So much angst! You would think by now, after watching dramas for two years, I’d be tired of the “they-met-as-kids” trope but it still gets me every time. I loved how it was used here to remind him of his former self before he sided with the Japanese. I was kind of confused as to why she didn’t recognize him because I thought he said “I gave that to Boonyi” out loud but when I read the recap, I realized he just thought that. For a second, I thought maybe we would get some amnesia too and she didn’t remember her old name.
The scene with his hyung really helped me to understand KangTo’s character a lot better. It showed me how he truly felt like he had no other option if he wanted to take care of his family. Before, I had even wondered why he didn’t do his job poorly and show sympathy for the Joseon people but considering that that job is his only option for taking care of his family, he can’t afford to lose it by slacking off or being sympathetic to his countrymen. Since he is of Korean descent, he might even feel like he needs to be harsher to show that he is loyal to the Japanese.
I feel so bad for KangSan and his mom. They are being bullied by their neighbors because of KangTo’s actions which they have no control over. I especially can’t believe that anyone would bully KangSan who is so sweet.
Sorry I came in a few days late, I came down with a cold (I’m all better now!). I like your take on the childhood connection, that it’s there to remind him of the boy he was. The cruel twist of fate that has him hunting down both his childhood friend/ first love was the last straw that broke his icy, evil facade for us to see why he has forced himself to become the person he is now. You made a very good observation that he has that much more to do to compensate for his Korean descent; we can see that despite his efforts, it’s easy for others to doubt him.
One thing I’m curious about is why that circus girl who tipped Kang-to off on Mok-dan is acting the way she is. Is it envy, because Mok-dan seems to be well-liked by everyone? I know there’s money involved too, but she just seems especially bent on ratting out the circus troupe. I wish we knew a little more about her motivations, so she wouldn’t seem like a cast-off character.
The pacing is perfect. With each episode, we see Kang-to’s resolve crumble bit by bit, but at the same time the stakes that make him cling on to his assigned task (of hunting down Mok-dan and Gaksital) are being driven up. It’s one of those dramas that just makes me content to sit back and let the story take me along.
Forgot to mention this, but I’d like to praise Joo-won’s acting in that short scene with Shunji at the club. Verbally, he says that he can kill his first love if he needs to, but the way that Joo-won delivered made me realise we aren’t to take his words literally. He’s more trying to convince himself because he’s so frightened and conflicted by the dilemma that has hit him. There’s a lot of insecurity motivating his outburst, which we saw spill out into the open in the scene with hyung back home.
RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
July 20, 2018 at 5:00 PM
Gaksital ep 4 thoughts below. @purpleteapot
RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
July 20, 2018 at 5:00 PM
So much angst! You would think by now, after watching dramas for two years, I’d be tired of the “they-met-as-kids” trope but it still gets me every time. I loved how it was used here to remind him of his former self before he sided with the Japanese. I was kind of confused as to why she didn’t recognize him because I thought he said “I gave that to Boonyi” out loud but when I read the recap, I realized he just thought that. For a second, I thought maybe we would get some amnesia too and she didn’t remember her old name.
The scene with his hyung really helped me to understand KangTo’s character a lot better. It showed me how he truly felt like he had no other option if he wanted to take care of his family. Before, I had even wondered why he didn’t do his job poorly and show sympathy for the Joseon people but considering that that job is his only option for taking care of his family, he can’t afford to lose it by slacking off or being sympathetic to his countrymen. Since he is of Korean descent, he might even feel like he needs to be harsher to show that he is loyal to the Japanese.
I feel so bad for KangSan and his mom. They are being bullied by their neighbors because of KangTo’s actions which they have no control over. I especially can’t believe that anyone would bully KangSan who is so sweet.
PurpleTeapot
July 25, 2018 at 5:58 AM
Sorry I came in a few days late, I came down with a cold (I’m all better now!). I like your take on the childhood connection, that it’s there to remind him of the boy he was. The cruel twist of fate that has him hunting down both his childhood friend/ first love was the last straw that broke his icy, evil facade for us to see why he has forced himself to become the person he is now. You made a very good observation that he has that much more to do to compensate for his Korean descent; we can see that despite his efforts, it’s easy for others to doubt him.
One thing I’m curious about is why that circus girl who tipped Kang-to off on Mok-dan is acting the way she is. Is it envy, because Mok-dan seems to be well-liked by everyone? I know there’s money involved too, but she just seems especially bent on ratting out the circus troupe. I wish we knew a little more about her motivations, so she wouldn’t seem like a cast-off character.
The pacing is perfect. With each episode, we see Kang-to’s resolve crumble bit by bit, but at the same time the stakes that make him cling on to his assigned task (of hunting down Mok-dan and Gaksital) are being driven up. It’s one of those dramas that just makes me content to sit back and let the story take me along.
RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
July 25, 2018 at 8:15 AM
Glad you are feeling better! You’re right, we don’t know much about the snitch girl. I think that she only cares about money.
PurpleTeapot
July 25, 2018 at 6:31 AM
Forgot to mention this, but I’d like to praise Joo-won’s acting in that short scene with Shunji at the club. Verbally, he says that he can kill his first love if he needs to, but the way that Joo-won delivered made me realise we aren’t to take his words literally. He’s more trying to convince himself because he’s so frightened and conflicted by the dilemma that has hit him. There’s a lot of insecurity motivating his outburst, which we saw spill out into the open in the scene with hyung back home.
RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
July 25, 2018 at 8:16 AM
I totally agree with you. He seemed like he was trying to convince himself that he would be able to kill her to catch Gaksital.
PurpleTeapot
July 29, 2018 at 4:58 AM
Raon I’m working on my final Secretary Kim review, I’ll catch up on Gaksital 5-6 by Tuesday!
RaOnAh loves Jay B 💚
July 29, 2018 at 9:25 AM
Ok. Sounds good 🙂