The Moon That Embraces the Sun: Episode 17

144 February 29, 2012January 24, 2016

by girlfriday

These brothers, they kill me. Half the time they make me cry, and half the time I just want to lock them in their rooms for a timeout. There are some major developments in this episode in the romance department, which means that it’s time for princes and kings to work out their issues. Let’s just say it doesn’t go well, ’cause tears get shed, and not just mine.

EPISODE 17 RECAP

After dropping off medical supplies and confirming some suspicions of his own, Yang-myung bids Wol a goodnight. Suddenly he turns to her, “You’re not going to disappear suddenly tomorrow, are you?” Hey, legitimate question where you’re concerned.

But she reminds him that she’s a criminal (meaning she can’t go elsewhere if she wanted to). He smiles, remembering himself, “That’s right. You’re a criminal. A shaman. You’re Wol.” It kills me how much he doesn’t want her to be Yeon-woo.

But something in that relief-and-recognition gives Wol pause as she watches him go.

Yang-myung makes his way down the road, empty save for three men walking by, dressed plainly but carrying swords. As they pass, Yang-myung whirls around and stops in his tracks, feeling death in the air. (It’s not supernatural, his feeling – just that niggling intuition that screams: assassins!)

Wol stands alone in the courtyard, and from the shadows someone calls out, “Yeon-woo-ya.” Eep! It’s Hwon!

He slowly emerges from the shadows, calling her name. Not believing it at first, she asks if he’s a hallucination, but he promises that he isn’t. “I’m sorry that I only recognized you now. Yeon-woo-ya,” calling himself an idiot. It would be wrong to argue with the king. Idiot it is.

She breaks down in tears and he pulls her into an embrace.

A few yards away, Yang-myung watches, crushed. Aw, Puppyyyyyyyyy!

He turns to go and comes upon Woon standing guard on the bridge just outside. But there’s no time for angry reunions just now, because Woon motions at him to shush, as the three assassins arrive behind him. That must’ve been some shortcut you took, Yang-myung.

The men draw swords and attack, and Woon handles them without breaking a sweat. But it means the king is unguarded… He takes off running, and Yang-myung grabs one of the men’s swords and follows.

Sure enough, Hwon and Yeon-woo are backing away slowly from a group of black-clad assassins. One lunges forward… as Woon swoops in to fight him off. They surround him, and then Yang-myung runs in to join the fight, which worries me because you’re not Iljimae anymore.

He kills one, but then gets stabbed by another. Hwon: “Hyungnim!” He quickly trades places with Yang-myung, taking his sword. They stop to look at each other, nodding silently. At that, Yang-myung grabs Yeon-woo’s hand and they take off running.

A fresh crop of assassins comes at them, and they fight to buy Yang-myung and Yeon-woo time. Woon suggests they find her and go into hiding, but she’s nowhere to be found.

An assassin reports to Minister Yoon that they were unsuccessful in their mission because Hwon, Woon, and even Yang-myung were there. So she was the target after all. He orders them to find her, and to also kill Nok-young quietly.

But Hwon is already one step ahead where Nok-young is concerned, having ordered her to go into hiding until the time came to reveal the truth. As she, Jan-shil, and Seol run away from the palace that night, Seol breaks off on her own, and Nok-young notes that it’s obvious where she’s headed, but that she’ll return like she always does.

Hwon scours Yang-myung’s house, finding it empty. Even you would have to agree that he’d be dumb to bring her here. But Hwon returns to the palace furious and wondering if his brother is to be trusted. Really?

By the time they reach their destination, Yang-myung can barely stand. It’s the temple where his mom lives, and she runs up, shocked to see him this way. He calls out to her, “Mother…” and collapses.

As Yeon-woo helps her carry an unconscious Yang-myung inside, Mom recognizes her on sight. As they dress his wounds, she asks directly if she is Minister Heo’s daughter. She answers truthfully. At that, Mom cries, asking Yang-myung why he’s chosen such a painful love. You and me both, Mom. You and me both.

Outside Mom tells her that Yang-myung came to her once and said that he could lay down everything—his name, his position—but he could not lay down his love for one girl. She guesses that he must’ve wanted her to see the woman he loved.

In the distance, Woon appears. So he found them after all. Only… when he returns to the palace, he LIES and tells Hwon he didn’t find them. Huh. Curiouser and curiouser. But didn’t we already establish that Hwon knows if you’re lying?

At request, Woon follows the king to his bath, where Hwon orders everyone outside except for Woon and Hyung-sun. He asks for Woon’s sword. He draws it, and suddenly holds it up to Woon’s throat. Whoa.

The room goes silent. Hwon: “Take off your clothes.” Uhhhh… Hyung-sun crosses his hands over his chest. Pffft.

Hwon says it’s no fun to play pranks on Woon when he doesn’t even flinch at a sword, putting Hyung-sun’s mind at ease. He then orders Woon to take a bath, because he’s prepared it for him. Woon says he can’t, but Hwon won’t let him defy orders.

“Defying the king’s orders is disloyalty… And shaking the relationship between the king and his brother… is treason.” Damn. Woon closes his eyes, knowing he’s been caught red-handed.

Hwon orders him to take a bath, and tells Hyung-sun to cut him with his own sword if he comes out any sooner than ordered. Ha.

Hwon says that though he can’t give Woon any higher honors, he cherishes him more than any other (aw) but adds for him not to be in pain, because Hwon can feel it too.

Yang-myung wakes up the next morning and rushes out, breathing a huge sigh of relief when he sees Yeon-woo sitting with his mother. He admits thinking she’d be gone, but she says she waited.

As they walk, she asks how long he’s known—was it because of the haewooseok? He says it’d be weirder if that didn’t tip him off, since he’s the one who named the worry-listening rock, and told no one else its name. She asks why he pretended not to know then.

Yang-myung: Because I didn’t want to know. If I could, I wanted to pretend till the end. You, coming back from the dead—at times it made me so happy I couldn’t stand it. But then on the other side, I knew that the moment I acknowledged it, everything would float away like a mirage.

Errrrf. Why do you break my heaaaaart? He tells her that waking up every morning with purpose, having a place to go, people who needed him, and seeing her… “It made me so happy.”

She says she was happy too, that he was her light when she couldn’t face the world. She calls him “Yang-myung-gun,” like she used to when they were kids, and tells him that he made it so she could lay down her burdens for a while and smile and laugh.

“When I was Wol, and when I was Heo Yeon-woo, I was always grateful. And… always sorry. But I can’t give you the answer you seek.” *Craaa~ack* There goes that final piece of his heart. She tells him to be free and happy, and turns to go.

He stops her, and without turning around to face her, he asks, “In the last life, I was that child’s person. In this life… can you not stay by my side?” Waaaah.

She turns to face him, but Hwon’s voice calls out to answer for her, “No, it cannot be.” He steps in to pull her away and tells Woon to escort her. He turns to Yang-myung: “Do you know what you’ve just done? Running away with the king’s woman is treason.”

Aw, really? Why do you always default to orders and laws? This is why your relationship with your brother sucks! She already CHOSE you.

Hwon tosses him a sword. Oh crap. Oh no. No no no no no!

Yang-myung asks what he’s doing, and Hwon says his crime is one he could present to the assembly. Or, Yang-myung could use this opportunity right now to slit the king’s throat and take the throne. He draws his sword.

Yang-myung’s eyes sting with tears, but he draws his sword as well. Hwon charges. Bollocks.

WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?

They fight, as we flash back to their youth, play-fighting with wooden swords. And just like back then, Yang-myung wins the present fight, as we cut back to him holding his sword at Hwon’s throat.

Hwon yells at him to do it. “Do you think rising to the throne means you can hold everything in your hand?” Yang-myung: “At least sitting on the throne means I won’t be charged with treason.”

Hwon: “Then do it!” He’s either got balls of steel or he knows his brother won’t do it, because he doesn’t even blink. Yang-myung, on the other hand, trembles as his eyes fill with tears.

Hwon screams, “Why are you hesitating? Slit my throat!” But he can’t do it, of course, and swings the sword away, turning his back.

Hwon: “You are the one who wasted the opportunity today. Don’t seek another.” Yang-myung turns back angrily. Goddamn, you guys are killing me.

Hwon returns to the palace and enters his room, speaking to Yeon-woo who is hidden from view. He asks worriedly if he brought her here against her will. She in turn asks if he plans to let her go then.

“My heart already belongs to your majesty. What has you so nervous?” He asks if he can open the door, and she tells him to do as he pleases. The screen gets pulled back and a hidden door opens to reveal Yeon-woo dressed in beautiful clothes. Aw, I love that Hwon just basically reverts to being a teenager around her. It’s so cute.

He asks her to come closer, and closer, and finally he can’t take it and grabs her in a hug. Everyone averts their eyes, and she reminds him they’re not alone. He looks back awkwardly at Hyung-sun, who gives them the cutest smile, as he orders everyone out and shuffles out behind them.

He hugs her tight, saying her name over and over to make sure it’s true. I’m happy for your reunion but I sure hope you know what you’re doing, exposing her to danger inside the palace and all.

The next morning he can barely hide his beaming smile, though he balks at Hyung-sun for doing the same. Heh. Must keep up appearances.

He runs into Minister Yoon, who coos in fake concern over the king’s recent brush with death. Hwon says it’s a curious thing that he even knows about it, since the only people who knew were him, and the assassins. Ha. Yoon says it’s his job to concern himself with the king’s well-being.

Hwon mentions that the next military training session is coming up, and asks Minister Yoon to teach him his famed sword skills. Minister Yoon says it’s not really a secret skill, so much as the refusal to stop what he’s started, if he’s raised his sword with the intention to kill. Hwon thanks him for the helpful tip.

He tries to concentrate on his work, but he can’t contain himself, with Yeon-woo so close in the next room. Suddenly we’re in a roommate rom-com up in here.

He asks what she’s doing. Reading of course, and he whines that she was reading earlier too. “Is that book really that interesting?” She answers absent-mindedly, “Yes, it is.” He sighs in exasperation, tossing his scrolls aside. Hee.

Suddenly he lights up with an idea. Yeon-woo looks up from her book to find Hwon standing in her room, desk in hand. HAHAHAHA. Why so cute?

He awkwardly sits down right across from her, and tries to look nonchalant as he goes about his business. He grumps that she thinks more of that book than of him, asking if she knows how difficult it was for him to “protect his innocence” for eight years—what effort and physical strength it took. Pffft.

She asks if it takes strength to guard purity and he snaps that she doesn’t know how much exercise it takes to fight a young man’s boiling blood. Rawr. She counters that it’s actually a lie, since he clearly had the hots for Wol. HA.

He guffaws that it is SO not true. Are you two seriously fighting over this? It cracks me up. Hwon: “That was… wait… but that was you.” I take it back what I ever said about you two being smart.

He breaks into laughter at the idea that she’s jealous of herself, and she pouts and tells him to go back to his work, covering her face with a book. But he just moves his desk aside (why is that hot?) and pulls her book down.

He leans in close, “You being jealous of yourself is pretty funny, but me falling for you twice is not exactly normal either.” Yeah, THAT we’ve firmly established hun.

And then he startles her with a kiss.

I don’t know what’s cuter, the kiss or the fact that he goes right back to work like it didn’t happen.

Bad news though: Queen Grandma finds out that Yeon-woo is alive. Minister Yoon guesses that Hwon has hidden both Nok-young and Yeon-woo, because they’ve disappeared since the night Hwon discovered the truth.

Grandma wonders if that means he’ll bury what he knows, but Minister Yoon thinks it’s more likely he hasn’t found out the full truth, or that he’s waiting for the right time to strike. Either way, they have to find Yeon-woo and Nok-young first, and get rid of them.

They figure with the only two witnesses to the crime dead, the truth will stay buried forever. And then we get a pair of weird-ass zooms into their faces, like we need help to know that these are the baddies, circa 1930.

Grandma decides to pay a surprise visit to the king, and thinking quickly, Hyung-sun calls out to him to announce her presence extra loud and extra long. But she bursts in before he’s done, and Hwon freezes, standing in the middle of his room with his desk in his arms.

She looks at him strangely, so he starts lifting the desk like a weight, as he tells her it’s exercise. HA.

Grandma cuts right to the chase and reminds Hwon that she did him a favor in sparing Wol’s life, and now she’s come to collect on that. She asks him to give her Nok-young and Wol. Both sides play dumb as to why, but all he can do is agree to do as she asks. He simply asks for some time to find them, assuring her that they will meet. To himself he thinks that it will be a meeting of victims, witnesses, and the guilty.

She also tells him to stop digging around concerning the “incident” eight years ago, warning him that the reason they covered it up was to protect the king and his people. He asks which people, and she just tells him to ask himself who is most precious to him.

Yeon-woo overhears all this, and understands an implication that Hwon doesn’t—Princes Min-hwa’s involvement, which puts her brother Yeom at risk.

Yeom reads late into the night, remembering Hong Kyu-tae’s investigation and thinking of Yeon-woo. He looks up at the night sky and hears a noise, so he calls out and rounds the corner to find Seol spying on him.

She tells him who she is, still calling him “young master,” and he tells her she needn’t call him that anymore. To herself she thinks, “But you’re still the master of my heart. Like the day you gave me my name: Seol.”

He asks how she’s doing and she says she found a new master who treats her well, but when Mom appears, she slips away undetected. Mom tells him that it’s been days since they went to Father’s grave and Min-hwa’s been sick ever since. She plans to take her into the palace to see the doctor.

Both Hwon and Yeon-woo stay up late each lost in thought, and he apologizes that she had to spend the day locked up in a secret closet. Yeon-woo: “But it’s next to you. If it’s by your side, even if it were hell rather than a closet, I wouldn’t refuse.”

They go for a walk and he asks why she didn’t tell him she had recovered her memory the last time they met here at the Hidden Moon Building. She says she couldn’t because he now has the queen by his side, a fact they both seem to have conveniently forgotten until now.

Bo-kyung stirs awake screaming hysterically after another nightmare, convinced that the crying from the Hidden Moon has stopped because Yeon-woo is somewhere in the palace.

She cries that her father get rid of her at once, but then stops herself, remembering that she can’t show weakness in front of Daddy. Trembling in fits, she finally decides to call for the spy she used once before.

Yeon-woo knows what coming back from the dead means in upsetting the king’s world, so how could she just return? Hwon blames himself for what happened to her, and they go back and forth blaming themselves.

The fact that he didn’t forget her for eight years is enough for her, and she adds that even if he forgets her for the rest of his years, she vowed that she’d go on remembering and missing him enough for the both of them.

He tells her he’ll never forget, and vows to punish every person who ever caused her pain, and put everything back in its rightful place. But she surprises him: “Bury the past with the past.”

She urges him to let it go, not because she doesn’t trust him, but because she’s afraid that the truth will hurt him more. She says that it’s enough for her to have been near him, and she doesn’t seek any more than that.

Hwon: You like being in that place where the light of the sun doesn’t reach?
Yeon-woo: The sun is nearby. I don’t need another light.

Smiling, he takes her by the hand into the royal assembly room, to show her the king’s throne. He tells her that she taught him what was wrong with politics the first day they met, and she sheepishly says she was just a child.

He quotes his teacher, her brother’s words, about seeing with a child’s eyes, and tells her that he often stopped to wonder what his teacher or Yeon-woo would advise. He points out the artwork behind the throne, picturing the moon and the sun.

He says as a young prince he requested that a hairpiece be made of the moon embracing the sun, “So that it would represent my proposal, when I asked if you would be my moon.”

He takes it out of his sleeve as he tells her that he had two made—one he gave to her, and the other, he had planned to give on the day she became his queen, here in this place.

He takes the other out, saying that he asked her things to be brought here from Hwalinseo, and puts the pair in her hands. She starts to cry.

Hwon: “Only now, the two become one.”

He wipes the tears from her eyes, and kisses her.

COMMENTS

I like that Hwon is more proactive now, because leaving Yeon-woo to go be a noble idiot AGAIN would just about make me give up on them altogether. Not that she’s not going to try, obviously. I just hope that he’ll give her a fight, and not give up in his quest to right the wrongs. It annoys me that she’s trusting Grandma’s words at face value. I know it’s because of Min-hwa, but you don’t think that maybe, just maybe the evil lady used her to cover her own tracks? I know Min-hwa’s not innocent, but there’s got to be a way around that failsafe.

At this point I’m honestly more concerned about the brother relationship and whether it’ll ever get back on track, because what the hell with the swordfighting over a girl? GAH. I just wanted to knock their heads together and ground them for a week. And I don’t even know who’s stupider. It annoys me that they can each be so loving to Yeon-woo and then be such asshats to each other. I say this with love, of course, because they both break my heart, but seriously, the fighting and misunderstanding of brotherly concern needs to stop.

The episodes themselves have been getting better and this one had great drama and romance, but overall the series is headed to a really predictable place, which has been its problem from the get-go. That is, we’re operating on the very obvious trajectory of Big Lie to… wait for it… Big Lie Gets Revealed. That’s pretty much it. It’s kind of confounding how little this plot is based on, on a large scale. The micro movements are of course where the drama has its strengths, but I find that when I step back and look at the big picture, it leaves a lot to be desired. It’s like the opposite of a Monet. Pretty up close; just don’t stand too far back.

We’re at a good place since the last episode (especially since I thought we’d spend more time putting obstacles in the way rather than letting the lovers be together). But the problem for me is that Yeon-woo’s just traded one prison for another—she just doesn’t see it. That closet room is no different from the prison she was in before, maybe worse. I’m happy for the cute romantic moments, but what she gives up to have them hurts more. It’s why I have a hard time being fully on Hwon’s side, because yes he loves her, but that love has cost her everything. Please, do something big to make her faith in you worth something, because if she just continues to suffer for loving you, I’m going to kick you in the royal nuts.

144

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51 Fanboi

February 29, 2012 at 10:31 PM

Realizing that Han Ga In is Soo Hyun's noona(though she looks young).. He must have felt like kissing his older sister.. a little weird..

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52 ck1Oz

February 29, 2012 at 10:42 PM

Thank you so much.

Has GF ever wanted to kick someone in that area before? @__@ them some strong feelings

I just want to know where the drama is going - plot wise. And do not want to know the novel's ending.

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53 JW

February 29, 2012 at 10:44 PM

I totally agree with you GF. Hwon needs to give up his title at least (hopefully give it to Yang-myung because he needs something after losing the girl twice). Because Yeo-woo lost everything to be with him.

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jomo143

March 1, 2012 at 7:26 AM

Oooh! Now THAT would be a good story.

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54 Kiongna

February 29, 2012 at 10:44 PM

Woooo came by a few times earlier today for this, yayyyy it's here recap 17! Thanks GF !! As usual you are awesome :) I was LOLing on "..idiot king it is " part on top of others ^^ and of cause I loved the reunion... and aiyooo YM - hugs u tight aiyah how to have both guys win? Haizz

Now...I'm more worried about Min Hwa... I always liked Min Hwa, she was but a little girl then and so besotted with Yeom, but truly one with such an enchanting simple one track minded gal with a big heart(loved the little gal that played Min Hwa, her shining smiles and blinks lol), maybe not so bright in certain ways... i want a good ending for them both pleaseeee? I do like Seol alot too...but no sad ending for Min Hwa and Yeom pretty please aigooo

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55 Lestari2412

February 29, 2012 at 11:02 PM

This Saeguk Drama very nice and beautiful story I have watch....

its really nice until I am speechless hahahha

I wonder this will really upcoming till ep 24 or not....???

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56 caca

February 29, 2012 at 11:48 PM

It's funny how people are complaining about the fact that YW doesn't tell her family she is still alive. I mean, don't you know that her brother, Yeom may be exiled or imprisoned because of his silly wife, MW? Of course, YW doesn't want to hurt her brother. Yeom and her mother will feel as if they have been betrayed by someone that they trust. It'll be better if MW admit her wrongdoings. As for the fights between YM and Hwon, I think we should understand that love can make someone blind. We could easily suggest him to move on and choose another girl like Janshil because we are not in his position. There are many cases in real life where someone is blinded by their love and can do something stupid. Anyway, this is a fiction drama so of course there will be some illogical scene. We should relax and enjoy the drama.

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Urnaa

March 1, 2012 at 12:06 AM

Well said.

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57 rabab

February 29, 2012 at 11:55 PM

i am totaly speecless of happiness.............thank you jv..you rock!

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58 mina

March 1, 2012 at 12:17 AM

dare i say that this drama doesn't deserve all the credit it's getting. I was so enamored with the first few episodes, it gave me the confidence to trust the writers. The actors are great but with the plot running in circles and underdeveloped characters, it leaves me nothing but disappointment.(sigh) I can't stop thinking about the "what might have been(s)" and with such thought i will mourn for it.

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Brenda

March 1, 2012 at 10:35 AM

I agree with you.
I think the only reason why it's getting so much praise is because the actors and actresses are carrying the otherwise bland drama so well.
I guess that just tells us that they were very clever in selecting their leads.

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59 Alona

March 1, 2012 at 12:52 AM

THANK YOU GF !

Her lips touched his, no movements at all.
Ha ga in must had felt very shy to kiss the young actor'

Looks like there will be another duel with the two brothers since we saw YM looking back at the king with a

" revengeful" or "hatred" look like he is telling us
there will be another day mate !

I don'r feel the chemistry between the two lovers,
It is totally a flop drama but don't know why such high ratings !

Although there are some pace in the drama but still ....

Are we receiving this message from this drama that it is OK ! to have an affair for married man,

WITH THE WIFE STILL IN THE SAME COMPOUND ?.

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topper

March 1, 2012 at 12:59 AM

Flop maybe a bit harsh, imperfect yes.
This is a saeguk. It is common for man to have many wives, let alone the King.

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Alona

March 1, 2012 at 1:11 AM

Many CONCUBINES and only ONE wife ?.

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bachan

March 1, 2012 at 1:48 AM

he is a king , he can have wife as many as he want

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kdramalover

March 1, 2012 at 1:39 AM

Are you unhappily married?

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Alona

March 1, 2012 at 7:19 AM

I think you are the most unhappy married woman right now.

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60 kdramalover

March 1, 2012 at 1:02 AM

Hope you're prediction is not right. I enjoyed this episode the most.
For those who worry too much about married couples - hope that due to the unconsummated thing they will be broke.

So the young princess becomes insane and go to a temple while Heo Yeom will marry Seol and becomes prime-minister. Bo Kyung will divulges that his father killed Yeon Woo and she'll be sent in exile. The old bitch and his brother will kill one another with poison. My big issue is Yang Myung because Jan Shil has really shaman power so they both will become the real couple ''prince & shaman'' and together will watch over the happiness of the royal couple Hwon & Wol while Woon will watch over their security.

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61 Banu

March 1, 2012 at 1:32 AM

YA... Beautiful TT

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62 howforwardsale

March 1, 2012 at 1:34 AM

Woon had a royal order to get naked and still nothing? That's it! His character must be a nevernude. Seriously drama, had my hopes all up and stuff. *sigh*

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sally_b

March 1, 2012 at 2:18 AM

re: Woon had a royal order to get naked and still nothing?""

o.m.g.

► right after the command to get nekkid was given ...I cough-choked...literally

...and stared at my monitor with RAPT attention ◎‿◎ ------ awaiting at least a sloooooooooooow belt removal....or a glimpse of wet white undergarment after he was already in the tub....

Director/Cameraman YOU ROBBED ME.
(drops to knees like Charlton Heston in...pretty much every role....and lifts arms to the heavens and WAILS ~!!!)

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sally_b

March 1, 2012 at 2:25 AM

p.s. that wax-kiss between the OTP (っ˘з(´ε｀ )“

....c'mon Korea....you've got a whole generation of teens/young adults growing up thinking that the HEIGHT of PASSION is 6-8 seconds of pressing your closed lips together. (penalty points if your jaw moves or if you change directions thereby causing lips to actually grraazzzze each other with motion) no, no no~

...or the other option...which I call the *stun-gun-kiss*
where you never actually SEE the kiss....only the popping out eyeballs of the recipient of a sudden kiss ☉_☉

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lena

March 1, 2012 at 2:31 AM

other option would be leading man eating the girl's mouth, not giving her room to breath, so she just stands there wide-eyed.

aye, k-dramas and their kisses. with the exception of a few (namely, a certain Gong Yoo *ahem*), the kisses definitely needs improvement.

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YY

March 1, 2012 at 6:48 AM

Then there's The Frowny Kiss....a deep frown creases our girl's forehead as she squeezes her eyes tight to shut out the image of the loathsome creature who dares to touch her sacred lips. What a KILLER of a kiss this is! Guaranteed to kill the romantic mood in the blink of an eye! Go watch My Princess and Perfect Neighbour to learn how to perfect The Frowny Kiss.

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sally_b

March 1, 2012 at 12:18 PM

@lena & YY ---- Lolz....yes! to both your desciptions. (thanks for the giggles)

Let's not forget the literally hundreds of *oops! fooled ya* kisses......where the lips are inching closer ...and closssssser ~~~ (often the recipient is stone cold asleep) ......the BAM!!! doorbell, phone, roomate...Kissus-Interuptus.

( ･ิз･ิ) = ⓧ

63 far away

March 1, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Thanks for the recap. These recaps make my weekend :)

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64 gerimis

March 1, 2012 at 2:10 AM

"He slowly emerges from the shadows, calling her name. Not believing it at first, she asks if he’s a hallucination, but he promises that he isn’t. “I’m sorry that I only recognized you now. Yeon-woo-ya,” calling himself an idiot. It would be wrong to argue with the king. Idiot it is."

never argue with the king...

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65 k-soup

March 1, 2012 at 2:25 AM

this is the cutest episode but second to their childhood days! :)

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66 lena

March 1, 2012 at 2:36 AM

i must be a glutton for punishment because i still keep coming back, hoping that the story will get meaty and somewhere deserving of its ratings.

of course, it doesn't. and i am just torturing myself thinking of the could-have-beens.

now, i will start praying for the powers that be for KSH to star in a rom-com. we all know he can do ANGST to perfection but looking at all the BTS vids of him goofing around the set makes me think that he'll be a riot in a comedic role, too.

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67 iLLusiOnEr

March 1, 2012 at 3:10 AM

I don't think the fight is stupid. It is a big scene that should happen. I think Hwon is in firm standing regarding his logical sense, being a king and all. He wants YM to pick either two options in front of him, and as brother, gives him a and last chance. Either YM goes all the way to claim it all or give it up altogether. Since, in a sense, YM is the next in line to the throne (H doesn't has legitimate heir yet), if he strikes H down he can become the next king. And so if he doesn't have the courage to do so, don't be a fool to break the law and give it up before it can endanger everyone concerns. That is his message to YM.

But, in the emotional department, H is still an insecure man. And because of that, it spills a bit of that jealousy the way he handles YM earlier.That is also why the question of YW's willingness to be brought back to the palace.

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68 Eliza Bennet

March 1, 2012 at 4:10 AM

"And then we get a pair of weird-ass zooms into their faces, like we need help to know that these are the baddies, circa 1930. "

This got a laugh out of me. Thank you. You guys are the best recappers on net!

This is one of the dramas where I'll just read the recaps since I'm guessing they are more entertaining.

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69 Lady Seoul

March 1, 2012 at 5:05 AM

Bolkyung should just be a damn shamman, yo,happily ever after! Love this episode though, it gave my heart butterflies like I was the one in love!

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70 john

March 1, 2012 at 5:30 AM

GF, thanks for the recap.

Gah, poor YM, dude, nice guys finish last. YM's mama recognized Yeon-woo right off the bat (although other folks have had difficulty doing so). Poor guy

The fight was the king's way of letting YM know, "Dude, back off or kill me, that's your option, what's it going to be?" The only way to get it across to YM I suppose.

Finally some slicing and dicing of some bad guys. Why does Minister Yoon still have his head attached to his body? I can think of so many other dramas where that guys head would have been chopped off a long time ago.

Poor Seol. Girl has been jonesing for someone she can't have either.

What's the Crazy Queen going to do? What about Princess MH and Yeom? Will Minister Yoon kill them too?

Looking forward to the next episode and recap.

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71 Briggy

March 1, 2012 at 5:59 AM

The writers better make a beautiful finish.I'm so happy.can't wait for the subs.hot hot KSH.Woon was looking wonderful in the first 5mins in his attire.I'm in loooooove!!!

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72 kaye

March 1, 2012 at 7:40 AM

It’s kind of confounding how little this plot is based on, on a large scale. The micro movements are of course where the drama has its strengths, but I find that when I step back and look at the big picture, it leaves a lot to be desired.

THIS.

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73 jomo143

March 1, 2012 at 7:49 AM

Thanks for this recap which was exceptionally funny.
I was giggling nervously as you pointed out the silly but awwwwed with you over the cute, sweet and sad.

I feel like the writing team is also trapped in a royal closet with their creativity tied behind their backs.
I remember discussing the live shoot/live writing process and how late in the game the creative team gets sapped out. This team seemed to be like that from the git-go, though.

Such a waste with these good actors. YW's "nice knowing you speech?" Are you kidding me? She dismisses his LIFETIME OF LOVE WITH TWO SENTENCES?
Could we not have had some touching flashbacks of the most poignant moments between them? Can't we see a slight wavering on her part? Maybe a little confession that
"As a child, before I met the young Prince, I imagined you as my husband...You were so handsome and sweet to me...I'll never forgot watching you jump over my wall at night. I have saved all of your letters and gifts."

Followed by a resolute ADULT YW, who has every right to turn down YM. Who has made a good choice for her future.

"But those memories belong to my childhood, before people wanted me to die. I can't go back there any more than I can forgive those who have stolen my youth and my happiness. For eight years I have wandered aimlessly, feeling a hole in my heart that couldn't be explained. I felt like a part of me had been broken off.
Finally, meeting the King and understanding my fate is tied to his from the first moment I saw him, I understand how important this person is to me. I couldn't leave him any more than I can cut off an arm."
Etcetera...

PLUS, the hairpin. What will she do with two of the same hairpins? Why give her a duplicate?
"The first one I had made as a child. It is the MEtS. I wanted you to know how important you are to me, blah blah..
The second is different - rather than the same innocent pearl and ruby(? that's what it looks like) this one has diamonds. These jewels have been through a lot -as we have - and they will face an uncertain future as we will. But this time, I promise you that I will stand with you and together face the fire. It is no longer the MEtS, it is two PEOPLE together in the full light of day who can never be separated by time or intrigue..."

They need to throw away the celestial metaphors and bring these humans to earth where they belong!

Not to say parts of this episode were beautiful, but it's a lot of bubblewrap between those moments.

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john

March 1, 2012 at 8:29 AM

Jomo~

You're hired ! :0

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jomo143

March 1, 2012 at 10:53 AM

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74 Hye Won (@JocyluvsJYC)

March 1, 2012 at 8:56 AM

Hi Can someone help me identify a traditional song that appears when people are doing sageuk drama parody and when a queen appears or strong female behavior~~~ The woman in the song goes "AHhh...AHhh" Please help!

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75 sam

March 1, 2012 at 1:01 PM

"Please, do something big to make her faith in you worth something, ... kick you in the royal nuts." Girlfriday, you're the best!

Throughout the series, the writers keep having Hwon stir his ministers into a frenzy and it's only in line wt the character than Hwon pulls the carpet under theirs and the Dowager Q's feet. YW can't really do anything because the nation could not back her up and only knows her as the adultress.

There must have been tons hidden relationships behind screens in kingdoms of gargantuous harems. So it's not thaaat 'sad" for YW to sit in palace "prison" bec everyone already knew when she was a teenager, if she wasn't selected as queen, no one could ever touch her and she'd be alone for the rest of her life. So if the king got tired one night of doing exercises, he could potentially wander down the corridors and find her to release his stress. why would this not be normal? it still would behind closed doors, and everyone would only recognized the crowned queen as queen of the land. yw would still have been a hidden playmate. It only seems sad bec of all the pain that she went thru when she deserved the crown first. Why should she be hidden? So if Hwon turns out to be too feeble to face his grandmother head on, he doesn't deserve YW, and YW should be given to YM.

I'm sure he won't be. Hands across my chest crossed!

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76 tomifudge

March 1, 2012 at 3:35 PM

"And then we get a pair of weird-ass zooms into their faces, like we need help to know that these are the baddies, circa 1930"

:))))))) You honestly crack me up!

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77 abby

March 1, 2012 at 4:24 PM

Great episode, I watched it so many times even though there's no sub. I like the the romance seen in this episode. I guess it's the cutest ever portray in the historical drama . Hopefully therre's more to come on the last 2 episodes. Thanks ...

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78 Fasiris Fay

March 1, 2012 at 7:04 PM

So...I just realises there's only two more episodes left of this drama!! Don't know how that crept up on me, but it doesn't really feel like the end is near...things have been creeping along at a pretty stagnant rate, so much so that I didn't even know there was a finale coming up!

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79 ava

March 1, 2012 at 10:53 PM

"they surround him, and then Yang-myung runs in to join the fight, which worries me because you’re not Iljimae anymore."

Hahaha! Cracked me up real good. Thanks girlfriday!

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80 Di

March 2, 2012 at 10:01 AM

"which worries me because you’re not Iljimae anymore." yess!! xD

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81 cheddar

March 2, 2012 at 10:39 AM

lee hwon is undeniably hot when he displays his kingly air and arrogance like he knows people will bow on their feet at his mere presence. but i liked him best in this episode, where he is unbelievably cute as the awkward teenager in love. and soo-hyun resembles jin gu so much in this episode it amazes me how perfect their casting is.

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82 Lilian

March 2, 2012 at 12:14 PM

The fight between the brothers is more than just Yeon Woo, it's also a fight for a father's love, a fight for birthright. Despite being older, Yang Myung was never considered as legitimate heir to the throne. Sad but true! he is the most interesting character in this whole drama imho =)

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83 Mocha

March 3, 2012 at 2:05 PM

Hey girlfriday,

Thanks for the awesome and enjoyable recap that brings smiles to my face! :) Here is a minor translation correction:

"In the last life, you belonged to the Crown Prince. So in this life… can you not stay by my side"

Or you could give my rough translation a more elegant flare.

xoxo

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84 eee

March 25, 2012 at 1:09 AM

I laughed crazily when Hyung-sun made the looooooooooonnnnnnnnnng and louuuddd announcement of the queen's arrival. Glad to have those Hwon's cheeky moments when he's with YW. Love Hyung-Sun's cheshire's cat smile :D

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85 illohy

February 7, 2013 at 10:52 AM

Do you think that was Soo hyun felt inside, u never know..

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86 Yumi

December 20, 2013 at 11:46 AM

I LOVE THIS!~ Hwon FINALLY kisses her and I thought the scene was just ADORABLE!~ >u<

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87 nawanjala

July 4, 2015 at 4:15 AM

Good luck for two young love birds! After getting back yeon woo into his hands, i think hwon seems to be 100 times active and playful than earlier. The palace seems to be a paradise for two of them ignoring even the presence of bo-kyung, granny and minister yoon too. And idea of having yeon woo next to him makes me realy sick how romantic it would be. And finally thank you very much Dramabeans.com