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The Moon That Embraces the Sun: Episode 6

FINALLY! This is what we’ve all been waiting for. And holy moly! Ratings scored a hefty 29.3% for this episode — every episode thus far has been a new high, so we’ll see how long this steady climb can continue. (Apparently in the minute-by-minute ratings, the episode topped out at a 31.56% at Jung Il-woo’s first appearance. Ha. Why am I not surprised?)

SONG OF THE DAY

The Moon That Embraces the Sun OST – “시간을 거슬러” (Going against time) by Lyn.
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EPISODE 6 RECAP

Yeon-woo dies, leaving Hwon and her family grief-stricken. Yang-myung tears back into town just in time to see her coffin being buried, and he falls to the ground in tears.

Minister Yoon tells Bo-kyung to prepare to move to the palace, since she’ll be the prince’s bride now. Bo-kyung is unsettled as she asks her father, “Is she dead?” while thinking to herself the addendum, “Did you kill her?” Nice to know that at least she isn’t entirely sanguine about killing someone to get her way, even if the dark force is strong with this one.

But as she retires to her room, she recalls her father’s words of warning — that if she’s not ready to go this far, she shouldn’t harbor the ambitions in the first place. Basically: This is the big leagues, and we play hardball here. Get used to it or get out of the game.

Bo-kyung takes out the friendship bracelet Yeon-woo had made for Hwon but dropped at the ceremonial rites. Recalling how it felt to see the two lovebirds together, Dad’s words ring in her ear: “Remember the anger you feel when something has been stolen from you.”

Yang-myung comes to see Hwon, but it’s not comfort he offers. Instead, he asks what right Hwon has to ask after the burial, and her family. What did he do for Yeon-woo? “When she was cast out of the palace like a criminal, what did you do? When she was hovering between life and death, what did you do? When she was buried in the cold ground, what did you do?!”

Oof, this hurts, even though I understand his anger — his hurt at being without power and unable to do anything, watching someone with power not doing anything either.

Hwon yells at him to stop, but Yang-myung yells back that Hwon is the prince who has everything, like the king’s affection and the loyalty of his best friend. He asks brokenly, “Just one thing — could I not have just one thing?”

Hwon is shocked, never having realized Yang-myung’s feelings for Yeon-woo. Yang-myung continues that if it had been him, he would have done everything he could — he would have put everything on the line to protect her: “You could not protect her.”

Yang-myung walks away vowing to himself to claim and protect her in the next lifetime.

The queen dowager practically cackles her satisfaction to Nok-young. Can somebody get this lady a mustache, so she can twirl it? She’s in such great spirits that she readily agrees to hear a request, happy to bestow her favors on Seongsucheong. But she balks when Nok-young asks to leave for a spell, not wanting to let go of her most skilled shaman. Nok-young assures her that she will return, and that she needs time to recover her powers because causing a death takes its toll on one’s spiritual energies. Yeah, it’s called having a soul.

And then… Yeon-woo opens her eyes. In her grave. Yeesh, I knew we were probably going to get a Romeo & Juliet-style death-fakeout, but I didn’t think they’d actually bury her alive. Aboveground, Nok-young stands guard as a gravedigger shovels through the dirt.

Yeon-woo realizes where she is and starts to panic, burning through her oxygen supply quickly. Nok-young urges the man to dig faster, and just as Yeon-woo’s about to pass out, an unexpected visitor shows up. It’s a girl with bare, bloodied feet, clutching wildflowers: Seol. Aww. That brings a surprise tear to my eye, that Seol clearly went through hell to run away and pay her last respects.

Inside the coffin, Yeon-woo starts to fade out, crying out for her parents and the prince as her life flashes before her eyes like scratchy scenes on a broken television… barely registering that she’s made it out to fresh air.

When she awakens again, she’s in a room being watched by a precocious little girl — the girl Yang-myung previously saved in the marketplace. Her name is Jan-shil, and she calls for her mistress.

Seol rushes to greet her excitedly, but Yeon-woo looks at her blankly, wondering who she and Nok-young are. Where is she? “And who… am I?”

Nok-young is shocked — this wasn’t an intended side effect — but I suppose this presents the perfect opportunity to reinvent their story. She tells Yeon-woo she’s a shaman, having collapsed after a shamanic rite that sapped her energy and must have also taken her memory.

Yeon-woo asks after her family, and Nok-young tells her she doesn’t know — that she took her in after she saw her wandering the streets, sensing spiritual energy within her. Yeon-woo doesn’t remember anybody but the thought hurts nonetheless; she tears up, asking if she was abandoned by her family after they realized she had powers. Nok-young urges her to forget her past and focus on her life now.

In the palace, Hwon crosses paths with Minister Yoon, who offers up some insincere words about having been worried about him. Two can play this game, and Hwon laughs it off, acting as though he’s taken the philosophical route regarding life and death. But his tone of warning leaves neither in any doubt that they stand as political opposites, each a danger to the other.

With the opposition twisting Yeon-woo’s illness into a political tool, they are able to get Minister Heo exiled, as punishment for allegedly trying to sneak a sick daughter into being princess. He leaves Yeom with words of warning to not hold this against the king, and to patiently await the day he may be called to serve Hwon. At least it’s fortunate that the trumped-up accusation won’t be held against Yeom, though I’m sure he’ll wear the tarnish for a while.

They’re alerted to news that Mom is at it again and find her lovingly feeding a stray girl she must have picked up off the streets, calling her Yeon-woo. Apparently this is not the first time, and Yeom ushers the girl away while Minister Heo reminds her that Yeon-woo is dead. Mom comes back to her senses and breaks down in sobs.

With the help of an ally (who knows of their situation), Nok-young ushers her girls — Yeon-woo, Seol, Jan-shil — away in secret. Yeon-woo hangs back, sensing that her family may still be here and that leaving will make reunion impossible.

As the man sends them off, he thinks, “With the moon hidden away, this country’s darkness will grow deeper. But if it waxes, it will wane, and when it wanes, it will wax again. That is the moon.” He wishes them safe until that day comes.

Nok-young recalls her dream-vision and asks Ahri if this is the solution she’d indicated — if this is the two-birds-with-one-stone answer to saving both the girl and Seongsucheong. Whether she returns to the palace or continues on as a shaman is now up to Yeon-woo and her fate.

Bo-kyung prepares to take her place as the new princess bride, and her mother gives her some last reminders about how this was her place from the start, that she is not a replacement but the original owner retrieving what was hers. Bo-kyung assures her that she will not let anyone take anything from her, and that she will be on her guard.

Princess Min-hwa, meanwhile, huddles in her bed, weighed down by guilt and fear over her part in Yeon-woo’s death. True, she didn’t do anything, but the queen dowager has skillfully manipulated her into thinking her girlish wishes were responsible. It’s a clever way to tie the princess to her side, by making her think she’s played a bigger role than she has.

Hwon dutifully makes his bows to the bride’s family, but as he waits for her to emerge, he looks up at the sky and holds out a hand to the drizzle. He doesn’t even notice Bo-kyung, lost in thought over the memory of Yeon-woo describing her name as meaning light rain, or foggy mist.

It’s a mist not unlike the haze of clouds currently covering the sun, for a moment of symbolism. (All this simplistic symbology is starting to wear thin, but moments like this are a nice touch.)

Bo-kyung registers his inattention with disappointment. Elsewhere, Yang-myung also holds his hand out to feel the droplets, remembering Yeon-woo.

And then…some time later, another hand reaches out for the mist, this time wearing king’s robes.

Hyung-sun attends on King Hwon (Kim Soo-hyun!!), who wryly reminds him of his habit of talking too much. Some things never change. He declares that he’s in the mood for a game of golf, and all the court officials are rounded up to fawn over his prowess with the club.

But as Hwon lines up a ball, he frowns in pain and momentarily touches hand to heart. He brushes it aside, though, and compliments his opponent on a good game. It’s amusing to watch the looks of nervousness and horror that cross the other ministers’ faces at the winner for claiming victory.

The winning minister says modestly that he just won because this hole was a teeny bit larger than the others, and Hwon lets out a jolly laugh… which then turns stern as he asks pointedly if the minister knows where the biggest hole in the palace is. Laughter turns uneasy — does he have another meaning? Hwon says he’ll show them what he means, then heads into a building filled with records.

Hwon finds what he’s looking for and takes out a chest containing appeals to the king. He starts reading.

He summarizes their contents in a deeply sarcastic voice: citizens unfairly punished, people given unfair loans that get their land taken from them, officials bribing their way into government. He demands to know why these appeals were kept from him.

They attempt lame excuses about reviewing the reports first, saying they were trivial enough to handle without him. Hwon challenges, “Who can call these matters trivial? Who told you to stand judgment over the citizens’ suffering?” This interference of communication between the king and his people, he angrily declares, is the palace’s biggest hole.

The ministers retire to rant among themselves. Minister Yoon has been silent throughout all these events, perhaps viewing Hwon as the threat he is, while the others are more dismissive, saying he has finally grown up.

One minister derides the king’s newfound passion, saying he ought to save that for the bedroom. Apparently Hwon has refused to share a bed with the queen all these years, and the ministers speculate that he’s faking his infirmity as an excuse to keep up the separation. One minister argues that he isn’t faking, because he can’t hide his pained expressions when his heart acts up.

They mull over the problem of what to do with the king, wondering if they can send him away on the pretext of recovering his health. Minister Yoon finally speaks to express approval, saying that it’s better to occasionally loosen your tight grasp on a dog’s neck rather than keeping it in a stranglehold, in order to get the dog under your control.

Minister Yoon presents a proposal to the dowager queen, saying that many are suggesting that the king take a royal concubine, perhaps somebody he cares for who can bear a future prince. The dowager queen balks — the prince must be born from the queen. Minister Yoon points out that the king refuses to consummate the marriage with the queen, meaning that without a concubine they may have no direct successor. And if that’s the case, there’s always the threat of Prince Yang-myung, who is quietly amassing supporters…

That’s enough to rattle the dowager queen. Minister Yoon proposes that she help him take over some of the king’s authority, since she’s the only one with the ability to check the king.

Minister Yoon does this by proposing that the king temporarily move palaces, but Hwon cuts right to the heart of the matter: If the king vacates the main palace, during his absence it is the king’s father-in-law who becomes responsible for court matters. He says this in that deceptively playful way that sounds pleasant but is really his way of informing Minister Yoon that he’s on to his power-grab attempt. In fact, when he’s informed that Grandma wants a chat, he guesses she’s about to push the same point with him, knowing they’re conspiring together.

On his way to see the dowager queen, Hwon crosses paths with Queen Bo-kyung (Kim Min-seo). She greets him warmly, but his face grows cold and he passes silently.

They are brought before Queen Mother and Queen Granny, who urge Hwon to go away for a while, for his health’s sake.. Grandma brings up the lack of royal heirs, to which Bo-young tearily apologizes. Queen Mother assures her it’s not her fault because the king is ill, while Hwon sits there stone-faced.

He firmly declines the suggestion, so Grandma argues that neglecting his health is neglecting his royal duty. Hwon makes the barbed comment that it would also be negligent of the king to leave state matters in the hands of his extended family, which Grandma understands to be aimed at her favoritism regarding her own kinfolk.

She’s offended (or rather, acts offended as though his charge is unjust) and declares that there’s only one way to respond: hunger strike. Taking on the tone of a righteous martyr, she announces that if the king will insist upon misunderstanding her motives, she will cease eating and count down the days to her death.

Hwon is cornered, all right. I’m sure he doubts very much that the old bat will die, but politically, he’s been maneuvered between rock and hard place. Then to add to the matter, Bo-kyung prostrates herself in front of his doors, crying piteously for him to let go of his anger, laying all the blame on herself. She refuses to rise until his tiff with Grandma is resolved, and he tells her she can stop because he’s already decided to reconcile.

Bo-kyung rises and stumbles, conveniently right into Hwon’s arms. There’s been no indication that she’s being deceitful, but I think we know enough of her to suspect she’s in actress mode, and Hwon knows it too. He comments how fortunate she must be to have the queen dowager backing her inside the palace, and her father outside it.

Bo-kyung stiffens to realize he’s sharper than he seems, and she tries to move away. He tightens his hold on her and reminds her of words he’d said before, leaning in close like a lover. His tone is sweet, but his words contemptuous — that she and her family may set out to gain everything, but don’t bother trying to win his heart, “Because you can never have it.” He says that last with a cynic’s laugh.

Bo-kyung looks stricken in front of witnesses but when she’s alone, her face twists into a sneer. She trembles angrily and reminds herself that Yeon-woo is dead, and that she belongs here.

Bo-kyung is visited by Princess Min-hwa (Nam Bora), who’s as bright and cheery as ever. Bo-kyung plasters a smile on her face and when Min-hwa asks about her appeal to the king, Bo-kyung says demurely that her insufficient virtue has prevented them from conceiving an heir. Min-hwa says it’s not virtue that’s needed but affection, and that the reason her brother doesn’t visit Bo-kyung’s bed is probably ’cause he doesn’t love her. Ha, so I see she hasn’t learned tact in all these years.

Min-hwa has happy news to share, and says that a date has been decided for when she and her husband can share quarters. Essentially she’s been married for a while (I presume while she was still very young), but they haven’t consummated the union. Bo-kyung deflates at this, jealous of the princess.

Min-hwa arrives outside her husband’s quarters, but pauses to write something on a piece of paper. It’s the aforementioned auspicious dates, and she adds to the list. HA. You’ve gotta love a girl who’s eager for some loving.

She enters his room and finds him asleep. Shyly, she tells him her news, that today’s one of the dates… only said husband is actually outside, having just arrived at his own door. Sleeping Dude gets up, interrupting her, and she whines in annoyance, “Yang-myung oraboni!” Hahaha. (Also: Jung Il-woo!!)

Yang-myung can immediately tell she’s messed with the dates, and she’s so miffed at his brotherly teasing that she storms out, not even stopping to chat with her beloved husband. (It’s Yeom!) In a huff, she tosses Yang-myung’s shoes onto the roof. Ha, so petty.

Yeom wonders why Yang-myung’s always picking on his sister, and he says it’s just cause she annoys him. Heh. But there’s added sadness here, and the mood briefly dims as Yang-myung sighs over his friend being stripped of his wings when he was destined for greater things; it makes him blame Min-hwa and Hwon.

Yeom has a brighter perspective on it, saying that the princess is his family’s savior, and it was through her influence that his family was allowed to live. If ever there was an apt situation to use the phrase “giving the illness, then the cure,” this is it.

When the friends emerge from the room, Yang-myung finds his shoes gone, but hilariously produces a spare pair from his bag. It’s because he’s a frequent traveler, but I love the idea that the princess’s petty revenge is so easily thwarted.

Mention of the king brings a wistful look to Yang-myung’s face, and he asks Yeom if he wonders what Yeon-woo would look like now, if she’d lived. They’re all aging, but in his mind she’s still 13.

So on his slow walk home, he imagines the 13-year-old Yeon-woo at his side. She tells him — as she once did before — that the king waits for him at the palace.

He asks, “Will he really be waiting for me when I’ve given him such pain?” She tells him, “He’s waiting.” She asks him to protect the king.

Yang-myung finds a crowd of men waiting for him at his front door, and they recognize him immediately. He turns and runs, managing to evade being spotted by the crowd.

As he emerges from hiding, he thinks to himself, addressing his words to Yeon-woo, “Are you happy now? This is my way of protecting the king.” Ah, I suspect these are the supporters Minister Yoon alluded to, who are eager to back Yang-myung’s claim to the throne. He, however, wants none of it.

That night, Hwon sleeps fitfully. He hears Yeon-woo’s dying words about how none of this is his fault, which conflict with the dowager queen’s insistence that it is. Then there are Yang-myung’s angry accusations that he did nothing to protect Yeon-woo. He wakes, and those words ring in his years.

This is a recurring dream, as Woon — keeping silent guard in his chamber — deduces. They head outdoors for some air, and Hwon explains the meaning behind this building’s name (Silver/Hidden Moon). When his father had it built, the moon above the pond was so beautiful he wanted to treasure that image, so that on nights when the moon is hidden, he could come here and look upon it.

Hwon adds that once there was a moon he hid here, and that while the sun and moon can’t share the same sky, they can be seen together in the same pond. And in the water’s reflection, we see the moon hovering over Hwon’s shoulder.

In the woods, Nok-young is in the middle of a rite when the candles are snuffed out by some unseen force. She senses something in the air, something unsettling and powerful. Jan-shil delivers a letter from a man who warns her that the spiritual energy of the heavens is shifting, and that they will meet soon. It’s time.

Several days later, Nok-young heads to meet him, with the same three girls trailing in her wake. There’s Seol, all grown up now (Yoon Seung-ah), with Yeon-woo (now named Wol, or Moon) keeping her face hidden.

Arriving at the dock, she finally comes out from under the covering, revealing adult Yeon-woo (Han Ga-in).

 
COMMENTS

Did you know that there are two suns and two moons? And that the sun and the moon can’t be in the same sky together? And that the sun loves the moon, and the moon loves the sun, and that the moonmoonsunsunOkayWeGetIt.

I’m enjoying this drama a whole damn lot, and it makes me giddy and sad and intrigued — but oy with the super-obvious metaphor. It’s not a bad one; it’s just getting really, really old. It’s a simple concept in the first place, so we’d have to be dumb not to grasp the poetry of the sun-moon divide, but it’s being handled with all the subtlety of a Hong Sisters metaphor. Circa 2006. This drama has such a lovely, stirring feel to it and terribly engaging actors, that I wish the delicacy of its artistic sensibility translated into delicacy of storytelling. Instead it’s sort of like bashing something in with a sledgehammer and then coloring it with dainty brushstrokes.

That said, I’m thrilled that we’re starting to see some great meaty stuff now that we’re finally into the present-day story. I adored the teenage moments and think it’s one of the better sageuk childhoods in recent years, but from a story point of view, this is where it really starts. This is where we start going interesting places, so it’s a welcome advancement, and not a moment too soon.

I wasn’t anticipating this rift between the brothers to happen so soon, but damn if it wasn’t moving. Their shared love of the same girl was bound to eventually lead to conflict, but I didn’t expect it to come at her death. It makes sense, though, that while Yang-myung’s love of his brother was so strong that jealousy and hurt wasn’t enough to bring him to the breaking point, death — that final, irreversible point (excepting shamanic interventions, that is) — finally pushes him there.

And yet, adult Yang-myung still loves his brother, and just as with their early-adolescent rift, both sides suppose the other wants no more to do with them while actually longing for that connection.

I’m again amazed at how spot-on the casting matches up from childhood to adulthood, and find I can easily believe the transition, even though not that many years have passed. (Heck, Jung Il-woo is just one year older than teenage Yeom, aka Im Shi-wan.) For instance, I see teenage Hwon in Kim Soo-hyun’s mannerisms, which aren’t exactly the same but make it believable that one grew into the other.

Speaking of whom, Kim Soo-hyun is doing a marvelous job — he’s got a wonderful way of adding a bitter, caustic edge to Hwon while also being able to show us that lighter, smiling side. (Even if most of his joking is satirical or mocking.) There’s a delicious undercurrent of steely nerve in Hwon’s way of speaking — he can turn from jovial to sharply incisive in a flash. We saw it in his adolescence, but it has sharpened over time and it keeps his court on its toes. It also gives me hope that this is not a young king about to get jerked around by others; he’s in control of his power. Lesson painfully learned.

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That dot on Han GaIn's nose will forever command my attention. Damn it.

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I was actually thinking about Han Ga In's beauty mark When I first saw young Yeon Woo wondering how it would magically appear out of nowhere XDD

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DITTO! Me too! LOL.... I thought, they should have planted a mole on the younger Yeon Woo.... LOL :D Guess, a mole just grew out of her pimple...

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"the mole on her nose".....I apologize for not being more mature, but looking at that mole is like talking to someone who has a big speck of pepper stuck on their tooth/gums.

Try wth all your might to ignore it...you know that eventually they will discover it and it will be picked off ~but a mole. on.the.tip.of your.nose.

...that sucker is NOT going anywhere unless you make it...go.
(sigh)

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I really wish they would have used make-up to cover it up. It is even more distracting because young Wol didn´t have one.

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So true! I'll get over it eventually but little things like that annoy me. They could have easily either given the young girl a freckle/mole, or hidden Han Ga In's. I don't think she is as a pretty as the girl playing the young Yeon Woo, so I guess i'm biased already.
There are 20 episodes and we're only on ep 6. I really have no idea what is going to happen in this show. I miss the kids, but I like most of the adults so far.

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as far as I know, you could have new mole(s) later in your life *i'mthelivingproof* , BUT you can't erase mole that you've already have unless under knife or heavy make up.
BTW, the young Wol has this tiny little mole on her right cheek near her nose. THAT is the one mole we should look for!

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seriously... -.-'' I need the eng sub like rite now... reading this recap make me crazy!!! seriously.. this is a great drama!

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There are english subs go to kimichidrama...

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JUNG IL WOO!!! JUNG IL WOO!! I have nothing of real substance to say expect JUNG IL WOO!! Okay, back to normal breathing...

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I'm with you holding up a sign of JUNG IL WOO with hearts all over.....JUNG IL WOO JUNG IL WOO>>> this guy loves adventurous vacations...like bungee jumping ..mountain biking at WHistler

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FINALLY :DDD I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL DAY FOR THIS RECAP!! XD

Man, I actually cried a lot watching this episode. Specially when the parents cried for her and darn that light rain came and Hwon cried :(

I swear I think I might love the child/teen actors more than I do the adult characters though.. (I guess we'll see after all the adults have made their appearances) Their acting was seriously the best of every drama I've seen... maybe it's cause they're child actor veterans, but still. Yeo Jin Gu and Lee Min Ho... I can't wait to see them on the screen again XD such promising talent!!

I know it sounds weird but I have a hard time understanding the grandmother's logic...
She killed her son's half brother to secure his spot in throne... he had some kids and his son (of his first wife) is now king... what more is there?
I mean I could understand if she's power hungry and all, but it makes no sense considering her own descendants are clearly on the throne and there is no threat...? (I guess yang myung is a threat, but now it's just repetitive- history repeating itself all over again -_-)
All to get her Yoon family in on palace power? Seems ridiculous to me.

Along with that, was I the only one that thought that Minister Yoon has more of a hold and power on the grand dowager? It's as if the dynamics have changed and he's using her to get what he wants.. maybe she's getting too old to scheme lol.

Thanks for the recap :D

moon, sun, moon, sun, moon, and more sun! hwaiting! ^^

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Annoying grammatical correction:

you mean sanguinary not sanguine.

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Nope, I meant the word I used. Funny enough, your 'correction' is the exact opposite of my meaning.

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And why is that whenever I listen to the song posted above, my heart goes berserk and my eyes starts to swell? Awww, shit. The tragedy of first love. That song is wonderful.

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Megauplaod has been shut down (crossing fingers: it's just temporary).. And I think other sites where we can satiate our kdrama thirsts may come next.. :( Netizens should really make a move.. What do we do when kdramas is no longer available to everyone..? :(

[Sorry.. i know that it's out of the topic, but who knows.. because of this happenings we might not be able to finish watching this wonderful drama.. ]

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Yeah. im kinda scared of all these things going on... the future of convenient k-drama watching may cease to exist.

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Strangely enough, I seem to like the adult Bo-Kyung a lot more than I did the child actress. I have a soft spot for the female antagonists that Kim Min Seo plays because I know that at the end of the day, she's going to portray a character with vulnerabilities and more than just a flat 2-dimensional biatch.
That aside, JUNG IL-WOO adsjklfdjkladsjk incoherence.

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i am curious on how the rating should be with han ga in apperance will she have a good Chemistry with the two leads? i hope she prove me wrong

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tq JB,

The young king hwon live some kind of positive life although without the rightful queen.

Yang myung's accusation about him not doing anything to protect yoen woo when she is alive, at that time he was just a mere teenage prince with no power to execute an order except from his father the king.

With yang myung's accusation about it, now he is exerting his authority to the old ministers who is still holding the post. When will they be kick out for good ?.

So we will see the two brothers clashing, one with authority and the other person will be like
"Robin Hood ".

Could yang myung win "Lady Mariam's" heart ?.....

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I'm just wondering.. where's the previous king?? :D

to add to that: I saw both, the young prince and his father's mannerisms in Kim Soo Hyun, especially when he was having conversations with the Evil-In-law.. ahhhh, he is so good as a king. maybe I just love the character of the king also.. kkk

And I agree, the casting is superb. seriously.

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Thanks for the recap!

When they just showed "Yeom's" back,I actually held my breath - I knew JIW was hiding out in there! I do miss his red hair, though.

He can really work that face, from playful teasing with his lil' looking-for-some-loving sis to melancholic gazing at young YW. I think he and KSH will have some good chemistry - can't wait until they meet next week.

The King, astute as we see him, would want a rapprochement with his bro, wouldn't he -- if the politicians are splitting into two camps around them? King H seems to be a kind of keep your enemies closer kind of guy.

I wonder if what the shaman camp is seeing as the change in the air? The King being forced to have an heir with anyone?
YM's return?

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JUNG IL WOO 'S eyes express them all.....what an adorable actor....

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Haven't watched any of the episodes but now that I've seen how Il-woo looks like, I'm more determined than ever.

Kim Soohyun, you're awesome. But the man I'm gonna shed more tears for is JIW. I'm sure of that.

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is it just me or KHS was really hot when he was being mean? he did a very good job portraying a king.

and thanks for the recap javabeans!

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Okay, I've replayed that rain scene four times now.... yeo gin goo is so GOOD. GRAWD. Just amazing. I can read everything he is feeling and thinking from his face. And his crying scenes ----> puddle of awed goo. D:

KIM SOO HYUN!! SQUEALL!!!! + Jung Il Woo <3 yayayay

Yeo Gin Goo is just so good! gah! mind she be blown.

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SAME HERE. That scene replays in my head EVERY time I listen to the OST song by Lyn.

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If we're going off pure superficiality here, Han Ga In doesn't really match the look of teen Yeon Woo. It's just not believable. She's supposed to be 2 years younger, yet she looks really really old compared to Soo Hyun. Probably doesn't help that he has a babyface too. She may be the leg holding down this drama for me, but I can't really judge much till she starts acting. *sigh*

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Yay for Jung Il-woo's entrance! I shall be watching this when english subs come out.
It's cute how the Princess married Yeom. Would love to see their interactions.

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Is it just me or is Kim Soo-hyun's voice and way of speaking sounding almost exactly like his on-screen daddy's? It made me think of his SKKS role too. It was eerie.

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WOW! Thanks once again!
I am a HUGE fan of Kim Soo Hyun and Jung Il Woo and this episode and drama is a real treat for me!!!!
I have/ had full confidence in Kim Soo Hyun's acting and his transition from young prince to the adult because the child actor and Kim Soo Hyun's face looked alike (somewhat) and also that Kim Soo Hyun is a natural actor who has his timings right.
Jung Il Woo on the other hand has a great screen presence and is very eye candy. The only thing I was worried was that he have a tendency to overact and I feared as his younger self was of a serious and responsible character, whether he will justify the role without overacting... JIW brought his own charm and I believe it is working...
Sorry to see the younger actors go but I guess there will be constant flashbacks of them throughout the drama so no worries... :)

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the only one i'm really hesitant about is han ga-in ... i hope she can keep up the characterization of yeon woo b/c the child actor has been doing such a great job *fingers crossed*

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Fingers crossed. Yes, otherwise the whole drama will be spoilt just for one act...

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So the only people who knows Yeon Woo's true identity would be Nok Young and Seol?

I can't wait until Wol and Hwon meet. It'll probably feel like deva ju to them. And like last time, it'll be love at first sight ^^

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This just so- - - off topic but I LOVE the makeup of Korean actors and actresses especially in periodic dramas! It is subtle and natural looking. Not disliking on Chinese dramas as I am also a huge Chinese drama fan, Chinese actors has a lot of makeup (at times too exaggerated) on their face which looks unreasonable for those times... May be they just want to show the colors of the characters with the makeup but it looks good on stage rather than dramas. Dramas should look more realistic and acting should tell the colours of the role rather than the makeup or the get up. For example, an elegant and well spoken lady can be also evil like Queen Bo-Kyung.

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Don't worry about the randomness of it, I've also been thinking about how pretty the makeup is XD

I also love the vibrant and pretty colors all the hanbok have :)

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@ Javabeans,

Just an opinion, I could be wrong but I think the hanja for the name of that building 'yin gak" means "Hidden moon" instead of "Silver Moon". I don't remember if I've actually seen the hanja name onscreen, but the "yin" seems more likely to be hidden than silver though they both sound almost the same....

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It's 은월각, not yin gak, but I think you may be right if the hanja is 隱 rather than 銀. It does make more sense in the context of the conversation.

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Kim Soo-hyun looks great as King Hwon. I think he punishes Bo-kyung because of the Queen Dowager.

Also....why hasn't that old bag aged at all....,"Evil doesn't die so easily." I guess.

I am so excited for Wol's interactions with the grown up Yang, Yeom, and Hwon.

The fact that I have to wait another week is KILLING ME.

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I think Kim soo hyun did a pretty good job but jung il woo as the older version for yangmyung is not that believable for me :(

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I agree. I like JIW but a side of me wanted lee min ho to stay T_T
i think i'm just judging too soon because it's only his first episode. i keep channeling his goofy self in flowerboy/49 days

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Jeez, these people must have never seen an eclipse before.

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i have had the biggest crush on kim soo hyun..my god. just everything about him is perfect..his lopsided big eyes and super small face.. :) hehehehe.
i love him so ooooooooooooooo much.

this drama is amazing.
i think han ga in is beautifullll...and jung il woo is a keeper. kim min seoo....i remember her as chosun..hehe
<3 <3 <3

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i was wondering how exactly did she lost her memory? is it because she was lack of oxygen for too long that her brain damaged for a while so the previous memory is gone? at first i thought it was nok young's intention, but no cuz she was also surprised.

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It might have been because she was too shocked. Imagine waking up in a coffin. o_o It's some sort of serious trauma I guess because she was still ok when she woke up until she realized where she was.

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omg...the previous ep was so heart wrenching....

and now we get to see the main older casts...though i'm already missing the young uns! they did a great job!!!

is it just me, but i really feel that Han GaIn looks a bit old for her part since she's partnered with hot male in their younger years...
i wish they could have gotten a younger female lead...though i know HGI will do a good job and i will still continue to watch this great series.

thanks again for the recaps!

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I'm in-love with Kim Soo Hyun.. (AGAIN!) but Jung Il-woo is HOT!

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thanks so much for the recaps DB!

my heart skipped a beat when kim soo hyun first appeared on screen. i had anticipated this drama because of him and it is just worth the wait, add to that the mystic story, power cast and the colorful costumes. tho, at the same time this drama is breaking my heart and making me cry buckets.

love love love hwon when he was whispering to queen bo kyung about her trying to win his heart but she can never have it... bwahahaha, fitting comeuppance to her.

anxiously waiting for han ga in and how she will blend in with the rest of the adult cast. seriously, all the rest especially kim soo hyun had a perfect transition from their child actor counterparts.

i know that this drama is heading to the weepylandia but how i wish it would divert from the usual tragic sageuk ending and follow the PM route.

just wanted to share this, darksmurfsub is currently subbing this drama. tho atm only those who have helped in subbing process of any drama can access the manually translated/edited subs. here is the link to the moonsun subs:
http://www.darksmurfsub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/3629-the-moon-that-embraces-the-sun-2012/page__pid__49394__st__60#entry49394

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....and I still feel that Song Joong Ki would be more suitable for the role of the king because he looks more like the young Prince and although I love Kim Soo-hyun his appearance was somewhat disturbing to me.....

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atm... i think that Kim Soo Hyun is as perfect as the King as can be. just my two cents! I have never seen such continuity from child actor to the adult role.

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Hello, okay what you said about princess MW makes so much sense. Her grandma made it look like it has MW's fault so she must have been traumatized and scared to tell the truth to anyone! How can she says she was part of her dead??

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I just watched the episode and I am so impressed with KSH's acting here! Especially his laugh when he told whats-her-face that she can never have his heart... perfect. I honestly cannot wait to see what's in store for next week! And I wonder if Yeon Woo still has the hair pendant... and when they're going to meet again... AHHH THE AGONY OF WAITING!

Thanks so much Javabeans for the recap! :)

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oh gosh..the power of this drama makes me want to be a shaman in my next life.

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KIM SOO-HYUN!!! The royal robes look fabulous on him. I love him giving it to the ministers, and keeping them on their toes. I also found the scene with Kim Min-seo very hot - which is bad because clearly if he ever threatened me, all I'd do is swoon. I also noticed that he picked up Ahn Nae-sang's mannerisms. It's probably because Hwon and his dad are very similar, and his dad was his kingly role-model, but Hwon/KSY has his own thing going on as well. I suspect he'll be more himself as he gets used to the role and starts to become his own kind of king.

Also, shout-out to Jung Il-woo - you're not my fave but you still make me love you when you're onscreen. Keep up the good work!

I have a question: I may have watched this episode with bootleg subs, but in JIW's first scene, was Yang-myung suggesting that he has a "sister-complex" in regards to Min-hwa? Because that is hilarious. And kind of wrong. (I kind of wish he was pretending to be in love with Yeom though - that would be so cute.)

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loving this drama. Child actors were amazing. And Kim Soo Hyun is amazing too. Jung Il Woo is not bad too. I still not into Han Ga In. It should have younger actress like Park Shin Hye. I dont like Seol's outfit too.

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ehem.ehem..

JUNG IL WOO I LOVE YOU!
Okaay, so..that was amazing! I haven't watched the episode yet but I read your recaps so far and GAH! I really applaud Kim Soo-hyun for his acting skills....and good looks...AND the ability to make my heart race..and, well you get what I mean.

This is going to be a realllly bumpy ride. First, such an amazing story-so far. Second, hot guys in one freaking drama. I think I will need a tissue for every episode starting with this.
...
*nosebleed*

Oh gosh.

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Hi... I'm a bit confused. In Princess' Man, the King wants Park Shi Hoo's character to become the "Ulbin" as to guide the young crown prince and future king. But here, how come being an 'Ulbin' is being 'striped of his wings'?

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I think you're right to pick up on the similarities of the men (uibin), but there are some significant differences in context and political climate between the two cases.

In Princess's Man, Seung-yoo (Park Shi-hoo) wasn't initially supposed to marry Princess Kyung-hye. The king only made Seung-yoo her fiancé after he heard that Suyang was plotting alliances behind his back, trying to align himself with Seung-yoo's father. So he jumped in and claimed Seung-yoo's father to his side by engaging their children.

In Princess's Man, the king knows he's dying and that the minute he's gone, his brother is going to launch a coup to seize the throne away from the crown prince. So he needs the princess and prince to be literally protected from mortal harm, and the stronger the man they have with them, the more protection they're given. Seung-yoo's father is also Suyang's strongest rival, and therefore he's the safest person to entrust his children to.

In Moon, you have a relatively stable political climate and no imminent danger to the line of succession. The biggest villains are Minister Yoon and the queen dowager, and they're not plotting to take over the throne. There's no danger to the lives of the princess or Hwon; they just want the king to be meek and leave the real authority to them. In fact, they're more powerful with Hwon and Min-hwa alive, since their deaths would cause a shake-up -- they want to preserve the status quo, not overturn it. Leaving things as they are means they get to enjoy their corruption and nepotism and power.

Furthermore, Yeom has passed the national civil service exam in first place (jangwon geubjae) at the age of 17, which is incredible. He's noble and intelligent and basically expected to be one of the nation's brightest leaders of the future, sort of like Seung-yoo's father was one of the king's greatest allies in Princess's Man. To marry the princess would mean he would just be husband to a figurehead. He would be like Jong in Princess's Man, whose most important position was to watch over the princess. In a time when the princess is in no harm, it would have been a sore waste of Yeom's talents.

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thanks JB for taking the time and effort to make things clear ^^ I've always reads your recaps even after I watch the episodes, cause I love your insight. ^-^ you guys are awesome

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Thanks for the recap javabeans.

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i'm surprised no one is commenting on the allusion/ premontion of seol's possible death. In that scene where jan shil tells her "you will always be yeon woo's shadow, if the snow is too close to the sun it will melt, so keep your distance from her."

O_O, I kind of had a feeling that this would happen. I'm actually looking forward to a seol and yeom storyline!

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hmmm, so it would mean seol shouldn't get too near yang myung and hwon, and yeon woo is the moon ... I interpreted it as seol shouldn't be near yeom (fire), cause fire melts snow, means any hint of possible loveline will never be fruitful ...

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question where can I find the book in English Version?

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i think I remember a group of ppl was translating the book but I forgot where I saw it...google it

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I worry about the chemistry between adult Hwon and Yeon-woo and adult Yang-myung and Yeon-woo. I'm not really familiar with Han Ga-in's work and acting range so I'm leaving it all to Kim Soo-hyun and Jung Il-woo's awesomeness.

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OMO!!! :)) i love the adult actorsss! great acting KSH and JIW!.

i was kinda looking forward as to what will happen on the future. it says there that they wanted the king to take a vacation due to his illness. Maybe the first meeting of yeon woo and prince hwon before will happen again today when they are adult again. :)) hihihihi! :) i was imagining that since they don't know the face of each other after so many years and the king will dress up like a commoner again and both of them will meet again, not knowing each other :))) hahaha!

well, i'm just imagining! :)) it was just my opinion.. hahaha! BUT im really excited as to what will happen on the next episodes :))

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i was thinking about how it would have been better if Bo-Kyung was made a very nice girl during the childhood, not influenced by his family but whose cold marriage turn her to be evil... for her to be just evil is quite boring...

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After Dream High, I just loved Kim Soo Hyun. And after 49 days, I loved Jung Il Woo! Now I have both of them in one drama . awesome ...and I hope it stays that way till the end!

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I am going to sorely miss the young actors/actresses. I couldn't help but shed a tear at the first few minutes of the ep. I cannot wait for Wol and Hwon to meet each other again!

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Ok Nok-Young still sucks.
Bo-Kyung still has her baby-beluga forehead.
SO MAD that Seol and Yeom didn't get together.
EVEN MADDER that Yeon -woo lost her memories
still hate the dowager Queen granny. ><

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How is it possible for her to get amnesia. Theres no logic to it at all! Its a drama overall.

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seriously! MBC is fan servicing me right now ------- I've been waiting for Kim Soo Hyun to appear again and they gave me TMTETS and after this Lee Seung Gi's KING ------- MBC how can i ever thank you XD

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