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Sword and Flower: Episode 10

It’s the birth of a new drama power couple! So for everyone who wondered what our hero would be like if he used his powers for evil, you get your wish this episode. Choong sells his soul to get a taste of what it must be like to be his all-powerful dad after he gets a breakdown-inducing feel for what it’s like to be unable to protect the girl he loves, while the girl he loves joins her father’s band of misfits to bring down his all-powerful dad. See where that’s going to cause problems?

Ratings-wise: They’ve been bad and are actually getting worse—Episode 10 clocked in at a measly 5.0%. It doesn’t beat the series low of 4.5%, but it cuts it pretty darn close.

 
EPISODE 10 RECAP

As Mu-young aims her arrow at Choong, she thinks, “Did you come all the way here to kill me?” I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If only she knew!

She lets the arrow fly, but it misses its target and zooms past him. I thought it was because she had a change of heart, but it’s just because she’s a bad shot. By the time she’s ready to try again, she’s lost him.

The Geumhwadan gang spreads out to look for the princess now that they know she’s in the city. Apparently, umbrellas are the biggest thing to hit since everyone is talking about them, and when Choong overhears someone mention that they must have been come from the capital, he remembers catching a glimpse of that girl in the market…

He’d dismissed it at first, but now he suspects that it could have been Mu-young and heads off to find the umbrella maker.

Shi-woo and Boo-chi find the caretaker’s daughter, and Shi-woo proves to the girl that he’s one of the good guys when he reveals a tattoo of the bamboo flower on his chest—the same symbol that Mu-young painted on her umbrellas.

While Boo-chi goes off to alert the others, Shi-woo spots Choong headed for the merchant and hides around the corner while Choong asks for the address of the umbrella maker. Didn’t he see Choong jump off the cliff after Mu-young? He can’t think he’s all bad, right?

Even though Choong knew he was being followed, he does nothing to stop his father’s minion from retracing his steps to find out what he asked about. I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce the minion by his official name, HO-TAE (Goo Won).

Choong also picks up on the fact that Shi-woo is following him, but when Shi-woo temporarily loses him in the crowd, he spots Mu-young running through the streets with her bow and arrow and decides to grab her before Choong sees.

He has to restrain her from going back out to find and kill Choong, even if only for logistical reasons—she can’t shoot a bow and arrow in a crowd.

Mu-young is taken to the Geumhwadan hideout, where the gang bows deeply to offer their apologies for being unable to protect her family. She’s angry that she let Choong go, but her anger soon gives way to sorrow:

“I saw my father and brother’s bodies burn. The people spat at my father, the king of Goguryeo, and mocked him. For the past twenty-four years, the people lived in peace under my father’s rule… Yet they called my father, the king of Goguryeo, a traitor who tried to sell off his country.”

She wipes away her tears and strengthens her resolve, declaring that she’ll never forgive Jang, General Yeon, or Choong. “Before I kill them with my own hands, I’ll never be able to close my eyes, even if I die.”

Choong follows directions to the hideout (even though he’s only looking for the umbrella maker), which means minion Ho-tae isn’t far behind. The gang gets alerted to their presence, but Leader So has to convince Mu-young that now isn’t the time to fight—they can’t kill either of the men and let General Yeon know where they are.

The gang is gone by the time Ho-tae gets there, and he holds a sword to his daughter’s neck as he unfurls a portrait of the princess to ask about her whereabouts. The man lies and says that she’s dead.

To test him, Ho-tae holds a sword to his neck and threatens his daughter that he’ll kill her father if she doesn’t tell the truth. She’s surprisingly brave even as she chokes out, “Unni… Unni died.”

Choong bursts onto the scene to tackle Ho-tae off of the father/daughter duo, but the minion is unfazed as he asks what was done with the princess’ remains. Choong’s eyes go wide with shock. Oh no.

After Ho-tae leaves to verify the remains, Choong shakily unfurls the same portrait and asks softly, desperately, “Please take a good look. Was it really her?” The look on his face, hope mixed with a terrible sinking fear, is just breaking my heart.

The man tells Choong that he found her on the river bank, but she never recovered. Then he spots the man’s daughter wearing Mu-young’s hairpin—the one she’d first given to him before he returned it to her.

She hands it over to him, and Choong completely breaks down, choking out sobs and screams and… Gah. It’s actually hard to watch.

And in flashback, we see Mu-young handing the girl her hairpin with the knowledge that it would fool Choong into thinking she was dead. Then we see Boo-chi and Shi-woo digging up someone else’s remains (while paying their ultimate respects) to substitute for the princess’, burying the clothes she wore to the ceremony with them.

Choong wanders numbly through the streets with the hairpin as Ho-tae comes across the princess’ grave. Choong comes up behind him and tackles him in a rage: “Did my father tell you to do this?!” Punch. “He ordered you to use me to kill the princess?!” Choke. “Is that why he let me go?! Is it?!” Punch.

Ho-tae throws Choong off and just says, “The princess is dead.” Then he’s gone.

Choong holds Mu-young’s clothes and lets out scream after scream of gut-wrenching grief. Poor Choong.

After he collects himself and covers Mu-young’s grave he thinks, “It’s all my fault. I couldn’t protect you. It’s all my fault for being powerless.”

The Geumhwadan gang confirms that they’ve successfully pulled off the ruse concerning the princess’ death.

Mu-young: “Princess So-hee is dead. From now on, I no longer exist in this world, not in the day or at night. I won’t even have a shadow. From now on, I am Mu-young.”

(So I’ve been calling her by a name that existed in the character description, but not in the show’s timeline until just this moment—So-hee was her given name, which is why we’d hear her father calling her by it, since he’d be the only person who could do so. Now that she’s adopted a new identity, she uses the word muyoung, meaning “shadowless,” as her name.)

She gives the sweet little girl who’s been calling her unni a farewell hug, and bows to the umbrella maker who took her in before she leaves with the Geumhwadan gang.

Ho-tae reports the princess’ death to General Yeon, though they’re interrupted when Choong shows up. He and his father share a long, silent stare before we immediately cut to Choong kneeling outside the house. (Which means that his father kicked him out. He did renounce their family ties, after all.)

Choong stays still as a statue all through the night, but his act of contrition(?) doesn’t escape his father’s notice. Why is he trying to get back into his good graces anyway?

Jang’s first council meeting doesn’t turn out to be a walk in the park when he finds himself at odds with General Yeon and his supporters over whether to tax the citizens to support the fortification of The Wall.

Jang would rather dip into their war reserves than make the citizens hate him with extra taxes, but Yeon’s stance is that he’ll earn the people’s loyalty by bringing them peace—and peace lies in fortifying the wall.

In a surprising move, Yeon proves his dedication to the wall cause by volunteering to oversee the fortifications there, which is the exact job the king planned to use to punish him. Only now he gets to choose whether he wants to go and use it as ammunition in his power play with Jang.

General Yeon finds Jang practicing his swordsmanship later, and Jang makes a curious observation: “You didn’t make a sound when you came in.” I love Yeon’s sly little smile at this, like he’s just reveling in how disconcerting he is.

He tells Jang that the princess is dead, which causes the new king to have a facial tic of remorse. Jang is decidedly unhappy to learn that General Yeon knows every move he makes and when he makes it, and more because there’s nothing he can do about it.

Yeon leaves him to think on that. “Your Majesty must protect your throne and I must protect the borders in order to protect the Goguryeo that you and I dream of.”

General Yeon’s supporters scoff over Jang daring to think that he’s the one in charge, though they do wonder why Yeon would volunteer to go to the wall until he explains that he’s going to squash the rumblings of rebellion happening in the rural areas.

He returns home that night to find Choong still kneeling in the same spot where he left him. After a long bit of silence, he asks his son, “Why did you come back?”

Choong’s first word is “father,” but General Yeon forbids him from using that word since he renounced his family ties. Choong continues by saying that he’ll walk his father’s path, even though he had previously called his father’s actions shameful.

“I realized that being powerless is even more shameful,” Choong admits. “I will stand with those who have power, and I will become a man with power.” Oh no. He’s going to the dark side.

General Yeon then asks Choong if he’ll join his cause. After a pause, Choong asks whether having a purpose holds any importance. Whether it’s treason or deception, “I will not hold anything back in order to gain power. In order to protect what is mine, I will throw away duty and all else that remains.” OH NO. That’s the exact quality he hated in his father before—that idea that he could do anything, even terrible things, to protect what’s important to him.

He even adds that he’ll use his father as a stepping stone to gain more power if he has to, which seems to be the perfect thing to say to your power-addicted dad. General Yeon then tells his son that he’ll accept him if he acts as his bodyguard when he goes to the wall. Protecting his father will be Choong’s only job.

Choong prepares for his journey by donning new black digs and an exact replica of his father’s hairdo. (Sorry, I’m going to need a minute to mourn the loss of his wavy mane of glory. *breathes*) The only difference is that he wears Mu-young’s hairpin.

Now he really looks like a son of General Yeon, dead eyes and all. His friend Jin-gu sees him off in a grand procession to the wall and worries over how much Choong has changed. Gee, you think?

YEON JUNG-MO, the brother of the murdered chief minister, demands for General Yang’s help in taking revenge on General Yeon—but the old councilman refuses on the basis that revenge will only bring about more bloodshed. And that’s not what Goguryeo needs right now.

This exchange gets reported to Geumhwadan, where Mu-young wonders if it would be better to court Yeon Jung-mo or General Yang to their cause. The consensus is that Yang is too dangerous of a choice, since General Yeon let him live only to prevent a rebellion but has him under watch 24/7.

So they decide on Yeon Jung-mo, and sneak into his house to deliver a very pointed message. He thinks it’s a threat from General Yeon, which incenses him enough to start planning a stand against him and his five hundred soldiers when he comes to their town (since he’ll be traveling through en route to the wall). And to do so, he’ll need assassins. Cue Geumhwadan.

General Yeon and his entourage make it to General Yang’s house, and ask for his support and protection on their journey. But Yeon proves he’s been keeping an eye on Yang when he asks if he’s seen Yeon Jung-mo.

I do love General Yang, though. When Yeon asks if he might harbor the same murderous thought as Yeon Jung-mo, Yang just sighs, “Not every thought can be put into action.” There’s definitely no friendship between these two.

Choong takes action by ordering a detail to put Yeon Jung-mo under constant surveillance. Leader So spots him in the market the next day doing who-knows-what and notes his hairpin, which he remembers Mu-young giving to the little girl. (That’s awesome, so does he maybe remember that the only reason he’s alive is because of Choong’s intervention?)

Mu-young practices her swordsmanship as she thinks of vengeance for her father and brother. Then she remembers Choong showing up at all the wrong moments, and sheds a few tears over his betrayal.

Geumhwadan’s plan to incite Yeon Jung-mo to rebel in order for him to hire them as assassins has worked, since he made contact with them. But when the guys worry that he could recognize Mu-young’s face, she proposes an idea.

It seems like Choong might be onto Yeon Jung-mo’s rebellion plan, only we don’t hear what he says to his father about it. I do like the little touch of him brushing past minion Ho-tae, because it must chafe Ho-tae that he’s no longer the favorite.

The Geumhwadan gang shows up to Yeon Jung-mo’s house in masks, and are instantly attacked by his men as a test of their ability. It’s over soon enough, and he invites them inside to ask about their services, while he remains a little unconvinced about the two girls in the group.

Leader So vouches for them, and things seem to be going well until Yeon Jung-mo calls in his men to surround the gang. “Who sent you here? General Yeon?” He then draws his sword, but only against Mu-young as he demands to know who she is. (This would be a good time for that plan of hers.)

Chances are that her face seems familiar, and Mu-young doesn’t dance around it when she asks if he ever saw her at the palace. “I was…”

General Yeon and his men come knocking at Yeon Jung-mo’s door, likely because of Choong’s tip that there was a meeting going down.

Inside, Mu-young finishes telling Yeon Jung-mo that she is/was the princess. Huh. I wasn’t expecting her to go with the truth, but she’s able to prove herself when Yeon Jung-mo asks her things she’d only know as the princess.

Once she’s passed the test, she tells him that she came to join forces with him in order to take revenge on General Yeon. I get that he might have an army, but what is she bringing to the table besides a group of misfits? (Speaking of, where’s Shi-woo?)

Their meeting is interrupted by Ho-tae pounding at the gate, and Yeon Jung-mo forced to let General Yeon in before he gets suspicious. (Too bad that Yeon is already way ahead of him.) They only know of the ten soldiers Yeon is bringing inside, but they have no idea of the countless others gathering outside the gate.

So Mu-young’s plan to take on General Yeon seems extra foolhardy, but points for trying.

The gang hides before General Yeon’s meeting with Yeon Jung-mo, with Boo-chi picking a rooftop spot in preparation for an ambush. Right behind a large screen in the meeting room, the rest of the gang (plus a contingent of men) wait for the right time to strike.

General Yeon gets straight to the point after offering not-condolences for the death of the chief minister: “I heard you want to kill me.”

Outside, another contingent of soldiers wait to ambush Ho-tae and the men General Yeon has outside. Boo-chi is all ready to jump from the roof to start the attack, but something in the distance causes him to hesitate. Did he spot Yeon’s extra soldiers?

General Yeon continues to subtly taunt Yeon Jung-mo by saying that he better be sure he can kill him, otherwise he’ll have to die trying. I love that he pulls the name card, all, We’ve got the same last name, so I’ll even let you be chief minister.

That’s quite an offer, considering that that’s the position Mu-young promised him if they succeeded in overthrowing General Yeon. So now he’s got a chance at having that seat, even though it’s only open because his brother was murdered by the man offering it to him.

But then, surprisingly, Yeon Jung-mo agrees to the offer, only it seems less like a betrayal and more like a calculated plan since Mu-young and the gang ready their swords from behind the screen.

A servant comes in to hesitatingly ask about dinner plans for their guests, and it becomes immediately clear to Choong (and us) that this is code for something else. He has a feeling it’s a trap, and tells his father that they shouldn’t stay, while Leader So puts a hand on Mu-young’s shoulder for support when she hears Choong’s voice.

As General Yeon turns to leave, everyone readies their swords. Choong looks especially on edge before we cut to Mu-young and hear her thoughts: “Father. Today, at last, the traitors will be punished.”

 
COMMENTS

Well, we pretty much know that Mu-young’s plan is doomed to fail. I’m a little surprised that they went with such an immediate revenge plot in the first place, even if tensions are still running high from the coup. Still, if Mu-young can’t be trusted to rein in her emotions—and I don’t blame her—shouldn’t that kind of be Geumhwadan’s job? If Leader So can tell that Mu-young’s swordsmanship still needs work, why is he letting her lead an attack against a power-hungry warlord when she couldn’t even defeat his minion?

Choong’s turn to the dark side makes a lot more sense than I’d like it to, and opens up some interesting dramatic possibilities in the future. He wasn’t a total saint before, but if he does his father’s bidding for long enough I feel like he’ll lose that part of himself with the capability to do good and love deeply. When his father made the speech that Choong parroted back to him this episode about doing whatever he needed to in order to protect what was his, I assumed he was talking about Goguryeo. He’s not in this business for any other reason other than love of country, even though he has a pretty terrifying way of showing it.

But when Choong made that same speech to his dad, it all seemed so hollow—not just because he became an empty shell of his former self, but because I have no idea what Choong holds precious or dear to him now that Mu-young is gone. So his turning over a new leaf means one of two things: (1) He’s trying to gain power now to make up for his past weakness even though it won’t bring Mu-young back, which means he’s still living for her memory. (2) He’s trying to gain power so that what happened with Mu-young will never happen again, meaning that he’s resolved to move on and become a different man.

The hairpin is a nice touch to remind us that Choong hasn’t completely lost who he was or who he’s doing this for, but things are going to get ugly if he really does lose his soul before he finds out Mu-young is alive. His grieving scene was so powerful, so raw, that it was like he left who he was with her in that grave. It’s an interesting evolution for his character to go from aimless wanderer to lovelorn puppy to soulless son, but it won’t be interesting if he stays as shut-off as his dad for the rest of the series. General Yeon wasn’t tons of fun to begin with, so imagine having two of him.

Speaking of, I really am starting to find General Yeon fascinating as a character—he’s shaping up into the right kind of drama cipher, where you’re left guessing and wanting to know more instead of just getting frustrated with how emotionally unavailable they are. I wouldn’t have said this of him in the first few episodes, but it’s his growing relationship with Choong that’s beginning to reveal (what could be) a softer side. If he didn’t feel some measure of love toward his son, why else would he keep giving him chance after chance?

We’ve seen how unforgiving and downright cruel he can be in any given situation, but we’ve also seen the portrait of Choong’s mother he’s kept all these years, and how he can’t bring himself to harm his son no matter the big game he talks. Maybe I’m just projecting emotion onto General Yeon at this point, but when Choong came home, it’s almost as if he was… happy. Like that’s all he wanted, but short of threatening his son with death, he couldn’t ask for it. It’s roundabout and messed up and horrifyingly dysfunctional to the nth degree, but that’s family sometimes.

 
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I can understand how some of Choong's actions could have been misinterpreted, but others have noted how he provided enough time to allow for the escape of the Princess and the Geumhwadan, how he reached for the princess when she fell of the cliff, and how he still wears her hairpin. I just wish that those who have witnessed those actions would tell the princess about them. Will we have to go through most of the episodes with Muyoung hating Choong and Choong believing that Muyoung is dead (while he soul becomes darker and darker)?

I do agree that General Yeon is an interesting character. There is more to him than his usual stoical expression. I am sure that we will get to explore more of his relationship with his son.

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Agree. It was really jarring that the Geumhwadan members were not telling the Princess that Choong helped them escaped from the palace by putting his sword on General Yeon's neck. They better have a good reason for not revealing this fact to the Princess yet. :-)

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I am also hoping we don't have to go through most of the episodes with this misunderstanding. What we need is for the rebels and Mouyoung to sit down around the campfire, get drunk and put the puzzle pieces together. That is, if their attempt to kill the general doesn't result in them all getting slaughtered by a dark Choong.
As for Choong going to the dark side - I understand it and I am digging it. I don't think it will hold because his belief in power is a rational decision, while his old values were based on emotion. It might manifest in the form of him forgiving his father - which would be very interesting indeed.
I agree that General Yeon has become a very interesting character. The sly look he gave the new king had me watching him closely for the rest of the episode. Did anyone else notice him giving his minion a quick look before departing from his home for the wall? Hmm.

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Hi leesunmin. Wouldn't getting really drunk by a campfire be dangerous for these people, especially the princess, whose mind is filled with thoughts of vengeance? lol! Seriously, even if Choong's actions are not immediately understandable, the Geumhwadan members should try to piece together whatever information they have gathered. And they should really talk to the princess and be completely honest with her--a novelty, I know, when it comes to k-dramas :) .

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Waaa true. They would be the types to get violent when they're drinking.
Maybe I'm expecting too much from a k-drama, but I'm hoping they'll get around to at least mentioning these small Choong-related incidents to one another in passing?

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You wrote exactly what I was going to point out: with so many other people seeing what Choong has done for the Princess, why aren't they telling her?! The father-daughter duo, they just watched Choong sob his guts out; which to anyone, would realize he loves her. Yet they failed to report to the Princess his reaction? Ugh. All I can chalk it up to is: they don't think it's important because for 1) Choong is the Evil Master's son, 2) perhaps they are ignorant of their feelings/relationship for each other, or 3) frustrating Misunderstandings 101 plot device - the most irritating. How big/deep was that river that Choong jumped in immediately after the Princess so that he couldn't track her right away?! Lol. Thanks for the recap HeadsNo2!!!

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YES!Just how deep is that river ? Or was there a strong current when she jumped in that disappeared when Choong jumped in? That was so frustrating!

I concur on the "Choong is a traitor misunderstanding" too. I mean come on Geumhwadan!!!You saw Choong hold that sword against his fathers neck!Shi Woo saw him jump after her in the river. And surely someone saw how much he cried when he learned of her death (well.."death"). I can't suspend my disbelief on this, I'm sorry.

Fix this problem show, like, yesterday!

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Yes, how often must we suspend our disbelief when it comes to k-dramas?

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Yeon Gaesomun=Stainless Steel. Always a step a head of the rusting.

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Hi Jafstar. Unfortunately, I think that option three may be the case. Let us hope that we are wrong :)

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Totally agree! Why isn't Spy Leader telling Princess what he saw? Does he hate Choong because of General's deed? Or is he just trying not to let the princess waver by keeping things uncomplicated?

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I wanted leader So to slap some sense into her. She needs to control her emotions so she can think clearly. She cant even kill a fly or hit a target with a bow and arrow yet and she thinks she can kill General Yeon? /sigh

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I think Geumhwadan is purposefully keeping Muyoung in the dark about Choong's actions...*smh*

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That's what I'm thinking too. To the Geumhwadan he is a Yeon the traitor's son who killed their king. No matter what he did to save them he is still guilty by association.

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Damn you and your recapping powers, Heads! I had chosen to watch the rugby tonight instead of this, even though I knew the latest episode was up, and by the time the game had finished it was quite late, I was tired and literally minutes away from going to bed, then flicked over to dramabeans, saw the first sentence of your recap and knew that I had to watch it before sleeping. Grr. But also: thanks.

I totally agree with you that Yeon is a fascinating character. While I am disappointed that Mu-young and Choong don’t seem to be getting much in the way of screentime together at the moment, the upside is that Yeon and Choong are now getting heaps. Their dynamic is just so interesting.

I am really interested in Yeon’s intentions towards his son. Something I especially noticed last episode and also in this one: I get the feeling that General Yeon is trying to make Choong into a Yeon. Goading him about being powerless, patronising him even while he was held at swordpoint, letting him race off after the Princess instead of killing him as he should have done after Choong just renounced his father; it’s like he’s trying to encourage him to develop into a formidable opponent. Not necessarily Yeon’s opponent – because I think Yeon would love to have Choong on his side – but it seems to me like he wants Choong to fulfil his potential as a Yeon and to become a person to be reckoned with.

Also, some slightly inverse Star Wars going on here.
Anikin: turns to the dark side to save Padme who ends up dying anyway.
Choong: turns to the dark side because he couldn’t save Mu-young who ends up being alive after all.
Also: “I am your father, Choong.”
And Leader So is Yoda! Wow, suddenly life makes sense.

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Ha! I am also seeing some Star Wars in this. I don't mind at all if they go that way.

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As long as Choong and Mu-young don't turn out to be long-lost twins separated at birth. Awkward...

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:) True, but what if General Yeon tries to marry his son off to the female second lead (who has yet to make an appearance) and THEY'RE really brother and sister. Double awkward...

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Is it possible that Choong is doing all this in order to take revenge for princess' death??

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I thought so at first too, but his reasoning for power made perfect sense. Plus he expressed that he's now willing to give up his humanity to get power, which means that even if he is plotting revenge, he'll have to kill a few innocents along the way to achieve it.

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I think it's more of a case of trying to make up for the princess' death. He could have easily killed his father by now if he had wanted to, and he doesn't have the contacts, the political know-how or the right sort of deceptive personality to be aiming for a bigger end game.

Right now I think he just want to make sure this never happens to him again. That's not to say that he won't end up turning it into a revenge crusade at some later point. My money is actually on Choong being the one to kill Yeon. They just have this dynamic that I can see eventuating in a father/son battle-to-the-death. It would be perfect precisely because they have this history and tension but don't hate each other. It's just that Choong loves Mu-young more.

Having said that, I don't know how General Yeon died in real life, so please don't correct me if I'm wrong. My assumptions are based purely on a story-telling aspect, not on the historical one. I can wait to find out if I got it wrong. :-)

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I wont tell you how he died but don't you think he is too famous of a historical figure in Korea to be killed by a fictional character?. He was seen as cruel and brutal but he fought for his country till the bitter end. I'd rather see him be killed by Commander Yang if he had to die that way. A worthy opponent with the same level of intelligent and military skills. That's just my opinion so feel free to disagree.

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That sounds like a valid point, but I'm very new to K dramas and Korean culture/history as a whole. Three months ago I didn't know what the word Oppa meant, let alone knowing much at all about Korea's history. I didn't know that these people even existed until I started watching this show, and I wasn't aware of General Yeon's famous historical status until I read your comment.

I was merely talking from a narrative sense: given Choong's character, and the developmental arc that I would like to see him take, it makes sense from a story-telling perspective that he would be the one to kill his father. Having since been enlightened on Yeon's fame, your comment about that being unlikely does make sense. However, I have seen writers change historical facts for the sake of the story before, but still manage to make the story true to history. If that makes sense. They sort of find a loophole and make it work. Which I am totally fine with as long as it is done well and doesn't destroy the narrative and historical integrity.

Anyway, like I said before, I am happy to wait and see what happens in the series before I start to look into the actual history itself. Because history=spoilers. And in the meantime, I’ll keep making embarrassing, ill-informed speculations. :-)

Also, I do enjoy reading your comments. You seem very knowledgeable and your comments add to the discussion and help give me a bit of historical grounding without being spoilery. So thanks. And by the way, there is nothing wrong with your English. If you hadn’t mentioned it in another comment I wouldn’t have even picked that it wasn’t your first language.

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You are too kind and your speculations are spot on. If this show wasn't base on historical events with real historical patriots I would say Choong, off with daddy's head I don't care. Maybe digging a little deeper into their history made me care a little more than I should.

"I have seen writers change historical facts for the sake of the story before, but still manage to make the story true to history."
Oh I agree, eg Queen Seon Deok. Bidam was well known for his rebellion against QSD but he loved her in the drama. In the end he still met his death by the hand of General Kim Yushin like how it's written in history.

Yes history = spoilers but its a bit different for me. I get all excited when a historical figure or a historical event that I read about comes to life on screen. That's how fascinating ancient Korean history can be for me lol. I don't feel the same way about the Joseon era. Korea's 3 kingdom era (Goguryeo,Shilla,Baekje and Kaya) all the way to the Goryeo era has always been my favorite.

When the show is over and you are ready for the real history, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do :).

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It was heartbreaking to see uri choong cry for the loss of his love - he blames himself for being too weak to protect the princess. As to why he chose to return to his father - I think he just want to make use of him to become stronger so that in future if he should ever find something or someone to protect, he will be able to do so and not regret. And using the hairpin is a constant reminder to push forward. hopefully it is something like this and not really him becoming evil like his father.

I agree that the flower gang choose not to tell mu young about what choong did because they never want her to get involved with choong even if choong is on their side-simply because he is yeon's son. they just want to protect the royal family but they do not need to protect mu young and choong's love. this is sad but well...

I am still enjoying the show and curious to know what else can happen to our main leads...

Uhmforce fighting!!!!

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Eek, so now all the reasons why our OTP can't be together just got multiplied a hundredfold!

On the other hand, I find this conflict a lot more interesting now that Choong's joined forces (kinda) with his father. It's also a nice reversal of their roles when she believed he was dead and he was the one who had to live like a nameless shadow.

I believe in you, Choong - go, Choong, go!

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Every week it seems like this show is trying to see how much it can make me cry. I swear. I was really hesitant about this series at first but I think it maybe my favorite drama so far this year if it doesn't go crazy with the fake deaths and revenge plans!

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Gu Am Heo Jun is also another one of those tearjerkers. I'm pretty cold to drama-forced tears but wow....these two dramas make me turn on the waterworks.

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I wasn't interested in checking out Heo Jun since I've seen the original already but I end up watching eps 80 last week and I have been following it ever since. I'm really enjoying it maybe because all of the makjang episodes were in the middle of the show.

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With Mu-young out of the picture for now I think Mo-seol will finally make an appearance. I'm guessing that she is the new Prime Minister's daughter. Mo-seol is said to have a one sided love for Choong. Now that would be interesting.

Eventually General Yeon will end up going to the great wall because history said so and now that he has control of the court, he can come and go as he wishes.
Yeon doesn't siege all the power right away but he is giving Jang a chance to prove himself or is he just laughing at him acting all kingly without power?
The position of prime minister is the highest in the court. Jung-mo basically took the bait not knowing Yeon will create a new position above him to rule them all. He is kind of like the Dark Lord Sauron in LOFTR haha.

Love this episode. Thank you Heads for the wonderful recap <3.

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oh my gosh, really? a possible love rival? Another woman in this story? I hadn't heard that. Wow, this'll be good! Thanks! soooooooo looking forward to that.

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Yes :) we need more women in this show so I welcome her with open arms even if I end up hating her later lol.

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I read that she is going to make an appearance next week eps (11). We talked about Yeon's real sons before and the oldest Namsaeng will be in next week's eps also.

I'm guessing there will be a time jump unless he was raised outside of the capital like Choong. With Namsaeng's addition, I'm pretty sure this show will go all the way to the end of Goguryeo.

I cant wait for Wednesday.

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Oh my gosh! I love me some avenging princess! And I really like it that we have a hero who is so incredibly silent! Did we go through one episode with him not saying more than a handful of words?

So strange watching a drama with only one love affair going on and really only one woman for the most part. I was glad when Princess and the little girl bonded and I like the female assassin but am not seeing any bonding between our two girlpower swordswomen.

Nephew is cracking from guilt fairly easily and fairly quickly. I was almost tempted to google him to see what history has to say about him.

Funny having a drama where you really don't hate the villain. I don't hate Yeon Gasomun, or nephew. Maybe I have a slight problem with lead minion but he's only dong minion work and he's not particularly nasty...just efficient.

So much is spent on characterization of the leads that most of the other folks in this drama seem kinda one-note. Not that I mind the one-notedness. Head spy plays his part well. Little peasant girl plays her part well. Minion does his miniony best. So it's not really a problem. They are all archetypes in many ways and in this case, archetypes work really well.

Thanks so much for recapping this, especially since so few folks seem to be watching this. Such a shame about the ratings. I wonder what it is that's making folks in Korea and even folks on DB not so interested in it.

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It's unfortunately not everyone's cup of tea. It takes some broad perspective to let the unconventional directing and seemingly unconventional the writing whisk you away.

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I've been thoroughly whisked! :)

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LOL!!!!!

I like the director's choices. Maybe I just love his daring and chutzpah. Whether it comes from pride, self-indulgence, artsy-fartsiness, pretension, lack of skills or some weird combination of all the above....I'm totally rooting for him. Fighting!

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Well said. This is usually not my cup of tea but I gave it a chance and I'm so glad I did. I went from what the hell is this after the first 2 episodes to loving it after the 3rd.
I know it doesn't make sense and I'm terrible at explaining things because my English sucks but I must say that I really really heart this show. This one is a keeper and one for my collection because its rare to see something like this on tv.

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I totally agree. I think the film editor and director should have looked more carefully at the effect of the first two episodes. I thought "Meh", but came back for episode 3 and LOVE it! I am so glad I gave it another chance!

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I love this drama.donno why it has got low ratings.but i don't care....I JUST LOVEEEE IT <3

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i love it also really ......since yisan i did not enjoy a k.drama

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Dude, Shi Woo needs to open his mouth and say, "Hey Mu Young, Choong totally threw himself off the cliff into the water after you to save you. Just thought you should know." BUT NO! Grrrr!

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this is one man show

general, YEON GAESOMUN

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Choong!!!! your hair ...is better like before ....please change it ...like before

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I honestly don't know how, or when this happened, but I've fallen for this drama hook, line and sinker.

Why the hell does it not have higher ratings?!

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Heads seems to have pointed out 2 possible motivators for Choong to go to the dark side but I am somehow interpretting his choice a bit more optimistically(?). To me, he may be choosing to get on Dad's better graces in order to enact revenge (i.e. foil some of dad's plans under the disguise of servitude/submissiveness/power-hunger).

Although I love when MuYoung acts tough, her fighting skills baffle me. After the conveniently-bad swordsmanship trying to save BestDongsengEver, all of her supposedly-great fighting skills have not been evident: she doesn't get many strikes in before she fell off the cliff (was it because she was still in shock?) then she misses Choong with the arrow (was it because she was still wrestling with the remnants of her feelings for him or was it because she's genuinely bad?)... I need her to return to being the badarse fighter that BestDongsengEver touted MuYoung to be. It disheartens me that MuYoung is being written with such incompetency after being portrayed as very capable.

Also, why hasn't Choong killed minion yet? Choong didn't like minion when minion stalked into the Prince's quarters. He didn't like minion as MuYoung fell over the edge of the cliff nor did he like minion when he found out that MuYoung "died." It would make more sense to kill minion so he wouldn't have to worry about MuYoung being chased/attacked by minion in the first place.

Is it just me or is OkBin's "saguek" accent improving? It still doesn't sound like to typical sageuk accent but for some reason I've been feeling that it is slightly better than in previous episodes.... Or am I just becoming used to OkBin's "sageuk" accent?

And can I just say once again, I love the costumes of the main cast.

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yes ...i like the costumes..especially of general gaesomon

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I get the sense that Mu Young's fighting skills are just good (enough to fend off visiting royalty, better than most females during that era) but not quite on the same level as Choong or Yeon's Minion (or even the Geumhwadan).

And yes, I totally agree that the costumes are amazing! Maybe because I'm more used to the Joseon-style of dressing, but the Goguryeo era seems to have much more variety in dressing. It's almost like anything goes as long as you work it...

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Omo, yeon jung mo = koiso from gaksital, i almost didn't recognize him....thanks for the recap.

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I noticed that too and almost shut my laptop is disgust!!!I HATE Koiso with a burning passion that cannot be explained.

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why >>> without this general it is a little boring ...

look how he talks he walks he is huge ...

best actor i ever seen .....

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No I love the general, its KOISO I don't like.

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HeadsNo2 I became your fan :D

I love this show. The plot twists and characters personality changes. Every next episode forces us to think and touches the heart. If others can not see that it's their loss.

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HeadsNo2...

because of your ecxellent recap i decide to print all the pages and hhhhhhhaaa read it on the train

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I hope you continue to recap this drama, because it is really excellent and your great recaps help me to catch what I may have missed or didn't understand. Thank You!

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I am just curious is recapping for the series is still in progress or HeadsNo2 decided to stop recapping this series.

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I'm soo waiting for the newest recaps - this series finally got interesting! (beyond being eye-candy, I mean.)

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EVEN THAT THE LAST 2 EPISODE WAS TERRIBLE
I LIKE THE RECAP

ACTUALLY I AM WAITING ....

DONT GIVE UP/// PLEASE

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