BOSSAM Episode 9 Squeecap
See below.

This episode is chock full of OTP goodness but the politics can be hard to follow. Research was required so it took me longer to write this.

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    Tagging BOSSAM beanies: @kiara, @mmmmm, @ndlessjoie, @marcusnyc20, @ally-le, @flyingcolours, @jorobertson, @tabitha2, @snowflower, @bbstl, @milena, @yongsital, @sicarius?, @jossie4cheryl, @jerrykuvira, @kdramaswimmer, @sparks121, @yulsakura.

    Let me know if I missed anyone or if you would not like to be tagged in future posts.

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      thanks for the Squeecap (its named so aptly)…
      I absolutely loved this episode.. soo many OTP moments that made my heart flutter soooooo much… that hug was done sooo beautifully and JIW’s swoony eyes are marvelous in expressing what character’s heart feels….
      btw you dint include that rain drop moment when BW puts his palm above her head so that she wont get hit by it..
      this whole sequence was so cute… BW is all smitten with her innocence love for the things around….
      ahhh i love this episodes….💓💓💓💓

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      Thanks so much for this @wishfultoki It’s all happening these two episodes. That last scene in 10 is so tender and so very beautiful, and the build up to that in 9…. I agree, “Thank you” was never so charged. And when they make eye contact…. I also loved the illustrating/education in erotica that the princess went through. She adjusted very quickly. LOL What great writing. She is such a superb character – a modest woman, in keeping with her background and status, but smart and quick to grasp the situation, and she always has the authority of a woman of her class. There’s nothing passive about her. I don’t know if her character would have fared so well in the hands of another actor. I’m going to have to find some more JIW to hang onto until next week. I never thought I’d say this, but squee-ing together. 🤣🤣🤣*hysterical laughter^ followed by 😳😳😳 *embarrassed face*

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        More JIW watch High End Crush, Sweet Munchies and if possible Cindrella j 4 knights (with the help of FF button).

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          C4K was a great guilty pleasure watch for me when it aired. Although it got so typical kdrama (noble idiocy at the expense of character! woo!) in the last 3-4 episodes, I did end up dropping it without “properly” finishing it. I knew exactly what was going to happen though lol

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          Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve seen C4Ks, long ago enough to forgot much of it except for a certain shower scene and Ha Jung-woo’s dad going rogue. I have to confess, I like Park So-dam in almost anything. The premise was bad, but I may have laughed …

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            CK4K… I vaguely remember her trying to wash or dry her hair and ending up in a bathtub with a broken leg. What a ridiculous but fun show 😂

            I’ve avoided the Munchies drama but I’ve had HAECHI on my list since forever 😎

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            @wishfultoki dont avoid Munchies… you’ll love it way more you think.
            i started without any expectations but ended up loving it. esp JIW’s character is way more mature n likable..
            I am avoiding Haechi.. cause i doubt ill like it cause its solely Politics drama but i want to see some Romance too… if you watch it then do let me know.

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          Just into the first few minutes of High End Crush. JIW is 🔥🔥🔥🔥

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          I enjoyed Haechi. Of course, he’s pretty cool in everything. He’s an outsider in that and seems like a wastrel and playboy. (Very attractive). Also I don’t mind palace intrigue. It’s great that beanies “get” the power politics of the factions, and I’m just catching up.

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        I liked how the Princess used her artistic talent without compromising her integrity. She is so quick-thinking and resourceful, but also modest and dignified, truly a great and memorable character. Episode 10 was a roller coaster of swoony and weepy moments and I loved every minute of it…

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          exactly… she kept her moral and ethics intact while inventing something all new and more interesting with wide reach just cause she keeps her calm in such turbulent times…
          epi 10 made me bawl my eyes out. and got goosebumps the moments she calls Ba Wu-ya and camera stops on BW’s face… then his turning back and back to her face.. wowww that moment was s well done….

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      The man on the donkey who is to be the idiot’s father-in-law is Lord Nae Am, not the Great Northern leader Jeong In Hong. He has been mentioned in the first episodes.

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        Viki subs were confusing on this one. I think Lord Nae Am is the pen name of Jeong In-hong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeong_In-hong

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          Yes, the drama is using Jeong In-hong’s pen name just like Song Kang as Jeong Cheol’s pen name in episode 1.

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            Speaking of Jeong In-hong I was going to add more but I’ll do it under the Gwanghae post at the old thread.
            There is so much squeee worthy stuff about Gwanghae that we need to talk about.

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            I added a note in episode 1 and also once more in episode 8, to clarify it to the viewers.

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            @irmar,

            Thank you so much for all the hard work that you are all doing @viki.
            I know it’s harder to translate historical dramas.
            Appreciate you guys <3.

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          Ah, that’s very important info, thank you!

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      Hello @wishfultoki
      Tag me too, please 😁

      I usually enjoy the romance aspect of sageuk more than the politics, but I surprisingly enjoy both in Bossam!

      Sookyung is fast becoming one of my fav female lead. She is awesome and Yuri does so well here. JIW always shines in sageuk, but his chemistry with Yuri amplifies it even more. They are amazing in this.

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      Thank you for inclusion in the Bossam Beanie clan. The show is so rich I’ve decided to simply re-watch while I wait for the subs – come ON ending for ep 10.
      Who could ever guess that a trip to the coast and a rainy night could bring such joy and genuine smiles to our little found family (and to we watchers). Here’s hoping your valiant effort to claim a small corner of DB for this great show will be rewarded with some respect.

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      Tag me next time, please.

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      I’m so far behind. 😓

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      Add me to the list, please.

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      Well, there is a new thread. What are we going to do?
      I’m not posting on it yet in case you want to transfer the eps 9 squeecaps over there.

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        Oh, that’s great news! What a mess though. 😂
        You can go ahead and post on it. I’ll pick up at Episode 10.

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          Truth be told. I am brain dead after watching eps 10.
          Hopefully I’ll come to my senses soon 😆.

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      I would like to be tagged in all of your future posts please! Thank you so much for your amazing Squeecaps and history lessons. Makes watching so much more fulfilling. <3 <3 <3

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      Hello there! I’m a little late for the party, but I just finished this ep a moment ago. Let me read your squeecap first, and then I’ll comment something!

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    EPISODE 9 Squeecap
    PART 1/3

    Soo-kyung confesses that she remembers everything he says and does. Ba-woo hugs Soo-kyung, then apologizes. Soo-kyung says there’s nothing to forgive since he did it without thinking. They agree to forget it (though their eyes say otherwise).

    Soo-kyung repeats that she will leave but Ba-woo leans in closer and says firmly that he can’t do that. He wants to protect her. (*squeeeeee*) The night is cold, so he goes back in. She comes in a few seconds later, and the look of relief and suppressed happiness on Ba-woo’s face is too cute. Just in case she has second thoughts, he grabs her little bag and uses it as a pillow. Later that night they both sit, unable to sleep, and simply say “thank you” to each other. This whole scene was just too beautiful. They are finally on the same page and each of them is making the decision to move forward. Ship ship!

    Dae-yeop cries bitterly in his room, with Soo-kyung’s rejection finally sinking in. Lady Haeindang stands outside his door.

    The next day the little family of outcasts head to the sea. They have a grand time. This is Soo-kyung’s first time seeing the sea. She thanks Ba-woo for allowing her to experience such things. He apologizes for making her experience things she shouldn’t have. Who knew “thank you” and “sorry” could be so romantic?

    They arrive at Jemulpo, Chun-bae’s hometown. Soo-kyung is thrilled to take in the sights of a bustling seaside village. Chun-bae visits a bookshop owner and begs him for a house for his “family” for the winter. Cha-dol, the little con-artist, puts on his best miserable face. When asked who’s his wife, Chun-bae points to Court Lady Jo. He gets a good beating. Ba-woo goes to look for work. A weasly looking guy called Geo-jeong approaches him. Ba-woo only wants to work legally though. “Do you think you can work legally?” scoffs Geo-jeong.

    Back at the palace, VP Lee is on the offensive. His aim is to attack the king’s weak point: the Changdeok Palace reconstruction project. He rallies other ministers to dismiss the Minister of Defense on charges of fraud. At court, the king will hear none of it. The reconstruction of palace, which had been destroyed during the Japanese invasions of 1592-1598, depends on the Office of the Royal Architect and the Ministry of Defense. If he dismisses the Minister of Defense the project will come to a halt.

    His ministers argue that the construction project is eating up the country’s finances. Gwanghae roars that the people are hungry because of wars and drought. If the Ministers are so concerned, let them open their storehouses and give work to the people! He storms out of court vowing to never dissolve the Office of the Royal Architect.

    [@sicarius I thought I could post more than 500 words in comments. Apparently not. 😫]

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      PART 2/3

      In private, Prime Minister Jeong In-hong advises the king to keep VP Lee by his side, because he’s his sword and shield. Gwanghae is still unmoved. VP Lee blackmails Court Lady Kim Gae-si with evidence of accepting bribes and selling government certificates. She goes to the king and persuades him to strike a deal with VP Lee Yicheom: give up the transfer of Princess Hwa-in’s tomb in exchange for the palace reconstruction project.

      Not willing to lose this round, Gwanghae agrees to cancel the tomb relocation but asks for a favor: he wants the Western faction to return. He owes them a debt from back when he ascended the throne and the Eastern faction had falsely incriminated him (due to his mother’s status as concubine). VP Lee hates the idea, but he can’t refuse the king.

      At their new home, Soo-kyung and Court Lady Jo struggle with sewing work. Court Lady Jo can’t bring herself to call the princess “young sister”. Court Lady Jo scolds Chun-bae for not doing anything and going out to drink in the evenings. He tells her about his glorious past smuggling silks from Ming China. The bookshop was just a front. Court Lady Jo seems interested despite herself.

      Ba-woo finds work as a baggage porter but his wages are meager. That night Chun-bae comes back home drunk. It would seem he invested in the latest smuggling venture (Oh no…). He slurs that if private trade is forbidden, why are noblemen the first to buy the silks? Anyway, there’s nothing to worry about; this time Jemulpo officials are involved.

      VP Lee’s next target is Kim Ja-jeom. At the Office of Astronomy, Kim Ja-jaeom is studying rain patterns when officials from the Office of the Inspector General barge in. Kim Gae-si pours tea for the king and counsels him to save Kim Ja-jeom, since he might be useful in the future. Gwanghae has no interest in protecting Kim Ja-jeom against VP Lee; he needs VP Lee’s help to get Ming Dynasty to officially recognize his mother as queen dowager.

      Now Kim Gae-si goes into action. Kim Ja-jeom is in a tight spot since he lost the princess. He visits Kim Gae-si, her patron, and begs for help. She lounges on her seat and informs him of the political situation in China. Bear with me…The king wants his mother to be recognized, but that would be impossible by mere royal edict. He needs Ming Dynasty’s approval. However, the Ming are bound to ask for troops and supplies for their own war against Later Jin (the Jurchens), in exchange. Gwanghae wants to remain neutral in that war. Tianqi Emperor is more interested in carpentry than ruling, so power is in hands of the eunuch Wei Zhongxian, whose only contact in Joseon is… VP Lee. Kim Ja-jeom’s task is to find a way to persuade VP Lee to persuade Eunuch Wei.

      Kim Ja-jeom plays his only card: he promises VP Lee a big secret in exchange for his help.

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        PART 3/3

        Dae-yeop asks his father for a chance. VP Lee consults his two sons regarding Kim Ja-jeom’s proposal. Eldest son Won-yeop suggest lying, since the eunuch might ask for a fortune. Dae-yeop counters that the secret might be worth it. VP Lee decides to send a boat to Ming with a letter for Eunuch Wei.

        The bookshop owner wants Chun-bae’s “sister-in-law” to illustrate erotic novels. That night there is a storm. Soo-kyung is enchanted by her first time in a room with a leaky roof. She leans over to watch the ceiling and Ba-woo covers her head with his hand to shield her from a few drops. Chun-bae bumps his head and they all laugh. Court Lady Jo shocks everyone with a loud cackle. The next day the bookshop owner is hysterical because the ships were lost in the storm. He demands they pay rent, unless Ba-woo’s “wife” illustrates erotic novels.

        Chun-bae tries to locate the original artist but he’s working for the government now. He gets a book and copies the drawings. The room is littered with crumpled paper when Soo-kyung walks in later with a snack. She’s shocked and runs off to wash her eyes. Chun-bae asks Court Lady Jo for help to get the princess to illustrate the book.

        Soo-kyung decides that if she were a commoner, she would do it to help her family. She does her best, but her idea of romantic love isn’t what Chun-bae wants. Court Lady Jo explains to Chun-bae that the princess became a widow before her marriage. She doesn’t know about these things. Chun-bae: “What about you? Can’t you teach her?”

        That night the ladies peruse a book. Ba-woo knocks on the door and Soo-kyung drops to the floor to hide the book. Ba-woo leaves, very confused. The ladies stay up all night “studying”.

        Dae-yeop is preparing for the civil examination. VP Lee seems pleased. He gives Kim Ja-jeom an informal letter of consent from Eunuch Wei. In return, Kim Ja-jeom gives him the promised secret: traitor Kim Je-nam’s grandson is the one who bossamed the princess, i.e.: Ba-woo.

        VP Lee orders his son to find Ba-woo’s mother and sister, who are slaves somewhere. He can’t send his usual trusty minion because he’s doing “something else”. Dae-yeop inquires after this but his father replies that the fewer people know about it, the better.
        Weird things are going on at Jemulpo. Ba-woo meets the only survivor of the shipwreck (Chun-bae’s smuggling associate Geo-jeong), who’s wounded but won’t talk. Ba-woo trails the magistrate’s clerk, and almost runs into VP Lee’s men in black. They are looking for the shipwreck survivor. Ba-woo helps Geo-jeong escape and learns that underneath the ginseng and silks there were copper and sulphur. Materials for guns and gunpowder.

        The Head Monk arrives and informs Ba-woo of his sister’s marriage. His mother had decided it was better that she marry now rather than be taken by a noble. Ba-woo watches the ceremony. Just as they are exchanging vows VP Lee’s men arrive and take Ba-woo’s mother and sister away.

        The end

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          Comment was deleted

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          Thank you!!! I really wanted the ladies to get a bit more into the eroticism and then have a serendipitous peak (for more research) while Ba-woo and Chun bae were bathing or something…☺️😝

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            That would have been a hoot, and it would have referenced and switched that wonderful painting of the men spying on the women bathing. I was thinking they might need a model.

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            I kept wondering why we didn’t see a single page of that book!

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          Hello! Feel free to keep tagging me in future posts! I might not always be around but I loved so much of this episode, and it sort of tied me in for continuing this drama for the near future. (Truthfully, I wasn’t in LOVE with it before- it was enjoyable but I found the pacing a bit weird and it wasn’t grabbing me the way it grabbed some of you.)

          But boy oh boy this episode really hooked me.
          I don’t think I’ve invested in a sageuk’s political conversations since my TWDR watch. What can I say, I really enjoyed them. It was like one step up from lovely Passive Aggressive Tea Drinking from last week.
          The way each player has their own motivation to play one or both sides, the comparison of how the upper class of our various politicians and yangbans orchestrate events to the lower class wherein our wee family currently resides just trying to get by, how the same events tie both parties intrinsically together, and effect them so differently too.
          I love it!

          I’m 100% on Gwanghae’s side regarding his palace rebuild because Chandeokgung is my favourite of all of Seoul’s palaces, and one of my favourite places in Seoul period. (Don’t let anyone tell you Gyeongbeokgung is prettier; they’re lying lmao)
          Sad that history is such a spoiler again though. *ahem*

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          Thank you for the squeecap. I loved Episode 9 and 10 was even better. I can’t believe I’m enjoying a sageuk this much.

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          Thanks so much for tagging me! I love them so much! For a second I thought BW was really just going to play the hug off like it was nothing (SK’s evident dislike of that was cute) but then he owns up to his feelings. Because nothing says I like you more than saying he wants her by his side & he’ll protect her and just looking at her the way he does…. *swoon*

          Swooning aside, thanks for your hard work! You don’t realize how helpful your history tidbits of info are!!

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          Kim Ja Jeom could have revealed the princess being alive instead of BaWu’s identity. The subtitles didnt quite capture the conversation so I don’t know if he revealed both secrets to VP Lee.

          The coming to knowledge of the princess was soooo, I was just laughing at the absurd corny situation. Not watched episode 10 though

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          For me, a non-saguek fan, I had many lol moments in ep9 which is surely a very good sign. I think the Yuri’s acting is mesmerizing especially in the scene that she looked at that book for the first time. It was very fun to see how her eyes went so big when she was surprised by the pictures in that book.

          The music is great, too. I don’t know much about music as I’m not a music person, but I do truly think that the music choices for this show really help lighten the mood of a historical drama. This is good for non-saguek fans like me.

          I like that when being together, both the FL’s and ML’s live are better; the FL can experience simple joy of living a free life, and the ML decided to do legal work even when the pay is much less. When two people are together and they become better people, I think that is the sign which shows that they have found a good match. This is why I’m happy that they will end up being together despite all sorts of challenges that are bound to happen in the remaining eps.

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          I just started watching the show a few days ago, and saw ep. 9 today. The reaction of SK to the erotic novel and the reaction of both women to the ‘study material’ had me laughing so hard (esp. the women with the ‘study material’). XD Absolutely loved this episode, and I’m glad it’s my habit to keep my fingernails extremely short, because if I didn’t, the end of the episode would have had me chewing any nails until the tips were sensitive and bleeding. Off to continue my binge!

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        “selling government certificates”

        (History)
        This is talking about the selling of office titles and ranks by the government in exchange for grain contributions in fixed amounts. This was called napsok.
        The results of the Imjin War was devastating. The land laid waste and government documents were destroyed so they couldn’t collect taxes for rebuilding the country.

        Looks like Court lady Gae-si was doing her own dealing on the side. Kim Ja-jeom probably didn’t get his position for free.

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          Lady Kim Gae Si seems to be a triple agent, working with the King, VP Lee, and Kim Ja Jeom…

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            She’s so opportunistic -working all sides to reap as much benefit as she can for herself. How do rulers always end up with people like that? Of course, we wouldn’t have the drama without them, but Confucius says a good ruler is known from the people he draws to himself. (I just made this up, but I’m sure it’s there somewhere, maybe Mencius??)

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            I believe these people are smooth talkers. They get things done, talk sweetly, and seem to forever want to please you. People like this kind of people, and will turn a blind eye on everything else that happens.

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      (comments are limited to 3000 characters, just like recap comments. You could’ve probably posted all of this on the main post though as one, without any trouble. Next time maybe, if you want)

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        Thank you for clarifying this! I didn’t want to spoil it for everyone scrolling through the fanwall but I hate having to post it in parts.

        P.S.: That Passive Aggressive Tea Party from Episode 8 is one of my favorite drama scenes this year period. It’s delicious. Now we have Ming Dynasty and the Jurchens involved. There is enough to carry us through 10 more episodes but I’m worried how our OTP will get a happy-ever-after in such a turbulent period.

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          That’s fair enough! If it’s long enough it’ll auto format to a read more which would hide some spoilers, or you could add a large break before it so people know to scroll fast. But up to you.
          Sometimes I wish DB would let fans recap shows they don’t; guest recaps if you will, with a proper recap area. Alas.

          P.S. Wasn’t it great? Politics CAN be fun if done well hehehe
          So much to carry us through, and such an interesting interwoven tapestry of history and fiction.

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            Politics is gangbanging in nice suits, to quote the host of the podcast ‘Hood Politics’. It may sound whack, but it’s true. The host explains it so much better than I could, so at least take a listen to the first episode.

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          I absolutely LOVE witty exchanges and verbal sparring, and I enjoyed The Passive-Aggressive Tea Party SO MUCH. I’m also wondering how our OTP will end up safe from swords on all sides, but I trust the writers to deliver them safe and sound. ;D

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      Thank you so much! I would’ve gone nuts if there was no place to talk about this drama.
      I must admit to feeling  sorry for Dae-yeop. I think his heart is in the right place and he did what he thought was best from his yangban point of view.When Soo-kyung asked him to elope with her, Lydia Bennet came to mind. That would ruin their reputation and their families so I don’t blame Dae-yeop at all. That was my Jane Austen moment.
      I want to save him and aunt so I still hope that VP Lee is not his biological father.

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        Lol, I had my Jane Austen moment during the tea party in Episode 8. It was like Caroline Bingley asking Elizabeth Bennet to take a stroll around the room 🤣

        I’m not sure why Aunt is so protective of Dae-yeop if she’s not his mom, so I’m holding on to our theory for now.

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          oh hi fi to the theory of aunt being Dae yeops mom.
          i am never buying the fact that his own mom has no idea what her son is upto while aunt to moving mountains for his safety.
          Also i recall there was a moment when DYs dad was saying to aunt “if he leaves ill be losing just one son while….” and looked at her so i am guessing there is some backstory to Aunt overly protective to DY.

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          @wishfultoki, @snowflower

          Lady Haeindang’s name still bugs me. It’s a weird name for a noble lady unless it’s her title. Could Hae in means the same thing as Hyein, the spouse’s title of a Grand Prince’s illegitimate son with a commoner?
          I think “dang” means faction.

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            I am also of the opinion that it’s not her name. This drama tends to give us titles and pen names rather than personal names, which can be confusing but is indicative of Korean culture back then (and even now).

            Historically VP Lee married his grand-daughter to the Crown Prince Yi Ji (Gwanghae’s son) so I wouldn’t be surprised if the drama gave that a twist and had Aunt married (or about to be married once upon a time) to a royal.

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          What I found a bit niggling is the way Lady Aunt talked to the head of the henchmen of VP Lee. My wildest guess was that they had fonder feelings toward one another. I don’t think he is DY’s father, but it seems like Lady Aunt trusts him a lot, and perhaps more than she trusts VP Lee.

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      Thank you so much for tagging me along!
      I follow the your recaps in the main thread, but it’s getting too heavy to load so I ended up reading the comments through “Recent Comment” tab. I want to comment way back about how awesome Soo-kyung was in episode 8, but couldn’t 🙁 She grows a will to live through the whole ordeal. If you create your own blog, please share the link here. I would be a happy visitor ^^
      Episode 9 was lovely. I love all the scenes where Soo-kyung and Court Lady Jo found joy in the most common things (the ocean, the leaky roof…). They both didn’t get a sincere laugh-out-loud moment (leaky roof scene) like that for years. SK and BW seem to reach a more mutual understanding this episode, which is nice to see after all the frustrating things BW said to her before. Ep 10 is better and my expectation for their relationship is now sky high. I only hope DY doesn’t move to the dark side.

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    Omg, loved it! And 10?????? I’m still reviving from the last scene.

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    If you wanted to, you could put these on my blog. It doesn’t have the visibility of db but it will make finding them easier later. I’d probably get you to do up some based on your notes for the first 8 as well. Anyway, just if it would make this easier.

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      I wish we started this on your blog. So sweet of you to offer.

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      That’s very kind of you, thank you LT! I’ve actually created a blog but I can’t figure out how it works. 😂 If I can’t do it I’ll let you know, ok?

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        No worries. What are you using for your blog? If it’s WordPress I might be able to give some pointers. Although I’m not exactly a whizz either.

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          Yes, WordPress because it’s free *BEAMS*

          I’ve played around with layouts and am currently trying to post something as a test. We’ll see what happens I guess. Fingers crossed.

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            I’m so happy that we may have a sageuk home in the future.
            I will glady donate to keep it going.

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