Our blooming youth
Community (re)watch – Episode 11 & 12

Some memorable moments I like these episodes
– When Jaeyi tried to protect Hwan from tripping but then tripped herself. That catch is swoon worthy ^^ A brooding CP is not her cup of tea though 😅


 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

– A heartbroken Myungjin


 
 
 
 

More GIFs in comments 👇🏿

9
185

    @claire2009 @minniegupta1 @midnight @sonai @koalatown @nefret @isagc @bebeswtz @skiee @23new2kdrama @jls943 @amany @mazarin

    (I tagged myself too so that the tag list is intact, and you can copy – paste it for the next post)

    – Jaeyi was obviously taking advantage of the fact she’s in an eunuch costume to flirt with Hwan. Poor his heart 😅


     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     

    4
    4

      Oooh, I loved this scene as well! She surely does like to tease him 😆

      At some point though you cannot help but wonder what kinds of excuses he finds to sneak out of the palace that often, and for such a long time, too? But then again, maybe his entourage does not dare question any of it at all 🤔

      3
      2

        Whenever he is out, he is enclosed in the library reading with a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. He has been doing this since his accident so his entourage does not think anything of it anymore. Also, he has already been declared eccentric so chances ate they leave him alone for most part anyway.

        4
        2

          That excuse was especially funny to me because it’s the same that they used in The King-Eternal Monarch Everytime the king snuck out.

          2
          1

          While she has always been challenging him since their first ever meeting, Jae-yi is really leaning into the “friendship” and this outing has her partly worried about the lack of progress in their investigation and more concerned about Hwan. He only solution is to “tease” him out of his slump. 🤣

          2
          0

        The disguised King out to mingle amongst the commoners at night is a well worn trope used across various cultures. How true / plausible it may have been is up for question but it does add to the myth of a benevolent king.

        2
        2

          It’s been recorded in some of the most illustrious Kings’ record books so I guess it could have been more common than we imagine. I refuse to believe that in its 600 years of existence, Joseon never had a King or a Queen who broke a lot of rules, especially considering the variety of characters that sat on that throne – from rapist to saint like figures.

          2
          2

            Absolutely … the very fact that it has been recorded (with embellishments at times) makes it seem as if it was almost a requirement. I do agree the stifling court environment would be very conducive to such outside excursions but I refuse to believe a King would have gone out alone without disguised guards. After all protecting the Monarch was of prime importance.

            1
            0

            I am sure he had elite set of guards specially trained for this. Both Mr Queen and Captivating the King showed that. Hwan on the other hand was sneaking out without anyone knowing it.

            2
            0

          In many cultures, rich grew taller because they had enough to eat and weren’t overworked (like, they had enough sleep and didn’t work beyond exhaustion every day).
          So imagine a kind dress as a poor person and then be totally recognizable because he is two or three heads taller than everybody else. 🤣

          1
          1

            hahahaha!

            Actually you are so insightfully correct on this.

            There is a true story about an Australian man named Saru (you can look him up).

            He was born into a very poor labourer family. His older brother and he hopped from station to station to collect rags. One evening, the 5 year old kid slept in a wrong train out of exhaustion, and when he woke up he was hundreds of miles away. Long story short, with no way to get back home, the kid survived in the streets until by a stroke of luck he was adopted by an Australian couple.
            Years later, the man, now an engineer and an avid sports player, turned to the netizens and finally located his biological family.
            The reason I mentioned this story is because he has a picture with rest of his brother and sisters, and he is at least a foot taller and half a feet wider than all of his brothers.
            It’s a beautiful story, and was made into a movie called Saru starring Dev Patel and Nichole Kidman.

            3
            0

      I’m not the biggest fan of that couple but that scene was very cute ☺️

      4
      1

        Neither am I. I actually like them a lot in a deep friendship light, but not as a romantic couple.

        2
        1

          In contrast, now I’m finishing “Bossam: steal the fate” and I’m loving the main couple. The slow-burn chemistry, the looks, the way they treat each other…

          2
          0

      Maybe the most heart fluttering part of the show for me❤️❤️❤️

      2
      1

      Thanks for all tags and mentions , highly appreciated , facing difficulties to view them all eventhough I can see them on notifications , I am even having troubles to write replies for some ☹️ I believe that was the reason of which I quitted logging in here for sometime !! Still I am enjoying soo much your mentions so as to come and read your wonderful thoughts about such fantastic work 💫

      2
      2

        Dramabeans has been loading at a snail speed the past week, and I’ve experienced frozen and blank screens more often than I expected, so I understand your frustration. Hopefully the site will function better soon.

        3
        1

        Weekends are always tough … so much so we tend to question whether it is us / our internet or the site which is the issue. Generally on weekdays the access is faster but we are finding the site gliching more often than usual. 😅
        Hang in there buddy, we will talk as and when it is convenient for you to log in and comment.

        2
        1

    – The honest conversation with the King about his inner turmoil cost Hwan his freedom for a while. Hwan thought the King was abandoning him, but in fact it was a way the King protected his son.


     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     

    4
    3

      I didn’t agree with the public humiliation part though. All the King had to do was to follow the money quietly. He still had half of his court with him with both the powerful Chief and the Left Minister still with him. They spoke about how the King would severe ties with anyone who lost his favour. This meant the King was also benefiting from Jo’s sphere of influence and didn’t want to let go – yet.

      4
      2

        I don’t know if this was the King’s test (as Hwan thought to himself at the archery competition) but there did not seem to be any plausible reason for the King to ban the CP.

        1
        0

        Usually, the baddies have something – a secret mostly – that is dangerous to the king. Or the king just knows that id they want to kill his son, they can.
        Some people are talking about ridiculous weak kings, but the king is just a person. He cannot just will himself into power. Even when a kingdom is established, it happens in cooperation, and they made the system so that the king and the nobility could be fighting for power forever without having to use armies.
        If they just poison each other and find obscure laws, it is better for the people than if they continuously is warring and demanding their sons for soldiers.

        2
        1

          I agreed. This King seemed too well-aware of this, he had no illusion about his power.

          1
          0

      Watching this again, I was hoping I would see more of the King’s inner motivation come through. But I was just as heartbroken for Hwan this time as I was last time. What was this test for? What did Hwan still have to prove? Part of me thinks that the King confined him out of anger and shame, and then realized afterwards that it would be a good trial to see if Hwan could get himself out again. Maybe I’m missing something, but once again I’m finding the King difficult to sympathize with. This scene though. PHS absolutely brings it.

      5
      3

        It’s hard to just comment on this scene without mentioning briefly what happens next. So I am sorry if this is a spoiler to anyone.

        I think the King wasn’t testing Hwan, ***SPOILER*** he confined Hwan to prevent him from going around and digging into past events, which may harm Hwan, because the King understands what length the Jo family would go to retain their power.

        But I agreed with you, at this point, it’s almost impossible to sympathize with the King. Maybe having watched The red sleeve, I was prepared myself for the worst. Yi San was confined in his chamber alone, Deok-im had to read to him through the door. Hwan at least has Jaeyi with him and she can still run errands which are not errands at all.

        Alos, I think although the King wasn’t testing Hwan, he was proud of the smart way Hwan finally got himself out.

        About the King, there’s a scene when he told the Queen that without her, he would be totally lonely in this palace. He’s uncertain about his power and about the support he receives, including that half of the court @minniegupta1mentioned. I’m definitely not trying to justify the King’s actions towards his sons and his people, I just think the show tried to give us a nuanced King rather than a one dimensional King that could eliminate his own son in order to keep the throne.

        4
        2

          I agree, he was a nuanced king. He set himself up for being cornered by the Jo family, and didn’t credit his son with the brain and the courage the young man possessed. History is full of loser fathers and their exemplary sons.

          It’s funny that you mention it, but first time I watched it, I didn’t remember Red Sleeve. Why? Because the moron first time watcher in me was like – Ooooo, they are there for one month. Will the romance move?

          Of course it won’t. Poor guy is locked up as a punishment trying to stay alive and trying to keep his crush alive. Post watch I was so glad the series didn’t go that route. However, I would not have mind a few shenanigans. But I think they wanted to bring the gravitas of the situation. Now when I rewatched, I had my empathy lens on.

          This time, I tought of Red Sleeve (Yi San had it worse; reality is always worse than fiction).

          The King did what he had been doing, appeasing his enemies. And even though he had so many in the court in his favour, he still didn’t trust them enough. And he saw Hwan’s attempt at what should have been his course of action through his own lens (Joseon Kings feared scholars the most, and evil Jo used them to his advantage.)

          Joseon Court on record was ruled by these so called scholars. This King was more close to reality than many other kings in the series. When he confined Hwan, it was a sign of abandonment. Hwan being Hwan turned the tables on Jo employing the same underhand methods.

          I would love to see the King Hwan would eventually become.

          3
          5

            I didn’t complete my thought here:

            And he saw Hwan’s attempt at what should have been his course of action through his own lens (Joseon Kings feared scholars the most, and evil Jo used them to his advantage.) as weakness. “You will not be able to handle him.” Why, because the King arrogantly thinks if he could not handle it, the son could not either.

            The father didn’t know hos son at all.

            2
            0

            The father didn’t know his son at all

            Agreed, and that’s not uncommon.
            The father here wasn’t intimidated by his son, though. He really hoped his son would be strong enough to sit on the throne.

            3
            0

            @claire2009 He was for sure being overprotective. The same reason why he told his son to doubt and not trust and take care of his own hand and survive etc etc.

            Those lines were haunting – “You told me to doubt, I doubted. I almost died trying to distance myself from everyone, but I don’t know what I was protecting – why do me make me fel so ashamed’…..so so so good.

            3
            0

            I really like this about OBY: rich dialogues, be it between main characters or side characters.

            4
            0

            @claire2009 Great point. The best part about them was they weren’t preachy, mauldin or plebeian. They stay in the memory because they were so crisp, efficient and meaningful.

            2
            0

          Very true. The King was a complex character who wasn’t as scared or under pressure as it first appeared. His inferiority complex (of being a water maiden’s son) definitely led him to think that he didn’t *really* deserve the throne and he tried to cling on to the throne by what he thought of as compromise by not going against the Jo family. The King definitely recognized (perhaps even secretly admired Hwan) the strength of Hwanand in his only feeble way tried to protect him.

          4
          1

            The King definitely recognized (perhaps even secretly admired Hwan) the strength of Hwan and in his own feeble way tried to protect him. Still the King does come across as an unsympathetic character.

            4
            0

        And although it was a short time on screen, the reality of how long it was is crazy

        3
        0

        So true … the King didn’t seem to get any better the second time round.

        3
        0

      Thank you for your hard work in preparing the gifs Claire. I liked the parallels between the earlier scene with the King and this one. We see Hwan crying in anguish both times – first time because he is scared, lonely and suddenly overwhelmed by not only the ghost letter but also the King’s advice of not trusting anyone. This time he’s heartbroken about the people.

      2
      0

    – “Be safe for each other”


     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     

    – But then someone’s jealous with Sergeant again 😁


     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     

    3
    2

      His expressions here are gold. I have lost count of the times I have watched this. His face fell so dramatically. And her reaction – she immediately knew he would hate it. Her dismay that the Sargent broached the topic at all…hahahaha! This was a super scene, and I think takes their relationship forward so cutely.

      5
      2

        I even laughed before getting to this scene, knowing it was coming LOL The way PHS walked in this scene also shows how he was feeling 😂 Or maybe I am interpreting too much, knowing he is PHS? 🤔

        3
        2

        I was like “Why do you start talking about not knowing about a sister? You wanna blow her cover?”
        I understand the falling face and his jealousy and all, but as long as they are not telling the sergeant … Who is beginning to suspect, definitely … he should either pretend to know the sister, or better, pretend he has not discussed family with the eunuch. So the subject will be dropped as fast as possible and so that they do not have to coordinate stories.

        1
        1

      Ever since Jay Yi said she would not go to Sargent, Hwan has been in a semi confession mode, indirectly saying and doing all sorts of fluttery things lol!

      Though he can’t handle a wee bit of flirting from his crush (gets too hot?) LOL!

      5
      1

        Was Hwan still upset when he bought that bracelet for Jaeyi?
        Jaeyi is a bit of a dimwit too, as there’re so many things Hwan did for her that she wasn’t really aware it was for her.

        1
        1

          He sure was. That look…..he tries to be so impersonal when he goes for that wrist grab lol!
          But then chickens out from giving it….the way it looks at it…that thing looks ridiculous on his royal desk but has so much emotion…

          2
          5

            When he stood with the bracelets and her arm … both trying to be nonchalant, he managing better than her … Phew …

            Meanwhile, comments on Viki Rakuten went:
            “KIIISSS!! WE HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG” 🤪👅👅👅🗣️📢👀

            …🙄
            I am often amazed at the lack of physical contact in K-dramas, but it’s mostly when
            1) People who are unhappy do not get a hug (like, when the CP was crying and she sat there and didn’t even pat his shoulder or say “there, there”.
            2) A couple has been kissing and hugging and become boyfriend/girlfriend, and then weeks go by before they kiss again. They barely hold hands.
            When you are in love, you want to touch each other. When you have broken the barrier of “does (s)he like me?”, and decided it was okay to kiss … can you imagine anyone really waiting for a long time before getting touchy-feely again? I mean, at least to that same level?

            2
            0

            Oh Viki comment went kiss kiss from the second episode 😂😂😂

            This series excels in lack of skinship. There is none. nada.

            Honestly, there are a lot of fluttery flowers blooming all the time and it’s a hoot.

            2
            0

            @ceciliedk @minniegupta1 Yes I did want to see a little more skinship between Hwan and Jaeyi, and was given almost none, but I was ok, because Joseon people don’t hold hands or kiss on the street, do they? But like Cecilie, I have the same problem with lack of skinship in couples after the love declaration. How can 2 adults in love not seek skinship is beyond me.

            But at the same time, I’m also baffled at how some viewers want skinship out of no where. We don’t kiss a random someone even when we’re in their close proximity, do we? In Chief Kim, whenever Seo Yul (Junho) and Jo Minyeong (Seo Jungyeon) were in the same scene, people screamed “make out already”. I was like “What? They hate each other. I see no sexual tension at all. She’s a senior to him. What’s the reason to make out except that they are in a closed office because they wanted to discuss something in secret?”.

            Some Kdramas, supposedly in order to be more appealing to Western viewers, inserted audacious bed scenes, like My name. Have you seen it? If you have, I’d love to hear your opinions.

            2
            0

            How can you say there is no skinship? Didn’t you see him test the colour and size of the bracelets against her wrist [gasp] ? I actually felt a bit short breathed there, in the “dare hardly breathe” and “first electrified touch” way. And they did NOT look each other in the eyes. His eyes on the bracelet, hers just looking away in a 45 degrees angle from that arm and wrist.

            0
            0

            How can you say there is no skinship? Didn’t you see him test the colour and size of the bracelets against her wrist [gasp] ?

            Ooooo…such a great eye you have! Though he didn’t forget to hold the part that had her sleeves on, but his finger skimmed the surface of her skin as he tested the bracelet on her wrist ~ •swoons – people please bring smelling salt•

            1
            0

    – Garam’s hilarious moments

    Holding book upside down

    “Who shovels the whole month?” LOL

    – I guess anyone can lure Myujing with food LOL

    4
    3

    @seeker I copied the tag list from your post, that’s why your name was left out. My apologies 😍

    0
    1

    Oh my, that Myungjin scene was hilarious! He’s so OTT with his reactions, that while of course it’s heartbreaking for him, I couldn’t help laughing, too. Plus: That deadpan „What a complete mess.“ 🤣🤣🤣

    Awesome GIF fest, @claire2009 !!! 👏🫰👏💯 A lovely “best-of OBY” to enjoy with my morning coffee! 🫰☕️

    6
    2

      Hwan’s deadpan reactions to Myung-jin give me so much life hahaha! I feel like they really come out in the second half and I always have to watch them twice in a row 😂

      3
      1

        Oh his deadpans! Boy, he is absolutely brilliant with them. PHS is exceptionally gifted with comic timing. He can make even the most mundane sound funny.

        What a mess had me in snitches too. And did you notice? The Crown prince actually touched his MJ’s shoulder. MJ must have been really heartbroken not to have noticed it.

        4
        1

          And Jaeyi’s expression when Myungjin said to Hwan “With that handsome face, would you have ever been rejected by a woman before?” 😂 She’s apparently captivated by his handsomeness but at the same time feels that it is totally useless for their missions 😂

          3
          1

      🫶 Yes, DB browsing is my morning coffee’s companion too🫰

      2
      1

        Mine as well!!!

        I haven’t watched news for so long now, and I swear my health index is way better now.

        3
        2

          Why watch depressing news when you can watch happiness😃😃 if the world crumbles around me at least I’ll be happ

          3
          8

            when you can watch happiness

            I read it as “When you can watch Happiness” 🤣

            4
            0

            @claire2009 Talk about another community watch, since I’ve never seen HAPPINESS either. Will definitely join you guys for this one again, if you decide to start this later this year! 🫰👏

            ☕️ *cheers with coffee*

            4
            0

            @sonai This is the schedule for the next community watches:

            OBY: end by 19th May.

            Signal: 20th May – 14th July.
            Happiness: 15th July – 25th August.

            SYIM19L: 26th August – end of September.

            Definitely will be tagging you in Happiness.

            5
            0

            @claire2009 Thank you, sounds good! 🥳

            1
            0

            🫖☕️ From a tea drinker….❤️

            @23new2kdrama Agree!

            @claire2009 Claire I read that way too😂😂😂😂

            At this rate we might even end up watching High Society, no kidding.

            2
            0

            Doesn’t happiness end sad?? No sad ending on my watch😭

            1
            0

            No, it doesn’t have a sad ending.

            1
            0

            “Doesn’t happiness end sad??”
            That sounds so Real Life … Yes, it does. All things come to an end. But mostly, we want that end to be many years after the end of a drama, after the OTP having been happy for a long time, leaving it to the next generation to take over the burden of making happiness possible and then shine in its blessing for a fleeting moment.
            Yes, do run after happiness
            But don’t run too fast
            Because everybody are running after happiness
            Happiness is running after you
            (Brecht)

            1
            0

          @23new2kdrama You are in good company here. No tragedies here either.

          1
          8

            OBY: end by 19th May.

            Signal: 20th May – 14th July.
            Happiness: 15th July – 25th August.

            SYIM19L: 26th August – end of September.

            This looks soooo fun
            What is SYIM?? I can’t remember what we talked about

            1
            0

            @23new2kdrama It’s See you in my 19th life 😄. We talked about its community watch on Minnie’s wall, in an OBY post.

            1
            0

            Oh that’s right!! Perfect, I am rewatching now and have been thinking of this group the whole time. All I can say is because I watched Flex X Cop I feel completely different about ML this watch than the first time. Just saying.
            Can’t wait!!

            2
            0

            @23new2kdrama So you are rewatching 19th life right now?? Please talk about it, I’ll jump in any time. I’m dying to chat about that show!!

            1
            0

            @claire2009 would love to!! On a trip right now, which is why I’m rewatching something. So give me a week and I’ll tag you. Would also love to hear your thoughts, I just can’t respond much haha. Disneyland Time💜💜💜

            1
            0

            @23new2kdrama Please take you time, and enjoy your travel. We’re always here.

            We may organize a mini pilot community watch, and I think anyone with “m i n i” in their name, such as @minniegupta1 , is likely to make time to join 😉, but no pressure. I’ll return for another community watch as scheduled!! I just need legit reasons to go through its 12 episodes again and again 😂

            I’m sure Cera @seeker will join too. When it’s time, I’ll tag those who are interested.

            1
            0

            @claire2009 @23new2kdrama hehe! Good Morning from my little space in the world. Claire is right, I will. In fact I might just end up watching SYIMNL before the scheduled time because now I am very intrigued.

            2
            0

            @minniegupta1 whenever you start SYIM19L and have your thoughts, please tag me. Anytime, anywhere!!

            1
            0

    @claire2009 Here I am, first thing in the morning, knowing you would be here with all the brilliant gifs…..what a fabulous start to my morning! Thank you for all the hard work you put in <3

    2
    1

    Jaeyi is so brilliant and stupid at the same time..how could he not see that rock😂

    2
    2

    Episode 11 thoughts:

    I love Jay Yi’s businesslike focus. While Hwan wants to stroll in the moonlight, she is convinced Hwan is working (hard to spend quality time with his crush Joseon style, but the girl doesn’t read the air too well). The same goes for Myung Jin. When he is throwing a pity party, she is all business—did you find out about the peonies?

    Hwan shows the promise of eventually becoming a great diplomat. The scene (though long) was smartly crafted. However, Jay Yi thinks of now ; she is worried that if their disguise is revealed, Hwan will get into trouble, and I agree with her. They already have enough on their plate. But Hwan’s genius is something else. Loved this entire sequence.

    I noticed this time (and I have watched this on a loop) – Myung Ji uses the name Ga Ram gave him. So cute! I loved how he held Ga ram’s hand.

    That shadow thing – oh my heart bursts every time I see it.

    Note: He asks her not to cling. Then goes and stands exactly half a meter away, waiting for her to do exactly that. Again, and then again. She catches on pretty quickly. What lies have you been telling yourself, Your Highness? These two!

    This is also the first time I realised that they clearly mention Byeokcheon, a village in the north that borders the area with barbarians. I found the reference to barbarians very interesting. (Note: This is fictionally positioned sometime in the 1400s when the royals were still practising generals and trained to be so. When Barbarians invaded a hundred fifty years later, these royals were woefully unprepared.)

    The father-son confrontation is a chef’s kiss. The actor playing the Dad’s role is incredibly evocative and impressive. He also has the just-right foil in Park Hyung Sik, who blew this scene out of the park. His angst, helplessness, swag, and impatience with what he rightly sees as his father’s incompetence are brilliantly layered and deftly portrayed. Monologues can be one of the most complex scenes for any actor. PHS’s modulates so beautifully with that deep, princely sonor in his voice and his expressions – he is truly incredible here. He is the Prince, but that was a wonderful King in the making right there.

    As his eunuch, Jeon So Nee beautifully brought out the fear and anxiety while standing outside that door. She is so expressive, and I love how she modulates her voice to sound deeper.

    5
    1

      Hwan has been experiencing the thrill of hanging out with Jaeyi, Myungjin and Garam all this time, but these two episodes was the first time he’s got to see how his people are living in struggle and poverty. It must’ve been a hard hit for him witnessing the little boy having to steal some food for his sickly sister and being punished by that Minister.

      Myungjin keeps showing how great and noble a man he is. He’s never afraid to step up for people weaker than him. I squeed when Myungjin praised Hwan, and Garam said to herself “You’re not bad either” ^^

      That door thing made me remember @23new2kdrama ‘s post about paper doors. Apparently, paper doors can be as thick as a concrete wall when we need the privacy, but in other situations, everyone from outside can hear clearly what people inside are talking about 😂 No consistency at all 😅

      4
      3

        I just love MJ!

        2
        0

        I do not think that was that smart of a scene though. Those doors and walls were designed so that no sound would get out. I think they might have had a) a bell pull b) someone inside to call people to open doors and stuff.

        However, I’ll pretend the door was left open enough to have the voice carried out. Maybe Hwan did it on purpose so the retinue could hear it. He does have a bad habit of not closing doors fully…..

        1
        1

          I didn’t like that scene either, it was too convenient. It would make more sense if one could catch incoherent words if they put their ear on the door.

          0
          0

        MJ really does grow on you throughout this show. What a heart he has for helping people in practical ways and it seems he only gets paid with food on the streets or other random things.

        3
        0

    Let me share an anecdote that has stayed with me and perhaps why this drama made so much impact on me.

    One day, years ago, during a visit to my home country, I was cooking while my newborn baby slept a few feet away. I was by the kitchen window on the third floor of my apartment building, overlooking a construction site next door. Another young mother, just like me, was also cooking, but on a pavement by the road under the scorching heat. Her few months old baby was by her side. She was sitting under the hot sun, cooking on a tin pot on a make-shift stove made of mud and rocks. The broth she cooked seemed just boiled water, in which she put a handful of something – it was too far, I could not see.
    The following day, I went to offer a bag of rice and beans, but they were gone. They were probably travelling labourers who stopped by wherever they could find work for the day.

    That day, I had an epiphany. Despite growing up among these individuals, I had never truly perceived the social imbalance until then. It wasn’t until I became a mother that I recognised the stark contrast.

    9
    0

    So talents are so appreciated💜

    1
    0

    Episode 12 thoughts:

    I can shamelessly proclaim that Ep 12 is PHS fan service, and I loved every single moment. I have a theory. Somewhere while shooting, the cameramen and the directors fall in love with PHS and his beauty, and then they spend reels and reels, trying to capture his beauty on screen for posterity. Ain’t complaining 😂😂😂😂😂

    The entire transcribing scene – it’s like sightseeing a gorgeous view. You never ever tire of it.

    This episode is full of outstanding gems, and Claire covered almost all of them in her gifs.

    So I will just mention a few that make this episode one of my favourites:

    #The cackling minster is scary. The scene where he threatened the Queen gave me shivers. Ironically, it struck me here why she never got rid of him, despite him being such an awful abuser. But that will come later. 

    But seeing him eat dust at his ‘elder’s’ hand made me so happy. It was so unexpected and clever, not to mention hilarious.

    Sargent swept in to rescue Jay Yi gallantly in the face of the evil cackling minister. So sweet.

    The girl, of course, goes right back to her CP, worried the evil Jo will use her to hurt Hwan. And our smitten CP is totally dazzled by his crush’s worry for him. And here comes that mini confession – cliched, but damn! I love this theme in any drama, and OBY it was the best –
    You protect me, I protect you.
    So we must be safe for each other – my poor heart became a mushy wooshy jelly puddle.

    And then that hilarious satire on tiger parents by an adorable Myung Jin and his even more adorable student, hehe!
    Why did you torture me my entire life by being so good at everything? said every Asian student at least once to the student better than them 😂

    Jay Yi’s sad look at Sargent after he buys her the ribbon gives you a unhappy pause, but when she sees the ribbon later in her secret room, her thoughts are not on the one who bought it, but the one who took offence that she never told him her sister liked such things….lol! Did he talk in his head again?
    Who btw is slamming yet another book shut because images of his girl being wooed by anyone else gnaws at his insides.

    PHS looks so convincing in those weird shots of internal monologues while giving them his signature death stare. Both aced that scene, and I have watched it countless times just to see their expressions. It’s pure joy. Especially PHS. I have seldom seen jealousy so subtly yet so effectively portrayed. PHS, my dear man, you do not need physical comedy. You are the gold standard already.

    Also, his expressions when the inn couple give him all that extra porridge out of gratitude…poor guy. How many of us have been through an ordeal like that?

    There is something so sweet about a Prince buying his crush a trinket (I later learned bracelets are supposed to be a great symbol of love and commitment – all kinds of love) and then not being able to gift it.

    6
    5

      There is something so sweet about a Prince buying his crush a trinket (I later learned bracelets are supposed to be a great symbol of love and commitment – all kinds of love) and then not being able to gift it. Because, as Claire said earlier so poignantly:
      When one is in love, they couldn’t help but feel a little nervous, a little uncertain about the other person’s feelings, even if they are the Crown Prince.

      Now for the serious part:

      A lot of things are lining up, so this is an important episode in that regard. Jay Yi’s reflections on her scattered memories are important. It’s not a spoiler, in case you are watching it week by week, but just a pointer that her recollection that it rained so heavily that there seemed to be a hole in the sky or that a landslide happened at the gravesite — these are critical pieces of clues that tie up the mystery later.

      Now coming to a crucial point of Jay Yi exposing herself so recklessly – when I had first watched this, I had felt remembering that face broke an internal dam of grief within her. Jay Yi is a good detective, but she is also young and impulsive. She has shown it again and again – right from the first time when she chased the crown prince in the hunting ground itself. There was no set plan; she went with the flow. It was the same when she cursed him – going by a 1400 Crown Prince’s powers over servants, he could have killed her, and no one would have batted an eyelid. She chased the assassin thoughtlessly and put herself in harm’s way by announcing evil Jo’s arrival at the King’s quarters. So, it was quite consistent with who she is, and given her current emotional state, I wasn’t surprised she confronted Tae Kang in such a reckless fashion.

      Also, I must add – I love the background score of this series.

      5
      1

        Jay Yi is a good detective, but she is also young and impulsive. She has shown it again and again – right from the first time when she chased the crown prince in the hunting ground itself. There was no set plan; she went with the flow. It was the same when she cursed him – going by a 1400 Crown Prince’s powers over servants, he could have killed her, and no one would have batted an eyelid. She chased the assassin thoughtlessly and put herself in harm’s way by announcing evil Jo’s arrival at the King’s quarters. So, it was quite consistent with who she is, and given her current emotional state, I wasn’t surprised she confronted Tae Kang in such a reckless fashion.

        This is so true. Jaeyi is not a secretive person. Sometimes I think she’s like Harry Potter, going into everything mainly with her resourcefulness, braveness and righteousness rather than a well-laid plan. I often find it easier to watch those characters than characters that think too far ahead and are secretive with everything they think and do, because I’ll feel anxious for them, and it dampens my enjoyment of watching.

        2
        2

          going into everything mainly with her resourcefulness, braveness and righteousness rather than a well-laid plan.

          Claire I love how you so thoughtfully put your perspective in tangible words. If not for this impulsiveness, she would not have become a wall-scaler in the first place.

          I also loved the ribbon scene. She is my favourite kind of tomboy. She jumps around, completely at home in her gats, and but then also loves her frills and ribbons.

          She carries this trait right through the end.

          2
          0

          I feel anxious for those who leave too many doors open. Those that make up quick lies that could have been avoided, and who speak too loudly in paper rooms, and I am super annoyed with people who find out they are being shadowed and bugged and then say “HAH! I REVEALED YOU! YOU ARE SPYING ON ME!”
          Instead of saving the knowledge for an important moment and then performing a small play for the bug and/or spy, sending them on a wild goose chase.

          2
          2

      Why did you torture me my entire life by being so good at everything?

      My mom used to compare me to the boy who had a crush on me all those years we were in the same class 😂 He’s still my best friend, but I never any romantic feeling for him.

      3
      3

        I LOVED that scene!! 😆

        Mostly because my man is so noble that he even gets angry at you by praisting you! Oh I love him so much!!

        1
        1

          Here’s Myungjin’s GIFs 😆

          Myungjin was too excited he forgot he lied to Garam LOL


           
           
           
           

           

          I like that he always calls others “Friend” 😂 The way he listed all Sergeant’s achievements from childhood is hilarious LOL Myungjin must’ve been traumatised being compared to Sergeant 😂


           

          “Why did you have to be awesome and torture me all my life?” 🤣🤣


           
           
           
           

          2
          2

        Awww……hehehehe!! That’s so sweet.

        Unfortunately, I ended up being the Sargent for most my friends. In fact I was the only one allowed to hang out with my best friend because I was so good at being a model student (The joke was, I wasn’t but she was, but the Mom and Dad didn’t know, they only saw the report cards 😂😂😂).

        2
        2

          My report cards weren’t too bad, but that boy is a maths genius, and you know how maths was considered everything that mattered to the majority of Asian parents 😂

          2
          2

          I used to have that recurring dream nightmare that I was about to sit at an exam table and realised I hadn’t prepared for it. I panicked in my dream and it was such a relief to wake up.

          3
          1

        I know people will always be comparing, but the systems that simply give people a number relative to other students, in stead of relative to the task expected to be solved by them, to me that seems cruel. You must end up hoping other students will do badly: your results will look worse if a genius shows up.
        Like PHS in Dr. Slump, who got scolded by his parents because Ha-neul came to his school and was the best student in the country.

        2
        1

          Like PHS in Dr. Slump, who got scolded by his parents because Ha-neul came to his school and was the best student in the country.

          Which unfortunately is more close to reality than we like to think in at least half of the world at least. Even in US, the Asian majority communities have such stiff competition in schools that it’s almost like being in Asia. Bay area is notorious for it, but New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas ext are also filled with such school districts. And as home prices are always linked with good school districts, within no time those neighborhoods climb in home prices.

          2
          1

            I have heard that from every Asian-American comedian + from John McEnroe. 💔
            Apart from that extreme kind of pressure, I just think it is a sad way for everybody to measure their accomplishments. There is a huge field of “very good”, “good” and “okay”, and even landing in “lousy” shouldn’t mean that everybody felt better for all being able to look down on some single person who carried the brunt of collective shame by being the worst in the school, state, or country.
            I actually do know of one who got an 11 in old Danish grades and was ask what went wrong. Above 11 is only13, and that was not for a job well done, it was for blowing the teacher’s mind. I got a 13 when I prolonged my analysis of an East-German novel with breaking out into song, one of the songs of Wolf Biermann. I knew a good deal of his songs by heart then. So like “what went wrong” was that he was only really, really good, but didn’t make the teacher think she were dead and had gone to Heaven.

            1
            0

      Somewhere while shooting, the cameramen and the directors fall in love with PHS and his beauty

      By behind-the-scenes videos, sometimes I could tell if co-stars had romantic feeling for each other as two human beings, not as two characters, but that the cameramen and directors falling in love with an actor has never occurred to me 🤣

      2
      2

        Seriously though, have you watched how they always, always have scenes with the camera either caressing his face or simply zoomed in on him even when far off angles can work just fine, like they do with most other actors. I get that he also has those marvelous expressions to capture, but stil, the angles with which this man is covered in almost every single episode would put the best of them to shame.

        2
        1

        Examples of co-stars with feelings during shooting???
        I loved that you mentioned this because I sometimes I really feel this- not that they will be together forever, but when you spend this much time together feelings can happen. Extra Feeling shows:
        Crash Landing- obviously
        Healer
        King The Land
        My Demon
        19 Life
        Shooting Stars
        Strong Women DBS
        The King Eternal Monarch
        Secretary Kim

        1
        3

          I don’t often watch BTS videos except for shows/actors I’m really interested in. In your above list, I haven’t watched those shows themselves, so not their BTS videos either: King the land, My demon, Shooting stars, TKEM.

          For the rest, I only watched BTS videos of CLOY. But I had that idea after watching 19th life-the show, not BTS videos. I believe SHS had feeling for ABH as a woman to a man. Maybe I watched the show twice back to back, and the third time for their scenes together, I paid close attention to those scenes. I found it hard to show affection in such a natural way had she not had any feeling for him. Or maybe what she did was really relatable to me, the way she caressed his face, how she gently and affectionately looked into his eyes and found his gaze back, it is what I do to my loved one too. She freely sought skinship too. I know she’s a talented actress, so others may think that’s how she does her job and she’s excellent at it. But I have a feeling she did all that with a fluttered heart. There didn’t seem to be anything from ABH though.

          So the phrase “by BTS videos” in my statement above is redundant. But by seeing co-stars on screen, sometimes we can tell.

          But this is definitely right

          when you spend this much time together feelings can happen

          .
          They are humans after all, restrained humans for the sake of their profession.

          0
          3

            Ah, I forgot an important question 😅 Did you feel the same about 19th life?

            0
            0

            I never watch the BTS- so basing all my thoughts on original show. Agree 1000% with your observation of 19th FL. And you can tell their chemistry was completely different what Sandar-ri. She always does a fantastic job in her roles and supporting the story and the ML, she is probably my favorite female actor. Byit was really special in this show. Maybe she loved the role- the story is fantastic!!
            I wrote this somewhere else today but Flex X Cop has changed my whole opinion on Ahn Bo Hyun. I see that his acting in 19 was much better than I thought. Have you seen Flex?

            1
            0

            Yes, I watched Flex live. Before that, my knowledge of ABH was that he was a villain in Itaewon Class, a show I dropped midway, and that he was a good cop in My Name, a show I dropped midway too knowing how it ended. I came into Flex expecting nothing, just out of my interest in Park Jihyun. And when it ended, I fell into ABH’s rabbit hole. I picked 19th life again (when it aired, I put it on hold after episode 1, I didn’t remember the exact reason why I didn’t continue, but I guess mainly because I had other bigger interests then). And now I am in an emotional mess high because I can’t let 19th life go. Seeing me begging for someone to chat about that show, Minnie agreed on a community watch after Signal and Happiness.

            I also watched part of Yumi’s Cells 1 and avoided the ending.
            I’m watching Military Prosecutor Doberman too, more than halfway through so far. My opinion about ABH changed too after Flex, and to do him justice, I must say it was the first show of his I finished and he was the ML. It’s like where he’s been all these years? How come I’ve discovered how fine an actor he is only now?

            I’m watching Doberman on Viki and it’s hilarious that most live comments are about how gorgeous ABH is 😂

            He’s so different in each role he plays, from Doberman to Seoha to Isoo. When we have time, I would love to chat about that controversial bed scene in My Name too 😅. It’s like @seeker said yesterday, I’m doing a background check on ABH 😂

            1
            0

          Did Park Seojoon and Park Minyoung date for a short time after Secretary Kim, do you know?

          1
          2

            I don’t think so. I think at times it happens, other times it does not. However, everyone says PHS and PBY had something going, and while it could be true, I think HYJ had something for him in Happiness. I don’t know why, but I always feel it when I see her with him. I felt it very strongly during their interviews too (unlike JSN and PHS who had a great comfort level with each other, while PHS was very formal and polite with Park Shin Hye off screen, while she treated him like a younger brother).

            2
            0

            So hard to know because do you ever believe the press?? And we have seen how detrimental it can be to their careers if they show anything. I just loved them and had my own hopes. I guess that’s how it usually is. Every one thought the Business Proposal leads were a couple, to the point where they had to personally deny it, but even though I loved them together and they did have chemistry I never thought it was more.

            2
            0

          The marketing departments like to hint at the co-stars having a crush on each other. So whether they have it or not, or are just good colleagues who kiss onscreen, there will often be hinted at how they blush when the other one says something, or are very gallant, or whatever.
          Edward Cullen And Kristen Stewart were asked to “date” during the run of Twilight, and pretended to do so.

          2
          3

      I’m pretty sure every director falls in love with him..including the recent dr slump ,you can see it in the bts😂

      3
      1

        True LOL!! In DS he was pretty much asked to walk to the camera and do whatever he wanted, the more outlandish the better.

        And no, they are not the same actors. Even imagining Jeong Woo and Yi Hwan in the same frame makes me shake my head in wonder.

        2
        1

          The dimwit and his smartest, cutest and most soft-hearted doppelganger 😁

          0
          2

            The smart one buys diamond tiaras and the dimwit buys a street side hawker bracelet which, incidentally, he can’t figure out how to give.

            Do not worry Mr Dimwit, I am on your side. I know your gift giving heart is perspicuous and your abilities in that direction are going to get better – Hanna…dul..seth…
            After all who cares for tiaras when you can offer the entire throne with the kingdom that comes with it…❤️❤️❤️
            Too bad Joseon could not accommodate PPLs, else we would have the trinket box labelled across the series.

            1
            0

            @minniegupta1
            @claire2009
            Not you’ll calling hwan dimmwit😭😭😭..yeo jeonwoo is everything that hwan isn’t…I was so surprised when I saw PHS first in swbs and then in happiness, I couldn’t believe it’s the same actor😭

            2
            0

      I loved the “elder” Jo scene too. I also thought it quite amazing that the CP who had never met him still put his trust in him to do the right thing based on his test answer alone. For how paranoid and scared he was in the beginning this shows the effects of his growing bond with the JY and his Scooby doo team to overcome his trust issues.

      2
      1

    I perk up every time MJ and his student are on screen! When he was saying that he is liking scholar Park more and more, I thought: You’re a very good man, my man. And then Garam thought basically the same thing and I squeed! I love how MJ is so honestly generous with his compliments, except when he rants at the sergeant for being so good in everything that he ruined other people’s lives!! 🤣

    I know my fellow Beanies are swooning over PHS’s micro-expressions, but honestly, none of his broodings make me squee like Garam looking at gentleman MJ with hearts in her eyes! 😁

    I hate the sulky, ungrateful, unkind, unreasonable king who knows and cares nothing about anything except anything that directly and immediately affects himself, and listens to every venom spouted by Minister Jo. Ugh.
    I did enjoy the acting and the tension in the father and son scene, but I hate the character.

    That scene when the king fires every person from that place which I can’t remember the name of, was heartbreaking. And I was honestly angry and disappointed with how Hwan reacted to seeing his people being evicted. Especially in the light of how he had previously dealt with the small thief, and moreso after how the queen showed compassion, explained clearly that it was not her doing and she had no power to help, and gave the maid a hairpin to help her outside the palace. I wish so much this scene had happened with Hwan instead. He should have explained that it wasn’t he who was firing them, and he should have done something for the people who had lived their whole lives in the palace and had nowhere to go…

    Episode 12 mostly left me cold which was probably another “director’s day off”, but I still love MJ’s scenes.

    3
    2

      Not to justify Hwan’s (lack of) reactions to seeing his people being evicted, but Hwan’s not the type to say empty words, and by “empty” I mean words that may give comfort but cannot bring about the outcome he wanted, which was keeping them in the palace. He’s like many other men out there, who naturally are different from women in responding to these matters. But like you, my heart was heavy seeing those people being kicked out of the palace.

      ***SPOILER*** In the next episodes, we’ll see how he says he trusts Taekang’s loyalty. That’s when words are needed and he can deliver when he needs to.

      2
      2

        I totally understand what you say, except it broke my heart to see his people feeling so disappointed and betrayed by him, never knowing that he had nothing to do with it.

        1
        0

        I think here the distinction was that everyone knows the Queen has no power, so it was also alright for her to behave in that fashion, where as Hwan could not show that kind of emotion without coming across as unfilial. It was a great moment of helplessness as a Crown Prince. He ends up paying dearly for his eventual objections for this – public humiliation and a real threat of abandonment.

        I agree about the King, he might be looking at protecting his son, but he is protecting his interests first. There was no reason why he could not have started an investigation into his son’s attack, or follow the money trail as Hwan is starting to do. He is selfish, and I could truly never empathise with him.

        1
        1

          Honestly in the beginning I thought the king himself was behind the attacks at his son. But from Beanies’ comments who have seen the show before it doesn’t seem so…

          2
          0

      For you, Midnight ^^


       
       
       
       

      5
      2

    Thank you so much for such a lovely invite Claire. I am your tardy guest.

    2
    0

    This walk in the dark is such a relatable scene when we are in a “thinking” mode. I also like how this sequence begins with them looking together at the moon.

    1
    1

    Episode 11 and 12- My Title: If you Lack Compassion, You are not Human. Put compassion into Action!
    https://www.dramabeans.com/members/claire2009/
    Link to our amazing Claire and her review and photos

    I’m going to say right up front that I felt both 11 and 12 were a bit flat. With 20 episodes, they can’t all be perfect. To me these were filler- but when this amazing cast is on the screen who can really complain. There was a lot of background about the past and the Village that was destroyed. I also can’t stand time wasted for plot sake- 1 month in the room for the Crown Prince??? I understand the point at the end. I would have been happy if we could have seen a daily account of the development of the relationship between TG and CP but no, just wasted time. I usually have a hard time with the family parts of Dramas and the King didn’t help me change my mind in this one. I see the story, but would like it to be shorter. This is about when I start thinking it should have had less episodes. But after reading all of the great comments from my fellow watch beanies I was reminded why overall this was such a great show-the Fab 4. How can you go wrong with this team!!
    Now that I got that off my chest-
    There was some great development of the friendship. Thank you for having that part to look forward to Writer/Director.
    Sargeant wins the award for eye rolls in this show!

    Best Part of the Show for Me- Shadows! And she does it not once but lots. To me this expresses everything we love about this couple. She is headstrong, but soft and playful, he thinks he is in charge, but loves everything she does. She wins and I love it.

    I’m going to re-watch the next four episodes before I write my thoughts for 13-16.
    Can’t wait to read yours!!! What a great group we have.

    1
    2

      In these two episodes I loved the quartet and that it gave a window to who Hwan actually is and how he would be as an eventual king. It’s a great character arc, and I always am interested in hiw they develop layers. They did a commendable job in developing his. These two episodes also showcased that he is not perfect but is willing to learn and grow. They segue perfectly into the next two outstanding episodes. I would have liked to see less of the cackling buddies theough.

      2
      0

      I was quite surprised they didn’t show seasons changing over that 1 month 😅

      Sargeant wins the award for eye rolls in this show!

      LOL

      0
      0