms, but he handles everything with that unerring matter-of-factness. This is safest. This will be the plan.

The queen makes her entrance. She’s his wife, but I’ll be calling her Princess Noguk per the character description; it’s her name when she was the Yuan princess, married off to the Goryeo crown prince. Immediately the royal spouses tense and eye each other with loaded stares.

Sure enough, late that night shadowy warriors make their move on the inn. They charge into the empty main room—and above them from the rafters, our warriors spray them with an iridescent liquid that spatters their clothing. Effectively, they’ve marked the enemy with giant glow-in-the-dark targets. Like shooting glowing fishies in a barrel.

Our Woodalchi guys encircle them with swords drawn, which appear to glow blue in the moonlight. Ha, is this a way of getting our Goryeo-era lightsaber feud on?

Blue Swords are doing a good job against Green Splatters, but Choi Young tells the king that there are more than expected. He gets the king’s promise not to run away no matter how scared he gets. Choi Young assures, “Then I will be able to protect you.”

Outside, Woodalchi defends against the invaders. Choi Young stands as the last line of defense in the king’s room, waiting.

The defense is breached, and attackers arrive at the king’s door. Time for Choi Young to do his thing. Thank goodness he does it well.

He takes down the initial intruders easily, but more pour in. The king comes close to being struck, but he keeps his promise not to run away, and Choi Young defends him successfully. Even the court ladies fight back, as does the royal physician.

But! Princess Noguk is slashed by a sword before Choi Young can kill her attacker, and she slumps to the ground. Now it’s time for JANG BIN (Philip Lee) to prove he really is the best doctor in the land, and he gets to work. First he asks Choi Young for some “energy”—and Choi Young nods, holding his hand above her body, a mystical force radiating from it.

As that energy pulses into an acupuncture needle in her hand, the camera zooms through her bloodstream and to her heart. A caption tells us he’s slowing her heartbeat. Oh, interesting—it’s both fantasy and medicine. Just like the drama said it’d be.

Jang Bin places another needle, and Choi Young shoots more ki into it, this time to control the bloodflow. (Which begs the question: Are you really the best doctor if all you did was use someone else’s ki-controlling powers to treat her?)

The Woodalchi warriors chase the retreating intruders, intent on capture without killing: they need info. But a straggler collapses already dead, foaming at the mouth—suicide.

Princess Noguk’s condition does not look good, and Jang Bin reports that a major artery was cut into. Sputtering advisor Jo Il-shin goes on about the political ramifications of the Yuan princess dying, especially with the precarious position Goryeo is in vis-a-vis the Yuan powers. But Jang Bin decrees, “Without a divine healer, it is impossible to save her.”

The term for divine healer is a homophone for faith, our drama’s title. It’s also a term that applies to Hwata, the legendary healer of our prologue. Jo Il-shin thinks back to the red sky, and wonders.

King Gongmin says, “If that woman dies, our country dies.” For once Choi Young looks like he’s feeling an emotion—regret and dismay. Gongmin sighs, “As soon as I become king, I ruin the country. I’m quite the great king.”

That won’t do. Choi Young asks where that divine healer can be found, so he can bring him here. Jo Il-shin declares that he resides in heaven—disappointed sighs all around—but that he knows the portal to the skies. Ahh, I geddit! I see where this is going…

The world of this drama appears to be halfway between secular and pagan; the others aren’t exactly hopping to appeal to unseen gods, but they’re not calling Jo Il-shin a crazy man for suggesting it, either.

King Gongmin gives his reluctant assent. Princess Noguk cannot be moved, so Choi Young will move out and leave a number of guards behind: “Because it appears what they want is the queen.”

The king stops Choi Young’s exit to ask what thoughts he’d had throughout the long journey from Yuan to the Goryeo border: “What do you think of me, the king?” Choi Young answers that he thought he was a good king, a fortune to their people.

But the king follows that by asking, “You dislike me, don’t you? From the outset, from before you met me.” He ignores Choi Young’s attempts to brush this aside, asking point-blank why, ordering him to reply honestly.

So Choi Young drops the false smile and says that the previous king had been 14, and dethroned by the Yuan for his youth. Gongmin is 21, also young, and spent his formative years in Yuan territory. Now he’s here to rule the Goryeo kingdom: “The thought that I had to guide such a person here to rule this country made me think what rotten luck our Goryeo people had.”

Instead of growing angry, Gongmin’s eyes tear up and he asks, “They all think that, don’t they?” Aww. Choi Young replies, “You’re the fifth king in eleven years. The people won’t much care.” Oof. It hurts because it’s true.

The king thanks him for his honesty. You get the sense he’s struggling to keep his composure, and Choi Young adds one last remark: “That means I don’t dislike you especially.” Just, you know, the normal amount. And you know, that actually lifts Gongmin’s spirits.

Jo Il-shin leads the king’s entourage to Hwata’s portal, said to be a thousand years old. He’s set up an altar there; as the myth goes, once in 300 years, the portal allows a faithful worshipper passage through.

The portal starts to pulse, kicking up wind, and Choi Young stands guard in front as it starts to open. Jo Il-shin urges the king forward as the best suited to appeal to Hwata, but nobody moves. It’s not exactly an appealing task, jumping into the literal abyss, and the king is rather timid to begin with.

King Gongmin steps forward tentatively, and turns to Choi Young, who understands his fear. Instructing the king to give him the order, he offers himself to go. With a bow, Choi Young heads into the swirling void.

It swallows him, shoots him through, and deposits him at the base of a shrine. Heaven? He looks up at the stone statue and bows.

And… a tourist snaps a photo on her phone. Not heaven then. He jerks at the flash, then makes his way down the hill and tries to make sense of the landscape.

He has arrived in 2012 Seoul, which is all tall buildings and flashing lights. He tries to cross a street but is knocked down as honking cars and speeding motorcycles zoom past. What treachery this?

Stopping for breath at a temple, he hears a singing monk. He tries to get his attention… but the monk is listening to his mp3 player and can’t hear, HA.

Choi Young introduces himself as from “a different land” and asks for help—he’s looking for a divine healer. Haha. How much difference mere context makes; he’s utterly solemn, but the question sounds utterly absurd.

The monk figures out that he’s looking for a doctor, and asks what specialty he requires. Choi Young makes a knife-slash motion at his neck: “This part.” The monk leans in, takes a look, and decides, “Ah! A plastic surgeon!” (Just what, pray tell, are you insinuating is wrong with Lee Min-ho’s neck?)

Choi Young asks intently, “Do you know where they are?” The monk replies, “There are lots of plastic surgeons. This is Kangnam.” HAHAHA. Cheeky, I love it.

Choi Young specifies that an ordinary doctor won’t do—he needs the bestest, divinest doctor around. The monk directs him to a convention at Coex (pffffft) where he can find lots of famous ones, gesturing right across the way.

Choi Young asks for specific instructions on how to get there, but the monk tells him blankly, “You just… go. That’s all.”

“I… just… go?” Light bulb moment. “Ah! I see!” I’m dying laughing here, wondering at all the possibilities. Just what do you see, I wonder?

Choi Young hies himself off in newfound excitement, and the monk answers a call on his cell: “Are they shooting a candid camera here? I would have known if it was a drama.”

Cracks. Me. Up.

Choi Young goes into full warrior mode. Breathes deeply. “I’m… just going.”

And then he walks straight into traffic. OMG. He’s treating this like some kind of test of faith, dodging the speedy death machines with his usual stone face, not even flinching.

Lesson No. 1: Do not be so literal with this man!

Pedestrians snap photos of him, which sends him lurching after them suspiciously. He arrives at the international plastic surgery convention, which thankfully has Chinese characters in its signage that inform him that he’s in the right place.

On the expo floor, he walks past displays of medical equipment, X-rays, and other modern marvels. He finds a lecture hall where one doctor, YOO EUN-SOO (Kim Hee-sun), addresses the gathering. She takes them through a facelift procedure that’s shown onscreen, and hey, that face incision looks a lot like that neck slash.

Choi Young’s arrival causes a stir, and security guards escort him out. He goes quietly, but the disruption puts Eun-soo in a bad mood since he’s distracted everyone from her talk.

She complains about the crazy man afterward to a phone friend, and we learn that Eun-soo’s trying to set up her own practice and is looking for investors.

Security guards demand to know his deal, but Choi Young is distracted with all the CCTV screens, spotting Eun-soo in one frame. He asks totally seriously, “How can I go inside there?” He feels around the wall: “I have to get inside. Please open this up. I have to meet this doctor.”

The guard gets upset when Choi Young shoves him away and growls about pressing charges. Choi Young just slices his nightstick in half, in a hurry to meet the doc.

He heads out and finds her looking at some medical equipment on the expo floor. Without preamble, he asks right off the bat whether she can save a patient with the princess’s injuries.

She ignores the crazy, but he steps in her path and blocks her, just as the security guards corner him with guns drawn.

He draws his sword and presses Eun-soo again—can the patient be saved? She sputters, “H-how would I know? I’d have to see for myself how hurt they were.”

“You have to see for yourself?” This gives Choi Young an idea, and he holds his sword to the guard’s neck. And slashes it. Holy shit, motherfuckin’ crazy! That look of horror? Yeah, that’s on my face too. Repeat Lesson No. 1: Do not be so literal with this man!

Choi Young carries the guard over and tells her that his patient was cut just like this. Can she save him? He says completely seriously, not meaning it as a threat: “If you cannot save him, I will try again with that man.” *Points to other bystander.* HAHA.

Eun-soo gets to work assembling the necessary supplies while the police and SWAT team arrive outside. The police get on the PA and ask for a status update, calling a nearby landline. Choi Young freaks out at the ring and smashes the phone, ha.

Eun-soo concentrates on stitching up the wound, and Choi Young is impressed to feel the man’s pulse still beating. Well, that does it. He starts packing up all her supplies and tells her she’ll have to come with him. He ignores her protests and expects her to obey when he tells her to follow close behind… so naturally she tries to duck off in the other direction.

Next thing we know, he’s dragging her off, all, Why can’t you just do as I say? She’s all, But there are cops everywhere! He says they’ll just break through the front and takes her hand. Um… I’m not sure if he’s better off being told about guns, or not.

In the lobby, their exit is blocked by a line of policemen holding shields. More SWAT officers move into place above, around, behind. But then… he holds out his hand, sparking with ki. Oh hai, I’d forgotten about you! He shoots a wave of energy at them, blowing the officers off their feet and shattering the glass doors.

Then he addresses cowering Eun-soo and apologizes for this next discourtesy. Ha, just this one? He tosses her over his shoulder, grabs a police shield, and takes her back to the portal.

By now she’s crying and begging for her life. He tells her all she has to do is save this one person and she gets to go back home. She’s clearly seen too many movies; she sobs, “You lie! I’ve seen your face! Kidnappers always kill you when you’ve seen their face!”

He makes a sincere pledge on his name as a warrior to return her to her home. They turn to the portal….

Freeze. Rewind!

We jump back ten days prior, to Eun-soo’s trip to a local fortuneteller. Oh, are you asking about your future mate? This is hilarious. She asks for a date and location of where she can meet her man: “But not just any man. One with LOTS of money!”

The fortuneteller starts his reading process, and she squeezes in one last request, “And make him a hunnam!” Hee. (Hunnam is what you call a guy with a warmth and kindness, who’s maybe not as pretty as a kkot-minam.) She keeps chattering, “I’d like it to be sooner than later! I kind of need money…” I love her. She doesn’t want a husband, she wants an investor.

The answer? The heavens will send along a man… whom she met in the past. He advises her to look among her exes for this heaven-sent one.

That has her confused. Who could it be? She thinks back to a man she dated in her intern days, a sunbae who made her write his reports for him. Ha, it’s Ahn Jae-wook! (These two basically carried ’90s dramas between the two of ’em. How cute.) He broke up with her because he met a rich girl whose family would set up a hospital for him. His parting consolation: “That girl is totally uglier than you. Her personality sucks too. But you know, it’s a hospital.” Heh.

Eun-soo’s second ex-boyfriend liked her a lot… and proposed during a plastic surgery consultation. Ha, and then she dated him for three months? He was rich, but yunno, she couldn’t do it—his face was too ugly. Oh lordy, this woman. She’s hysterical.

The fortuneteller points out, “You said you needed a man with money.” She pauses: “Then is it him?”

She clarifies that she doesn’t need this relationship to end in marriage—maybe just an engagement. She can borrow money and make her research project succeed, at which point she has a firm lined up to take her on. Then she can use her earnings to pay back all that money and break the engagement! Win…win?

You know it’s bad when you render the fortuneteller speechless. He adds, “But I don’t think this [current match] will turn out that way.”

He tries another reading. This one foretells of a “very long travel” in store for her next year. That won’t do, and she gives up. As she leaves: “Do you know whether there’s a good tarot reader in this building?”

Goryeo. Back to the past, only we’re seven years prior to our opening timeline. It’s the day that Woodalchi meets their new leader, and it’s a hit to the pride to hear that he’s only 22 years old. Still, he already has an impressive military record.

Ooh, another awesome animated sequence! I love that this one has a different graphic style entirely.

The men relate Choi Young’s accomplishments, and how awesome his swordsmanship skills are. Furthermore, he even shoots lightning from his hands. He’s got a terrible temper, having once beat down someone for waking him up.

Ah, so Choong-seok was the previous boss, and he’s handing over the position to Choi Young. It’s a royal order, so there’s nothing they can do about it.

Dol-bae’s the hotshot who blusters about how the new guy ain’t so great, and how he’ll show him who’s boss when he arrives.

Enter Choi Young. His first question: “You the boss?” Second question: “Where can I go to sleep?”

The men look at him incredulously with WTF expressions on their faces as he lies down and sleeps. For three days, lol.

Dol-bae wants to test the new boss, but young Deok-man holds him back, remembering the rumors. Dol-bae scoffs that those are just stupid stories and starts to approach.

Without changing positions, Choi Young throws a stick at Dol-bae’s face and nails him on the forehead. And sleeps on.

 
COMMENTS

And… that’s it? What a strange place to cut an episode off, although yes, I am definitely hooked for more. Moar!

I was hoping this drama would be good, for so many reasons. I love the writer (Story of a Man rocked my socks, and the legendary Sandglass ain’t too shabby, either), and despite finding 2007’s Legend flawed, I loved the world it created. There are a lot of “fantasy” series in dramaland these days, but Legend had a really cool mix of magic, mysticism, lore, sageuk, politics, and visual effects. Yet even with all that, it had great small moments too, character beats with interesting relationships.

So here we are with a similar aesthetic, only it’s not just Legend Redux. It’s whimsical and visually arresting, in all its multiple forms—the fantasy historical stuff and the various animated sequences. Which are so freakin’ boss I can’t even contain myself. If the drama keeps giving us more of these stylish animated interludes, I will be thrilled. And agog at all the work involved.

The world of Faith is packed with potential, such as the Goryeo-Yuan politics. I don’t know enough about this part of history to be able to tell what’s real and what’s fictionalized (probably most of it?), but true history is more a launchpad for certain characters and conflicts, I think. It’s not the story’s focal point; just the fact that they’re weaving history with all this fantasy goodness is enough to intrigue me.

More than the epic landscape, though, I like what I see in the character details—because who can keep caring about a cool world if it’s populated by people we don’t care about? The king’s frosty relationship with his wife appears to be fraught with lots of baggage and history, which we’ll likely be seeing unfold gradually, in layers. Ryu Deok-hwan plays the young, hesitant king with such wounded vulnerability that I’m already in his corner, rooting for him to find his feet and become the great man I think he’s capable of being. You see the flashes of his potential wisdom and strength, buried beneath the layers of fear and uncertainty. So, so great.

I already find the heroine a hoot, even though she’s mostly been fodder for comedy thus far. I don’t quite know what makes her tick, but because I’m so amused by her shameless, hilarious antics, I’m primed to like her when she takes a more dramatic turn, too.

And Choi Young? The hotness of Lee Min-ho aside (and that’s a very large force to be setting aside), I’m enjoying his character so much, even though you’d think an apathetic hero would be difficult to get behind. He’s so drolly cavalier that his dealings in his time are humorous in an intentional way, and then he takes that serious mien to the future and he’s hilarious in an entirely other way. I guess I just love laughing, and these characters totally make me do that.

Still, there’s so much material for him to show depth as well, and I’m just about giddy to keep watching to see where this show takes us. It may be a wild ride, but it’ll be one amazingly shot, beautifully scored, entertainingly wild ride.

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omg!! I am sooo sorry about that...I don't know why that happened .
I ment to say Thank you sooo much!

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YAY!!! All I can think through most of this is that my boyfriend sure does look FINE!! Although really the actual story wasn't too bad either. Thanks for the re-cap.

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Hi Rashell,

I saw your answer to me last Friday. Thank you! I burst out LOL when I read it, it was so funny and so witty :-)! We'll talk :-) (or in this case, we'll write to each other *wink, wink*). Sorry, I have been swamped, I didn't get a chance to respond (yet) to the comments left to me on OT.

Glad you are still excited about your boyfriend And yes, he does look FINE!

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Ivoire! I figured I'd "bump" into in this thread. LOL.

I had to reply to your comment in the OT!! How awesome was it to dream of Lee Min Ho?!! So lucky! If I can't have the real thing, a nice vivid dream would be the next best thing.

We'll have WEEKS now to talk about this handsome man, and hopefully an awesome drama too. We're lucky girls!

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Ahem... Rashell, that dream actually brought back memories of another dream I had with the LMH, *runs and hides to avoid tomatoes being thrown at her,* and I was going to mention that in that thread (maybe I will :-)).

I have some tough decisions to make that could turn my life upside down (I feel), so reading your response was a good thing to come home to, after my tutoring session. You and the others who responded made my day, truly. Thank you for that!

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Now I MUST know about this other dream!! Please share!

Best of luck with your decision making and I hope your life only turns upside down in the best possible way. And yeah, take your nice distraction from the real world when you can. It's always nice to have a little escape when things in our world get too intense.

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"Now I MUST know about this other dream!! Please share!" Ok, I will think about it, and if and when I do share it, I will do it on the OT of last week, simply because not too many people will read it :-)! (It's not too bad, it is still PG-13, but it was an interesting dream as well...) and I will let you know when I do.

Thank you so much for encouraging me and for understanding (referring to the 2nd # of your answer). I mentioned that because I wanted you to know that even though we won't meet many of the people we interact with on DB, we can still affect them in a positive or negative way, without realizing it. It's like when someone you don't know gives you a kind smile on your crappiest day or when someone asks you "how you are doing?" and they look at you as if they actually want to know, as if they care, not because they think they are supposed to ask that.

You don't necessarily want to go look for those kind of things in the world, but isn't it nice when it happens? That's how you guys made me feel last Friday, and I wanted you to know that :-)

I hope your day is going well :-)!

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*ahem* Sorry sis, but the LMH already belongs to me, LOL.

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I am pretty sure there is a looooong line.... and i am one of the front runners..... :P

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You are welcome to stand right BEHIND me. I'll let you know when it's your turn. LOL! :)

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well it will be my turn when i manage to throw you out of the line.. ;)

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There are some that I would step back over, but NOT my Min Ho. I would MAYBE be willing to share a little, but that's as far as I'm willing to back off. Sorry, but he's MINE, MINE, MINE. LOL.

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The looks - oh so mighty fine. But what about the way he delivers sageuk dialogues? I am not a native Korean, but I've seen my share of sageuk dramas and I have an uneasy feeling about that.
The drama - all in all - I was not so profoundly impressed and giddy about as javabeans. But I'll keep watching a few more episodes, at least, because of Sung Hoon (after all he was playing the male lead in my very first drama - which made me addicted to this world) and yes, I am interested in Lee Min-Ho(t)'s acting. I won't promise though I will keep watching it to the end.

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I can't tell with sageuk dialogue either, but I've watched enough to know that I can't tell the difference between good accent and bad. And they all sound different to me. I love the tone of LMH voice, so as a non-korean speaker whether his sageuk delivery is right or not doesn't really affect my enjoyment of the drama.

I really like it so far and find the fantasy element interesting. But with LMH, I'm in this one all the way. That's all it takes for me to watch the whole thing.

Same reason I stayed with Big all the way. For Gong Yoo or Lee Min Ho, I'm in it until the end no matter what.

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Hi Rashell,

"Same reason I stayed with Big all the way. For Gong Yoo or Lee Min Ho, I’m in it until the end no matter what."
And this is what I call a "fan" :-)! I think I will watch the whole thing as well, but for me, I have read so much rave about the PD and writer for this drama that I am also VERY curious about how they do things. I don't think I have ever seen anything they've done, so that's an additional reason for me to be on board. I do find the fantasy element well done, so far.

I don't know about you guys, but I LOVE the actor who plays the king, he IS SO GOOD!!!! I LOVE his body language and the way he uses his facial expressions, they speak volume.

I do love LMH's voice as well, it is unique and very recognizable. I was wondering about the sageuk speech as well. I read somewhere that apparently the other characters are speaking in sageuk, but not LMH's character and I am curious about that.

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"I read somewhere that apparently the other characters are speaking in sageuk, but not LMH’s character and I am curious about that."

Really? Hmmm...how sad is it that I can't tell. LOL. I really do think that this drama will be really good based on the history of the writer and the PD. I LOVED Story of a Man and have only heard good things about Sandglass and Legend. But I really thought Big would be good based on the Hong Sisters and that was not so much the case.

I'm really liking the King and the Queen as well. I think their history and relationship will be interesting to watch too. And I can't wait to meet the baddies. Every fantasy needs the evil element too.

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Hi Rashell,

My Korean is not that great, but I could detect the fact that LMH was speaking in modern day Korean, or at least it seemed that way to me. We should find out if it is the case. I did like his delivery though.
I haven't watched "Story of a Man," and I guess I will have to put it on my list of Kdramas to watch :-). Re: Big, I wasn't impressed about how the Hong Sisters handled that drama either.
I will write more on the recap thread of episode 2.

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While watching the episode, I also did notice that the way they spoke didn't sound like sageuk. I don't speak Korean, but having watched enough sageuk dramas, people speak with a kind of formal tone of voice, don't they?
I've studied a little Korean, and I usually hear the -nida's and -da or -ra, which wasn't what i mostly heard from Lee Min Ho in this drama. Could it be a way to let Lee Min Ho's character communicate better with Kim Hee Sun's?

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The first episode was fun, even though I didn't understand half of the dialogue. Kinda reminds me of Aang the Airbender, which should be a good sign.
Anyway I watched this when it wasn't fully subbed, so am trying to fill the holes now from recap. Thanks JB!

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Hi Maya,

"Anyway I watched this when it wasn’t fully subbed, so am trying to fill the holes now from recap. Thanks JB!"

I did the same thing and now I have to fill the holes as well. I saw your message on OT, and I will respond, I promise. I hope all is well with you :-)!

What do you think of the OST? I am already in love with it :-), especially the instrumental track they played at the end of the episode.

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Hi Ivoire!

Yes, I checked Viki this morning and I think they are on 75% or something. Would love to watch it fully subbed, but at least I could understand what's going on in the episode with the subs last night, and JB's recap helped me understanding the minor things as well.
I'm not familiar with the scores or the OST yet. I normally get used to it after 2-3 episodes. But if the scores didn't get my attention last night, then it means that they were placed perfectly in every scene! :) I'll pay more attention to it tonight (esp the instrumental piece at the end of the episode) and let you know whether I find any interesting ones.
And take your time replying, Iv. You know you can always find me in OT or Gaksital thread! :)

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Hi Maya,

So good to hear from you! Yeah, as I said on OT, I have to move soon, which means I have to find housing (and I haven't yet) and I might have to move back to MN because of a job offer, and I am debating whether I should do that or not, and to be honest, I don't want to.
So I feel shaken up, this is a huge deal (I currently live in Northern CA) and so this is where I am trying to keep my attention. And so now, I need to pack, which I am sure you can relate too and I do feel overwhelmed.
So I haven't forgotten you guys, but I also know that when I write, I tend to be long winded and I love to interact with you guys, so I have to watch myself :-(
Thank you so much for understanding.

Also, if you ever watch this drama raw, remember that http://soulsrebel.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/mashcap-1/#more-26212 (cadence's website)
does live recaps. So you can watch the episode raw and then read her recap. Starting tonight, she will collaborate with Joonni and the recaps (live, I think) will be at: http://joonni.com
So be sure to check there as well. This should give you a few options. I like reading different recaps when I can, because it is interesting to see the different interpretations and what caught people's eyes and attention. Different writers will focus on different things, as you know. I hope this will be helpful to you.

I do pay attention to the musical score, I am planning on buying the CD already, when it will be made available, that is how much I LOVE it, especially the instrumental track at the end of the episode (it is in episode 2 as well, I just checked). I noticed yesterday that they actually played that track a few times DURING the episode (1), so I think it will be one of those recurring songs. I have noticed that Koreans do a really good job with their musical score. It is one of the things that make me be attached (emotionally) to a drama, because I associate the music with particular scenes (I have an emotional memory) and I have noticed (with Gaksital, The King 2 Hearts, AGD and now with this drama) that the music sets my mood when I am watching. It moves me and I get more into the scene and the story because of the music. I didn't know I was so sensitive to it, until recently, so I find myself paying attention to it now, without even forcing myself. I hope I made sense.

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@ Maya,
I also wanted to say that I checked yesterday on YT, and the Faith OST is not on it yet, just so you know. See you maybe on the recap thread for epi. # 2 of Faith.

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Maya,
The instrumental piece I was talking about (which I am in love with) starts about 6mns into episode #2 and plays for about 2mns. Listen and pay attention to the time line, when you will be watching episode #2 :-).

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Hi Ivoire! 
Sorry I just managed to reply to your post. I watched Jason Mraz's concert yesterday and just finally able to catch the second episode today. Btw, it made waiting time for fully subbed episode of Gaksital a bit bearable! :D
I finally listened to the instrumental piece you mentioned and I quite like it. It has this epic/colossal vibe to it which suits the theme of drama. And I just realized how some of the scores are resembling the scores played in Queen Seon Deok, esp since they both are set in the same period (Goryeo). And I totally agree with what you said about how music played during certain scene can set your mood for that particular scenes. I had the same experience too when I watched the summer special episode of 1n2d when they had that sound effects glitch. The scene just lose that certain oomph which makes the it funnier/livelier. So yes the music does play an inportant role in setting the mood. Anyway I hope you can find the soundtracks in YT and of course get the CD as well! :)
And thank you so much for directing me to the live recap site. Definitely will check that out later on if I need to fill some holes from unsubbed scenes. :)

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Hi Maya, only read this now, sorry :-(. And you are welcome!

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haha im trying SOOOO hard to not read the recap till the subbed episode comes out.

So right now im stuck just staring as pics.... which isnt so bad when LMH in them ;)

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LOL. Looking at LMH's screencaps makes your waiting time a pleasant one, isn't it? :)

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Yes, Airbender! That's what it reminds me of.

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Thank you for the recap!

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I liked the 1st episode so far, I will have to rewatch it. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the actor who plays the king. I LOVE that he uses his facial expressions and his voice well and we can read those. I find that he does subtlety really well and I love him for that. He reminds me of LSG in TK2Hs and of PKW in Gaksital ( love both actors for how well they do subtlety in portraying their emotions).

I like the set up so far, and the differences between the doctor and LMH's character. I love how colorful this drama is and how things are explained well: how the general got to Seoul, and how he is coming back, why a plastic surgeon is needed, etc...

I feel that we can start to see some of the allegiances and maybe bromance (some of his men didn't want the general to go through the portal) and I am looking forward to that as well.

I really like the general and his description: lazy and not very emotional (on the surface) because he is a different character (from other male characters in Kdramas) and I welcome that also. My favorite scene was the one at the very end, when LMH threw the baton in his sleep and when he smiled (so cute!!!!). That to me represented some of the general's attributes really well.
I like LMH's acting so far, but I am not wowed by it (at least not yet). I also think that his make up is better here than it was in CH (too obvious, it wasn't done well).

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the musical score already, so that's another good point. I can tell that the old man (actor who was in Dream High, SeGa, Gaksital, M2F) is going (or might turn out) to be one of those characters that we might want to hit on the back of the head, occasionally, because he is annoying. He talks a lot, but he is not very brave. I thought that that actor was well casted, for his voice (I love his voice) and for his acting. He does dramatic and coward really well (which makes sense, because he does stage acting as well).

All in all, I do look forward to what this drama has in store for us, and I look forward to what the PD, writer and the cast and crew will deliver.

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yay! thanks for the recap :) can't wait to watch it!

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This is so hard! I can't watch the show until subs are available, but thanks so much for the recap! I'm excited it looks like its going to be good because I had high hopes!

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OMG I'm also waiting to watch the show! All of you mighty translators...SUB AWAY! This is one of those moments when I eye one of those "learn Korean in x months" books hahaha. At least I can survive with the recap, thanks dramabeans!

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hahaha yes ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY SUBBERS!!! i wish i knew korean, itd save alot of time. I wouldnt have to watch the ep raw, then read the recap to watch it again, and then watch it again with subs...

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i watched it last night,it's very nice,the fighting scene is awesome!

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where did u watch it? was it subbed?

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The lack of light made it hard to be enamored with the fight scenes. Hope to see future ones filmed better. I understand why it was filmed that way but it did not impress me.

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Does anyone know where it has been fully Subbed?!!! I have been waiting for it in viki and its stuck @ 68%... Off to read the recap!!!!! LEE MIN HO!!!!!!... nough said

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P.S thankx a lot for the recap... not gonna sleep till i watch it!

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I will not read the recap yet but I am happy it will already be waiting for me by the time I am done watching the episode. Yay!!! Ty JB. It will be like having dessert and then another dessert.

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Hahaha..worth to watch it.

At least it looks more promising than BIG..which is a BIG disappointment for me :)

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cant wait for the next ep....leeee minnnn hotttttttt

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Ooooh I can't wait!!!! YAAY!

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Thanks! I have really been looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint! So many layers here, and I am eagerly awaiting the romantic element. :)

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Thanks for the recap! am also so excited how Choi Young's character will pan out... loving the animated sequences as well adding to the drama's fantasy element.

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Thisndrma is so unexpectedly fun to watch!
It's funny an really pretty to watch and by pretty I mean aside from Lee Min-ho. Look t all their costumes and props! When I saw them fighting with those glow in the dark dusts and glowing swords and Choi Young's magic power... This drama is really going to be one of a kind.

Is fall going to be a time for magical/mythical creatures? Arang is on her way and I think there's a gumiho too.

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okay... i'm excited about this drama....
:D

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This show is pretty damn fun so far! Super powers, ninja assassins, time travel, a SWAT team, Lee Min HOT?? What more can you ask for? Thanks for recapping!

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“If you cannot save him, I will try again with that man.” *Points to other bystander.* HAHA.

OMFG, HAHA BRB DYING.

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Thanks for the recap!

I loved episode one. This is fantasy done right - it's our-world-but-not-our-world. The animated sequences are awesome!

I was wondering what the time-travel medium would be, and I have to say this is my favourite out of all the recent time travel dramas. There's just no beating a swirling blue portal.

I'm not really a Lee Min-ho fan, but I like him here. His character is hilarious. Reminds me of Spike Speigel actually - deadly with his weapon, but too jaded and lazy to bother unless it's really necessary. There's something about the way he suddenly switches from half-asleep to killing machine that is so magnetic.

And I agree, the heroine is great! We need her sightly off-center personality to balance the hero's deadpan literalitis. I can't wait for tomorrow's episode, and the freaking out over I'm-not-in-Kansas-anymore.

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Looks great! Can't wait for more. :D

Gtg, but thank you for the recap Javabeans!

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Leading Lady: so...much..plastic... surgery. {gasp...plastic overload}

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Hmm...interesting that you say that. I've been watching her on TV and in movies since she debuted as a teenager in early 90's and haven't caught any changes that may indicate plastic surgery. Perhaps she got them when she was in junior high school? (I doubt that.) Or she had work done while she took time off to get married and have a baby? (But then she looks the same as before except for some very fine lines.) I don't know if I'd accuse her of plastic overload...but then perhaps you know what the rest don't. :-)

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Don't pay attention to that mess. It's the usual fangirl/boy-butthurt that ends in lobbed accusations of plastic surgery (as if there's something wrong with it) and shouts of "ugly whore" (as if there's something wrong with being a whore or unappealing to the general masses). *rolls eyes*

Clearly everyone must only look a certain way and be a certain age to be an actor or actress. :/

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I tend to see a lot of insults thrown at Lee Minho's leading ladies. Jealousy perhaps? I think Kim Heesun looks amazing, and she and Minho look good together, even though there is a 10 year age gap. :)

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So true. Those fangirls are so desperate. I mean, like dayum, Lee Minho can't never be yours. So keep on oogling at him behind your computer screen, it's more realistic than getting that man in real life.

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@ Meghan Auld,

Thank you for your comment. I too think that Kim Hee-sun looks amazing, and not only her face, but her whole body, as we could see on some the pictures posted here on DB on one of the thread about "Faith". The woman looks good, period!
And I agree with you, I just watched epi. #2 and I do think that they look good together. I didn't see much of it yesterday, but I definitely saw it in episode #2. I did see some chemistry between the leads and so I am looking forward to seeing the two of them more.

When I watch a drama, I go into it to see how the story is being told, the cinematography, the lighting, music, acting, directing, etc... I don't watch it asking every minute of the episode, "how much plastic surgery have these actors had?" What's the point in that? It would distract me from focusing on the drama and from enjoying it, personally. I want to see Kim Hee-sun act in this one and judge her on that. I have never seen her in anything, so far. I am going into this drama with an open mind, and so far, to me, she is doing fine, acting wise.

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Did not see the plastic surgery either. But I'm not familiar with the actress either.

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most of the korean actors have undergone plastic surgery.. however both lee min ho and him hee sun are 100% true, natural beauty... there was a story about lee min ho going under plastic in his nose... both his agency and he have denied accusations.... lee min ho had undergone an operation to straighten the bend on his nose due to a dangerous accident that almost killed him... but comparing his high school and childhood pictures clearly shows that there is no difference in his nose or any part of his face back then and now... (except for looking more hotter and matured) ..... as for kim hee sun her high school pictures have also proven her to be amazingly beautiful always and her beauty is growing as years pass.

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Thank you JB :). I thought it was Legend-lite. Same style etc etc. I know its not my cup of sageuk... ooops tea and there is a few things that I dont get yet but I'll give it a few more eps.

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Ahhhhh!!! Lee Min Ho!!! :) The story sounds amahhhzzzzing! I can't wait to watch its subbed version! It def has a lot of promise... hope it doesn't disappoint!

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I was very excited and restless for the past week waiting for the 13 August 12 to arrive. Your recap is wonderful. I enjoyed every bit of your lively and descriptive recap.
Keep it up, JB, and thank you. Lee Min Ho seems to have chosen the right drama. Hope everyone likes "Faith."

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Thank you thank you for the recap!!!

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I remember thinking that, too, "What the --? That's where it ENDS?" I wish it was a 2-hour special! Though it wasn't a cliffhanger, nor did it end on a note of mysterious intrigue, the eppy was so jammed packed with goodness that I wanted more. The animation sequences are both cool AND awesome!

Nice to see the gal from Equator Man make an appearance as queen.

And yeah! I totally tripped out with the Ahn Jae Wook cameo, too!

CAN'T WAIT til the next episode.

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I hope they tone down the romance element tbh. I'm just not feeling LMH and KHS. Wish KJH had stayed with the project!

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KJH???

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Kang Ji Hwan. He and KHS would have at least looked compatible with each other. I totally agree that KHS is the right age for her role as a seasoned surgeon but LMH is just too young... but who knows, maybe the incongruity will somehow be made more palatable in the future.

Also, I think it would have been more funny if he'd kidnapped an underachieving med student instead.

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I don't mind the female lead...but seriously, I had the same thought about a med-student! I think there could be so much development with a character like that -especially a character we almost never see in Drama-land. For some reason they believe every lead has to be the *best* in their field or 'genius.'

Overall though, I am liking what I see.

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Omg! New dramas.

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It's FINALLY Aug 13th!!!! I've been waiting for Faith and am so pleased with ep 1. Can't wait to watch the fun unfold each week. :-D Thanks for the recaps! This will tide me over until subs are out.

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i just finished watching 1st ep basically raw on viki. Only my immense love and loyalty for LMH and year-long drought of his drama-presence could have given me the will power to withstand the bewilderment of the un-subbed experience. I CAN'T wait to read the recap and actually understand what the heck was really going on in that ep. THANK GOD FOR DRAMABEANS!!!!!! Don't know what I'd do without you guys!

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I have finally realized why the subs are still stuck at 60 something in Viki.. its because they are ogling at Lee Min Ho so much that they forget to sub... I want to watch it raw but i don' think i have to patience to watch it like that. And yes i agree thank god for Dramabeans!

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lol

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Thank you for the recaps!

For some ungodly reason, I didn't dig the first episode so much. It bothered me a bit that LMH's character speaks in modern style/pattern unlike the other Goryo characters, and I couldn't let it go. I've been watching recently Answer Me 1997, Golden Time, Ghost and The Chaser. So my brain is in modern reality mode with completely different styles and subjects. (BTW, I currently live for happy-Answer-Me-1997-Tuesdays, and highly recommend Golden Time and The Chaser to those who can watch shows raw - you are unlikely to see better acting on Korean TV elsewhere!)

Anyhoo... I shall keep watching this. Surely, Lee Min Hot deserves my undivided attention! Purdy, purdy hair...

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Where is The Chaser subbed?! Only a couple of episodes on Dramacrazy are.

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I just skimmed this cause i wasn't actually intending to watch this because this theme/genre doesn't seem to get me hooked (i still haven't - and probably won't finish rooftop prince or queen in hyuns man or even start dr jin) but it looks so good judging from this recap :O I might have to wait till it finishes airing so that i'm not jumping aboard a drowning ship! (not that i'm assumng it'll be bad or anything, but i like to hear peoples reactions first - not spoilers though!)

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Just one thing to say: LEE MIN HO IS BACK. Yum.

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Well well. this sounds interesting.

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Thank you thank you so much!!!! I have to wait a few weeks to start watching this drama and am so psyched you'll be recapping :D :D

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I admit i'm history was never my subject, but i remembered huatuo did work for caocao but was killed because caocao thought huatuo wanted to assassinate him by poking needles (acupuncture) in his head?

hmm, maaybe i was wrong.. @@

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dong, huatuo was killed because he wanted to perform head surgery on caocao for his migraine. Surgery was never heard of in those days and thus caocao thought it was a scheme to kill him.

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I started watching The 3 Kingdoms yesterday on U-Tube. Thanks to Cao Cao's character I'm completely hooked.

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I totally understand. I'm also watching Three Kingdoms and Chen Jian Bin (Cao Cao) is a force to be reckoned with.

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According to Huatuo, Cao Cao has a growth (tumour) in the head the root cause for all those headache; and it must be taken out which naturally involved cutting his scalp open. With such a diagnosis, Huatuo in the end had his own head chopped off !

The 3 KIngdom on YouTube is a 95 episodes-long series and what a ride.....made all the more memorable with its superb, awesome english subtitles.

( obviously the subbers for this fantastic series are well aware of its brilliant english subbing --- evident by its naughty notice across the top of the screen : we are Jiang Hu subbers, not the likes of dramacrazy and mysoju.). Haha.....that undoubtedly sent many kdrama viewers into fits of giggling. But truly hats off to these 3 Kingdom subbers.

Here's the YouTube link for the first episode :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7llSbAPwg-0

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I admit history was never my subject, but i remembered huatuo did work for caocao but was killed because caocao thought huatuo wanted to assassinate him by poking needles (acupuncture) in his head?

hmm, maaybe i was wrong.. @@

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OMG. Its AUGUST already?! We have have FAITH! YAAAY!

Thanks javabeans for the lovely recap!! I am soooo awed by the beautiful animations, and when they showed how the 'ki' slows blood flow etc in 3D ala House style, I was both amazed and lol. To see 3D seq in a fantasy sageuk was unexpected.

Beautiful to look at, yes I mean LMH hahah and KHS is really likable, esp after seeing her in the recent ep 100 of Running Man. heheheh

Can't wait for tonight's ep!! I did swear a bit when they did the freeze frame and did the 2 flashbacks. Whilst the Fortune teller flash back was really amusing, and the intro of the lazy sleepy leader was cute, I felt it was weird to just cut in that intro part right before the time jump. Its like, they know we want to see what happens, but shoved this info so we HAVE to see it. XD

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Great recap JB. I am so excited loved the first EP. It’s got (LMH) action, drama, magic, and it’s funny. Also I love the costumes. (missing Ghost /AGD)

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I really really really loved the budding relationship between Choi Young and the King. I adore Ryu Duk Hwan after God's Quiz so I was really surprised and delighted to see him here.

I found both Choi Young and Yoo Eun Soo charming and I can't wait to see more of them together. Home girl is a riot! XD

Also, the magic...the MAGIC...ALL OF THE FEELINGS!!!!! Ugh, I love fantasy/sci-fi and I love that the world of this drama has so much of it. One thing I wish Legend had changed was that it added more mystical elements.

And then, those animation sequences were fabulous. They were like the Kill Bill O-Ren Ishii sequences, which I also adored.

Overall I was satisfied with the first episode, though I did feel like some of that fight scene was a little dodgy. I predict they'll get better.

Can't wait for more! :D

PS. I'm really 100% done with all the "OMG, she's older than him. Ew. I wish they had a younger actress." ageism that's everywhere. Some women date/marry/love younger men. Get over it.

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I find that age gap quite alright, esp because I cannot accept that she is very good at what she does if she was way too young and just graduated from college.
But when she called him Ajusshi - HAHAHAHA.

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Right? Unless she's Doogie Howser MD version 2.Korean Girl, she's not gonna be a full doctor ready to open her own practice at any age less than 27 or so.

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LOL LOL! You made me google who is Doogie Howser, and Barney (HIMYM) used to be a doctor!! =D

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Oh man...did I just date myself? lmfao XD

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I got all excited when I saw Ryu Deok Hwan! To think I might have to wait a year before seeing him on God's Quiz 4 (if there is any).... And of course, Lee Min Ho is so handsome and lol at Kim Hee Sun's character!

I'm currently waiting for Episode 2 to be out before starting on the show... :)

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So that's where I've seen him before! I kept thinking I know this guy from other drama, but I couldnt pinpoint the exact drama.

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He is also in my little bride as the younger(?) brother of the bride! I squeaked so loud when I realized where I had seen him before God's Quiz..

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I love Ryu Deok Hwan's role in God's Quiz. OCN really makes good procedural dramas (Vampire Prosecutor, Special Affairs Team TEN, God's Quiz). And based on the recap his character in this drama, King Gongmin also seems likable.

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It surprised me to see people comment so much about how the actress looked "soo" old. If I hadn't heard it before, I wouldn't have known she was 10 years older than him. She looks very young to me. Just look-wise they seem pretty compatible. (And acting wise too, cause they're both terrible eh eh eh *flees*)

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your rite abt the age thing.... and she definitley does not look much older than lee min ho. looks "ÿoung" for her ae

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Well javabeans is right. That time period in Korea's history WAS a time fraught with a lot of complicated politics. Lots of good material for a kdrama. There was a sageuk about King Gong min a couple years back called Shindon and by all accounts it was very good. (I only saw a few episodes here and there when my parents were watching it so I can't really give a personal take on it) Although that was more old school sageuk than fusion-fare like Faith. But it's still interesting to see Faith's take on the King Gongmin and Princess Noguk's relationship since history records him as having been deeply in love with her later on.

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Shin Don was a great sageuk, my most favorite. Glad you mentioned it because I have been thinking about watching it again.

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I really love it! This is funny, original and i'm invested in the characters, in their future developpement and above all in the story, so i'm all in. Faith! keep on being great.

Now that i think about it, i totally forget about Faith's premieres. I was thinking there isn't much too watch these days (answer to 1997, Bridal mask and that's it), and here it is.. Faith! and Arang and the magistrate comin up ...So happy X)

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I'm so looking forward to this and Arang, but I do wish they'd create their own fantasy world instead of coing with a fantasized Goryeo

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Yes,that's it.Obviously a drama to be stucked in.I havent watch this yet.And after reading this Im going To Youtube for watching.Thanks alot.And Reading This really Cracks.ME.Up.And LMH's character is really cool...and with this attitude of his is pinpoint..also this drama feature mystical power unlike Dr.Jin.And lots of things to look forward..
Thanks alot..N yes,,JaVaBeAnS recapping this FAITH what I liked MoSt...

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I'm so looking forward to this and Arang, but I do wish they'd create their own fantasy world instead of coing with a fand tasize Goryeo

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I already can't wait for episode 2! I want MORE! Lee Min-ho is hilarious. He's totally different from his past characters and I couldn't stop laughing at his scenes in 2012 Seoul. So hilarious. I like the heroine, too, and hope she has a lot more screen time in episode 2. I seriously cannot wait for tomorrow.

Thanks for the recap, Javabeans!

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I just watched the first epi and i wanna say just one thing...
BACK OFF LADIES LEE MIN HO IS MINE!!! HE HAS BEEN MINE SINCE THE DAY HE WAS BORN!! \(*_*\)

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Thanks for this JB. Now I kinda like to watch it too. I am not interested in this drama when I first read about it but since it is good based on your recap, Ill check this out.

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ooo... Thanks so much for the recap -- the subs are creeping along (not bitching...I love ALL subbers!) and I was left wondering on so many things.

I know I'm NOT in the majority in thinking Lee Minho is just...OK --- but I'm definitely liking him in this role. He's got just the right amount of warrrior and slacker...and well, I'm completely FINE with the leathery fetish-gear outfit. I may become his devoted fan after all.

It doesn't bother me that the female lead is considerably older than Lee MinHo...in fact I think if she'd been baby-faced it would be too difficult to accept her as a mature, skillful *doctor*. But in absolute truth, to me, she does look more like an elder sister than a love interest. I'm counting on those two to...bring the heat!

p.s. I wonder if General Choi Young’s sleepiness is a trade-off for his super-magical, blue-light engery zapping ability? ya know...tit for tat.

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sally_b-Good speculation on the sleepy effect due to the hand energy thing.

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Thanks for the recap JB.. now.. I'm definitely going to watch this one..

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