How sad am I that this funny drama will finally end...but what a hysterical episode! It starts off with a big surprise when Bokshil decides to live with the Song family. Daepoong returns after his cross-country trip to mend his broken heart, all dusty and tired. When Bokshil comes out of the living room, he shouts: "Who are you? Who are you living in my house?" The Song family return from the bathhouse and sheepishly say hello to Daepoong. Daepoong grabs Bokshil's hand and walks with her to a playground. There, he says "How can you do this after all the affection I showed you?"
Here's where it gets hysterical. We are finally shown what happened at the end of that kiss in Episode 52. After Daepoong kissed Bokshil, he grabbed her hand and tried to take her to the bedroom, upon which she flung him against the wall, slamming his face and giving him a bloody nose. Then, she flounced into her room and closed the door. He stayed on his knees half the night, the other half in a traditional punishment stance (sort of like an arched push-up position), apologizing for all the wrongs he has done: calling her Bokshil puppy, making her pretend to be his wife in front of his girlfriend he wanted to get rid of, kissing her when he was drunk....in the meantime, Bokshil fell asleep!
While Daepoong is yelling at Bokshil, Bokshil says: "I thought you had learned to repent, but you haven't learned anything. I will just return home" and she walks away.
The next scene opens with Eunji crying as she enters her home. The doctor has just confirmed that she's pregnant. When Sunpoong says that this is happy news, she cries more and says that she will lose her part in the drama she was just cast. Then Eunji says it's all her mother's fault for starting the war of the sexes in the family, for when Eunji and Sunpoong finally made up after the internal family war, they were so happy that they had sex unprotected. In the study, Euji's father is putting away all of Eunji's mother's paints. When the mother asks what he's doing, the father says that all the paints are toxic and not good for the baby. The father gets his final revenge by telling the mother she's going to be a grandmother. She screams.
Back at the Song household, the father talks on the phone with Sunpoong and Eunji to get the good news. When he gets off the phone, the father and grandfather recount all the good things that have happened: Eunji being pregnant, Jinpoong getting married, and Bokshil coming to live with the family. Then the grandfather says: Daepoong probably taking her to a good restaurant right now to smooth things over.
Well....Daepoong took Bokshil to the Korean Chinese restaurant where their old pediatric clinic used to be. It turns out that Daepoong used to go to eat jajaangmyun (which he doesn't like) whenever he wanted to see Bokshil. Then, with his lips stained with jajaangmyun sauce, he tells Bokshil that he really loves her. He says, "I have something for you, I bought this and meant to follow you to the U.S." It's a diamond ring. Bokshil is so surprised that she takes her hand out of his and runs out the restaurant. Daepoong quickly follows, and Bokshil cries with her head on his shoulder saying: "You are too much, you are too much."
Of course Bokshil agrees to marry him.
Next is a very cute tableaux of Eunji and Sunpoong shopping for baby clothes. While looking at strollers, Sunpoong's cell phone goes off: his mother in law asks why he hasn't shown up at the park as they agreed? When she finds out he's shopping with Eunji for baby clothes, she tells him it's okay, that he should remember to buy delicious food for Eunji too. Then, she gets off the phone, looking all desolate as the wind blows around her. Suddenly, a bluesy song begins (I love the use of genre music in this drama) and her husband appears in a trench coat. He says: "If you are alone, may I join you?" Then, "How can a grandmother have such a good looking backside."
Back at the Song household, the mother has Soojin and Jinpoong come into her room for a talk. She's decided that the only thing to do is have Soojin and Jinpoong live at Brutus' house so that Soojin can help with the children. Soojin says that she can't do that. But the mother says that nowadays, parents live far from their children, so how bad can it be given that it's only next door. She says that as long as Jinpoong and Soojin come every evening to say hello to everyone and eat twice a week at the household, she can let them go. She tells Soojin that as long as Soojin thinks of her mother-in-law sincerely and with warmth and helps her when she needs it, she can let them live outside the family. Soojin starts crying and the mother tells Jinpoong to go out with Soojin so that the whole family doesn't think that she made Soojin cry. When Soojin and Jinpoong leave, the mother cries too.
Yongcheol and Minpoong have finally found Soohee. Soohee has been managing to get by by popping little eyes onto stuffed animals. Minpoong and Yongcheol sit down to help Soohee put more little eyes onto more stuffed animals. While they are all doing this, Hana starts crying and all of them cry with her (lots of crying in this episode....so far, Bokshil, Eunji, Soojin, the Song mother, Yongcheol, Minpoong, Soohee and Hana have all had a go).
Next scene opens with Miran stepping off a bus. Grandfather is waiting for her as she's broken her curfew. But Miran explains that she was out late drinking with a production crew because she finally got a part in a musical. Then, we are shown Miran holding to Grandfather's back while the grandfather is furiously pedaling a bicycle. Grandfather asks what musical it is. Miran answers Beauty and the Beast and the grandfather answers that she must be the beast because she can't be the beauty. But it turns out that she's the mother teapot. At this point, Grandfather is all tuckered out, so they change positions, with Miran pedaling and grandfather holding to her back. Grandfather apologizes for setting Miran up on a date with Brutus. Miran says it's okay as long as grandfather is aware of what he did wrong. Then she tells grandfather that she's stilling going to have soju with Brutus to be "neighborly."
Daepoong and the Song parents go to meet Bokshil, her father, and her half-sister for the official meeting of the parents. Of course, the Song father is shocked when he sees the Director. During the meal, the Song father makes loud noises with his fork and knife (they are eating steak) and rude in general. Finally, he asks the Director why he came to his oldest son's pharmacy. Did he intend to spy on the Song family? The Director says that he was curious about the neighborhood and family that Bokshil lived with for so long. Then, the Song father asks: "Well, and what did you think?" At this point, the mother and Daepoong are both trying to get him to stop, but the father replies: "Be quiet the both of you. The Director is still talking and what he says next can decide whether there will be a marriage or not" to which Daepoong looks pretty glum. The Director continues: "It wasn't the cleanest or nicest neighborhood, but there was a warmth and a human scent. And I thought that maybe this is what I couldn't provide for my daughter so I want to thank deeply the people who were able to provide that for her."
This answer completely wins over the Song mother who is very taken with the Director. However, the father is still upset with the Director. Daepoong and the father go to the restroom. Daepoong is about to leave the restroom and opens the door to hear his mother tell the Director that his voice is so wonderful he should be a radio announcer, at which point the Song father is so incensed that Daepoong has to forcibly restrain him.
The next scene is so cute. All the brothers come out to the courtyard of the Song household with their wives to watch Daepoong go off for his wedding photos. You have to see the great wedding photo shoot which includes various role playing scenes of Daepoong getting scolded, of having to be nice to Bokshil and serve her. At the end of the shoot, there's a voiceover with Bokshil's voice saying that they were married and lived happily ever after.
"How did they live?" she continues. We are shown Eunji at the hospital giving birth to a child. Soojin and Jinpoong already have a child and are about to have a second child. Mipoong didn't succeed at his college exams that year, but did the next and then went to the army. There, Soohee and Yongcheol visit Mipoong with Mipoong's "girlfriend" Hana. Bokshil's hair is back to being permed badly after she lost a game of GoStop to Daepoong. As for the Director and the Song father, they've made up so much that they go out drinking together and do love shots. Miran and Brutus are just "friends" but there's still the potential for romance with Miran asking Brutus what he would do if he found her irresistibly attractive.
The last scene is of the Neighborhood meeting with Daepoong and Sunpoong arguging while Jinpoong intervenes. The three wives are peeling and cutting fruit with their mother in law, and they ask her what it's like to raise son. She says I will only say one thing: sometimes you really want to meet them up.
It's really sweet at the end because Sunpoong and Jinpoong stay over at the end of the meeting with their wives. The Song mother sits outside by herself telling herself that she did a good job after all.
This last episode really reminded me of all the things I loved about this drama: the little touches, the funny moments, the sweet moments, and the strain of humanity through it all. I am sad the drama is over. If anyone has a good recommendation for a drama just as good, please leave me a comment.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Sons of Sol Pharmacy, Episode 53
Only two episodes left...and the writers fool us! Episode 52 closed with Daepoong kissing Bokshil, and I was sure this meant that Episode 53 would be a wedding episode. No, instead Episode 53 starts with Daepoong leaving the Director's house, tripping and falling as soon as he leaves the gate to go to Jaejudo where he has to give the Director's talk (since the Director is in the hospital with his heart condition).
Daepoong calls his father from the airport to apologize, to say that it didn't work out. His father says he's pretty much a loser. Daepoong replies that he and Bokshil were able to tell each other they loved each other but that Bokshil will be leaving on the 3 o'clock flight to the U.S.
Next scene is back in the Song household where the mother and Soojin are washing dishes with Soojin eyeing the mother. Finally, the mother says, "Why do you keep looking at me?" Soojin says she isn't.
The mother replies: I know you want to go to your brother's to take your niece and nephew to kindergarten. You should live your life the way you want to and not worry about me. Otherwise, everyone will think I am a bad mother-in-law.
In the midst of this, Jinpoong comes in the kitchen and asks if there's a problem. Soojin says no, but the mother replies, Yes, yes there is a problem. And then she says that she's scolding Soojin and is Jinpoong going to get in the middle of it. Jinpoong says no, but can't she scold Soojin gently gently gently...and the mother says "Gently! Do you want a scolding too?"
Soo Jin and Jinpoong go off to Brutus' house where Brutus is suffering from a flu.
In the meantime, back at the Song household, the father finally tells the mother that he had sent Daepoong to "hold onto" Bokshil but Daepoong has failed at that too (it's quite funny because the father says to the mother "Why else do you think I sent my cute son away?") The mother replies that it's not a matter of "holding on" but of fate. And then she tells the father her exchange with Soojin and how much stress she feels because of Soojin and her brother, that when she sees Brutus he's so shabby and pitiful as a widower.
At the airport, Bokshil shows up to meet Hyunwoo, but without her luggage...with this enticing bit we are moved quickly to the next scene at the hospital where the Director has gotten through his heart surgery successfully.
Mipoong meets Yongcheol at the bus station; Yongcheol has taken a furlough upon getting a call from Mipoong that Soohee left with Hana. Yongcheol looks for Soohee at all the places Mipoong has already looked, and realizing it's futile, they end up at a pochangmacha and drink soju. Yongcheol regretfully says that he should never have burdened Mipoong with Soohee and Hana and then....His voice dies down and Mipoong yells, and what, and then what! Mipoong tells Yongcheol that he's not even as mature as Hana, to think that he and Soohee would use the situation to date. He asks Yongcheol if he even knows what it is to be a dad, to put Soohee and Hana in a house with strangers where they aren't comfortable and then accuse Soohee of such wrongdoing that she was forced to leave. Yongcheol apologizes and tries to call Soohee.
Brutus' flu is quite bad so Soojin and Jinpoong plan to spend the night taking care of Brutus and the children. Soojin calls the Song household to let the mother know, and even the mother says it's okay, she snaps at her husband.
Bokshil returns to the hospital and the Director wakes up when Bokshil caresses his face. He asks what woman would be touching the face of an old man? Bokshil replies, It's me. Bokshil tells her father that she didn't fly to America because he told her that she should cherish the things that are important to her. He tells Bokshil that she's a better person than him. Then, he says, "This weekend, should we eat the Bolognese pasta you like so much?"
There's a brief glimpse of Daepoong on the back of a truck, riding with a glum look on his face. Then we see the Song father walking in the neigborhood with a soliloquoy on autumn, on Bokshil flying off into the autumn sky and Daepoong taking a cross-country trip across the countryside to mend his broken heart. The father goes on further to say how the mother says it was okay for Soojin and Jinpoong to say at Brutus but she's upset and how life is hard and tiring.
At the Sol Pharmacy, the Director walks in and asks about the pediatric clinic. Jinpoong says, "Well, yes there was one, but my brother ran into the ground...anyways, it doesn't exist anymore and he works for a large hospital." At this point, Jinpoong's father enters the pharmacy because of a problem with his eye. As soon as he sees the Director, the music switches to a Western duel sort of theme. Jinpoong's father asks the Director why he's loitering at the pharmacy. The Director replies that he's having his drink. Jinpoong's father mutters "Unlucky fellow." Jinpoong returns with the medicine for his father's eye at which point his father farts, right in the Director's direction. Then the father murmurs to himself "He really is an unlucky fellow. I had bean paste soup for lunch."
Chased out by the smell, the Director leaves the shop and is walking back to his car when he runs into Eunji's father. It turns out that the two of them went to college together, that the Director is a past alumni association president while Eunji's father is the current alumni association president. Eunji's father invites the Director for drinks and grilled meat at a neigborhood place, and saying there's a friend he would like the Director to meet: the Song father, of course! After a few drinks, the Director asks his chauffeur to bring a special drink, the best whiskey from France: Marie Antoinette.
All this makes the Song father even more suspicious. Walking back with Eunji's father, he says he even dislikes the Director's "bathhouse" voice (it is a very pronounced baritone). The Director, in the meantime, is laughing in his car. He asks his chauffeur what he thinks of Daepoong. When the chauffeur says he thinks Daepoong is a nice young man, the Director laughingly says that Daepoong takes after his father.
At Eunji's house, a piercing scream interrupts Sunpoong and his mother-in-law painting away happily: Eunji is pregnant and very very upset!
The Song grandfather convinces Brutus and Miran to meet him at a restaurant, unbeknownst to each other in an attempt to set them up. Eyeing each other, the two have simultaneous thoughts through their respective minds: "Can it be?" "No" "Oh no" "Oh my god, Jesus Christ!"
Returning home, Miran cries to her aunt that the grandfather set her up with a widower. Brutus returns home to find Soojin and Jinpoong helping the children with their homework and is too abashed to say anything to them. However, when Soojin returns to the Song household she sees Miran in the kitchen who blurts out everything about being set up on a blind date with Soojin's brother who is a widower and has two children. Soojin goes to cry in her room.
The mother asks her husband and the grandfather if they should let Soojin and Jinpoong live with Brutus. She tells her husband and the grandfather that she feels confused and conflicted, that she feels badly for Soojin and for Brutus.
While stepping out into the courtyard after this conversation, the door opens: it's Bokshil.
Next frame, we are shown Daepoong returning home after his long cross-country trip to forget Bokshil. Except that Bokshil has taken up residence in his home. Great mirroring of plot!
Daepoong calls his father from the airport to apologize, to say that it didn't work out. His father says he's pretty much a loser. Daepoong replies that he and Bokshil were able to tell each other they loved each other but that Bokshil will be leaving on the 3 o'clock flight to the U.S.
Next scene is back in the Song household where the mother and Soojin are washing dishes with Soojin eyeing the mother. Finally, the mother says, "Why do you keep looking at me?" Soojin says she isn't.
The mother replies: I know you want to go to your brother's to take your niece and nephew to kindergarten. You should live your life the way you want to and not worry about me. Otherwise, everyone will think I am a bad mother-in-law.
In the midst of this, Jinpoong comes in the kitchen and asks if there's a problem. Soojin says no, but the mother replies, Yes, yes there is a problem. And then she says that she's scolding Soojin and is Jinpoong going to get in the middle of it. Jinpoong says no, but can't she scold Soojin gently gently gently...and the mother says "Gently! Do you want a scolding too?"
Soo Jin and Jinpoong go off to Brutus' house where Brutus is suffering from a flu.
In the meantime, back at the Song household, the father finally tells the mother that he had sent Daepoong to "hold onto" Bokshil but Daepoong has failed at that too (it's quite funny because the father says to the mother "Why else do you think I sent my cute son away?") The mother replies that it's not a matter of "holding on" but of fate. And then she tells the father her exchange with Soojin and how much stress she feels because of Soojin and her brother, that when she sees Brutus he's so shabby and pitiful as a widower.
At the airport, Bokshil shows up to meet Hyunwoo, but without her luggage...with this enticing bit we are moved quickly to the next scene at the hospital where the Director has gotten through his heart surgery successfully.
Mipoong meets Yongcheol at the bus station; Yongcheol has taken a furlough upon getting a call from Mipoong that Soohee left with Hana. Yongcheol looks for Soohee at all the places Mipoong has already looked, and realizing it's futile, they end up at a pochangmacha and drink soju. Yongcheol regretfully says that he should never have burdened Mipoong with Soohee and Hana and then....His voice dies down and Mipoong yells, and what, and then what! Mipoong tells Yongcheol that he's not even as mature as Hana, to think that he and Soohee would use the situation to date. He asks Yongcheol if he even knows what it is to be a dad, to put Soohee and Hana in a house with strangers where they aren't comfortable and then accuse Soohee of such wrongdoing that she was forced to leave. Yongcheol apologizes and tries to call Soohee.
Brutus' flu is quite bad so Soojin and Jinpoong plan to spend the night taking care of Brutus and the children. Soojin calls the Song household to let the mother know, and even the mother says it's okay, she snaps at her husband.
Bokshil returns to the hospital and the Director wakes up when Bokshil caresses his face. He asks what woman would be touching the face of an old man? Bokshil replies, It's me. Bokshil tells her father that she didn't fly to America because he told her that she should cherish the things that are important to her. He tells Bokshil that she's a better person than him. Then, he says, "This weekend, should we eat the Bolognese pasta you like so much?"
There's a brief glimpse of Daepoong on the back of a truck, riding with a glum look on his face. Then we see the Song father walking in the neigborhood with a soliloquoy on autumn, on Bokshil flying off into the autumn sky and Daepoong taking a cross-country trip across the countryside to mend his broken heart. The father goes on further to say how the mother says it was okay for Soojin and Jinpoong to say at Brutus but she's upset and how life is hard and tiring.
At the Sol Pharmacy, the Director walks in and asks about the pediatric clinic. Jinpoong says, "Well, yes there was one, but my brother ran into the ground...anyways, it doesn't exist anymore and he works for a large hospital." At this point, Jinpoong's father enters the pharmacy because of a problem with his eye. As soon as he sees the Director, the music switches to a Western duel sort of theme. Jinpoong's father asks the Director why he's loitering at the pharmacy. The Director replies that he's having his drink. Jinpoong's father mutters "Unlucky fellow." Jinpoong returns with the medicine for his father's eye at which point his father farts, right in the Director's direction. Then the father murmurs to himself "He really is an unlucky fellow. I had bean paste soup for lunch."
Chased out by the smell, the Director leaves the shop and is walking back to his car when he runs into Eunji's father. It turns out that the two of them went to college together, that the Director is a past alumni association president while Eunji's father is the current alumni association president. Eunji's father invites the Director for drinks and grilled meat at a neigborhood place, and saying there's a friend he would like the Director to meet: the Song father, of course! After a few drinks, the Director asks his chauffeur to bring a special drink, the best whiskey from France: Marie Antoinette.
All this makes the Song father even more suspicious. Walking back with Eunji's father, he says he even dislikes the Director's "bathhouse" voice (it is a very pronounced baritone). The Director, in the meantime, is laughing in his car. He asks his chauffeur what he thinks of Daepoong. When the chauffeur says he thinks Daepoong is a nice young man, the Director laughingly says that Daepoong takes after his father.
At Eunji's house, a piercing scream interrupts Sunpoong and his mother-in-law painting away happily: Eunji is pregnant and very very upset!
The Song grandfather convinces Brutus and Miran to meet him at a restaurant, unbeknownst to each other in an attempt to set them up. Eyeing each other, the two have simultaneous thoughts through their respective minds: "Can it be?" "No" "Oh no" "Oh my god, Jesus Christ!"
Returning home, Miran cries to her aunt that the grandfather set her up with a widower. Brutus returns home to find Soojin and Jinpoong helping the children with their homework and is too abashed to say anything to them. However, when Soojin returns to the Song household she sees Miran in the kitchen who blurts out everything about being set up on a blind date with Soojin's brother who is a widower and has two children. Soojin goes to cry in her room.
The mother asks her husband and the grandfather if they should let Soojin and Jinpoong live with Brutus. She tells her husband and the grandfather that she feels confused and conflicted, that she feels badly for Soojin and for Brutus.
While stepping out into the courtyard after this conversation, the door opens: it's Bokshil.
Next frame, we are shown Daepoong returning home after his long cross-country trip to forget Bokshil. Except that Bokshil has taken up residence in his home. Great mirroring of plot!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Pleasurable watching, The Return of Iljimae
I have to say, I just can't go on watching Take Care of the Young Lady. The writing is bad and the plot is contrived. What I did instead was go to the episode recaps on dramabeans.com which confirmed that the drama just isn't worth watching.
Instead, I am continuing with The Return of Iljimae which also stars Jung Il Woo but in a role much more suited to him.
Instead, I am continuing with The Return of Iljimae which also stars Jung Il Woo but in a role much more suited to him.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Queen Seon Deok, Episode 40 aka Whoa! Things are heating up!
Episode 40 opens with the scene at Angang Fortress when Princess Deokman executed the village leaders for running away with the harvest and the farm equipment. In a parallel with a scene in which Mishil executes a couple of palace guard for not following her orders (when Sohwha managed to flee with baby Deokman), some drops of blood splash onto Deokman's face. On the way back to Sorabol, we are shown Princess Deokman in her paladin wringing her hands as she is wont to do when apprehensive. Yu Shin walks next to Deokman's paladin saying that she must believe in what she set out to do, that if she does not believe, she will not be able to accomplish what she wants to.
Back at Sorabol, Mishil hears the news of the executions and muses that Deokman must be troubled much as she was when younger and had to kill deserters from the army during a war, crying particularly after killing a nandong who had helped her.
Upon returning to Sorabol, Princess Deokman is greeted by Bidam who tells her that she does not have to be Mishil, that Princess Deokman will always be stronger. He tells her that watching her as she is moves him, and that she will move the people to be better. (On a historical sidenote, it's interesting to note how difficult it was to transition out of a feudal governance system to one based on individual possessions).
The next scene shows the king in bed with a doctor by his bedside. It turns out that the king has early symptoms of a heart condition, meaning that Princess Deokman must marry so that the king can name her husband the heir and pass on the crown. All factions start to move to find the husband best suited for their intents.
On the side, Lord Misang brings up marriage to Prince Chunchu as well, hoping to marry Prince Chunchu into Mishil's family.
Princess Deokman stands outside in a palace courtyard talking with Sowha when Bidam stops to talk to Deokman. General Seolwon sees them and sees Bidam taking Deokman's hand. He suggests to Mishil that Bidam be married to Deokman. Somehow, I missed something in a previous episode as I assumed that Mishil did not know that Bidam is the son she threw away from her marriage to the previous king. However, it turns out that Mishil does know but that she has not made it clear she knows who Bidam is. As she tells Seolwon, Bidam is a child she threw away and she cannot embrace him back into the fold now.
All members of the Mishil faction moves to ensure that the right people will stay loyal to their cause, including Yu Shin. It turns out that Yu Shin's wife is pregnant (poor Deokman!). The Mishil faction wants Deokman to marry Archeol as his family is weak and cannot harm Mishil nor add additional support to the royal family.
However, at the next meeting of the advisors, Princess Deokman announces she will not marry, that she will succeed to the throne! Mishil begins to understand what Princess Deokman's intent has been and how short her own ambition was compared to Deokman's: she only ever dreamed of being a queen, never the king. This is hammered further when Mishil runs into Bidam who tells her that even before Deokman entered the palace, she announced she would be king. Bidam tells her that it is Deokman ("my Princess Deokman" as he says) that he will follow. What a bitter pill for Mishil to swallow -- to realize that Princess Deokman has the larger ambition plus realizing she threw away a clever son to the enemy! Oh, it's tough to be Mishil this moment.
Surprisingly, the king supports Princess Deokman succeeding him. He tells his advisers that Shilla is a nation built on a hierarchy of royalty and that Deokman is of true bone (meaning that she comes from 100% royal lineage on both matrimonial and patrimonial sides).
When Prince Chunchu hears the news...well, he feels a bit differently than the king. He decides that he will win Bidam over to his cause to succeed the throne, and if failing that, kill Bidam. Believe it or not, things heat up even more as Prince Chunchu sides up with Mishil in order to gain the throne!
Back at Sorabol, Mishil hears the news of the executions and muses that Deokman must be troubled much as she was when younger and had to kill deserters from the army during a war, crying particularly after killing a nandong who had helped her.
Upon returning to Sorabol, Princess Deokman is greeted by Bidam who tells her that she does not have to be Mishil, that Princess Deokman will always be stronger. He tells her that watching her as she is moves him, and that she will move the people to be better. (On a historical sidenote, it's interesting to note how difficult it was to transition out of a feudal governance system to one based on individual possessions).
The next scene shows the king in bed with a doctor by his bedside. It turns out that the king has early symptoms of a heart condition, meaning that Princess Deokman must marry so that the king can name her husband the heir and pass on the crown. All factions start to move to find the husband best suited for their intents.
On the side, Lord Misang brings up marriage to Prince Chunchu as well, hoping to marry Prince Chunchu into Mishil's family.
Princess Deokman stands outside in a palace courtyard talking with Sowha when Bidam stops to talk to Deokman. General Seolwon sees them and sees Bidam taking Deokman's hand. He suggests to Mishil that Bidam be married to Deokman. Somehow, I missed something in a previous episode as I assumed that Mishil did not know that Bidam is the son she threw away from her marriage to the previous king. However, it turns out that Mishil does know but that she has not made it clear she knows who Bidam is. As she tells Seolwon, Bidam is a child she threw away and she cannot embrace him back into the fold now.
All members of the Mishil faction moves to ensure that the right people will stay loyal to their cause, including Yu Shin. It turns out that Yu Shin's wife is pregnant (poor Deokman!). The Mishil faction wants Deokman to marry Archeol as his family is weak and cannot harm Mishil nor add additional support to the royal family.
However, at the next meeting of the advisors, Princess Deokman announces she will not marry, that she will succeed to the throne! Mishil begins to understand what Princess Deokman's intent has been and how short her own ambition was compared to Deokman's: she only ever dreamed of being a queen, never the king. This is hammered further when Mishil runs into Bidam who tells her that even before Deokman entered the palace, she announced she would be king. Bidam tells her that it is Deokman ("my Princess Deokman" as he says) that he will follow. What a bitter pill for Mishil to swallow -- to realize that Princess Deokman has the larger ambition plus realizing she threw away a clever son to the enemy! Oh, it's tough to be Mishil this moment.
Surprisingly, the king supports Princess Deokman succeeding him. He tells his advisers that Shilla is a nation built on a hierarchy of royalty and that Deokman is of true bone (meaning that she comes from 100% royal lineage on both matrimonial and patrimonial sides).
When Prince Chunchu hears the news...well, he feels a bit differently than the king. He decides that he will win Bidam over to his cause to succeed the throne, and if failing that, kill Bidam. Believe it or not, things heat up even more as Prince Chunchu sides up with Mishil in order to gain the throne!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Queen Seon Deok, Episode 39 and taxation
In Episode 38, Mishil's faction had cornered the staple items on the market, inflating prices in the hopes of impoverishing the small farmers. Princess Deokman released some of the military provisions, and started the rumor mill that more grains would flood the market, lowering the prices again. Mishil's faction, in hopes of cutting their losses, start selling back the grains, losing out to Princess Deokman.
Princess Deokman buys back the grains for the military provisions at half the price, having made a good profit which she invests in well made farming equipment. At this point, Deokman and Mishil have their regular repartee during which Mishil says that Deokman's unconventional strategies can't be used continuously. Deokman tells Mishil that there is something she doesn't understand: Mishil is outstandingly perceptive, a cunning thinker, and skilled in all the ways a leader should be, yet in all the time that Mishil has led Shilla, why hasn't Shilla progressed?
Although they've lost one round, Mishil and her family are determined not to lose the next one. An opportunity comes up during the harvest season when taxes are the heaviest, particularly near Angang Fortress where insects have blighted the harvest. Despite the millet harvest only being half the usual amount, Hojong (Mishil's son) taxes the same amount, triggering a riot. Princess Deokman goes to Angang to broker a compromise in which she would return the taxes along with wasteland and equipment as a low-interest loan if the people will cultivate the wasteland. The people agree.
Princess Deokman thinks that all has gone well and returns to Sorabol...where she is greeted by Sowha with the bad use that the people around Angang Fortress has fled with the farming equipment. Yu Shin rounds up the people, and Deokman returns to Angang to question the people as to why they fled when she had given them land and good equipment. The people reply that they don't know good steel from bad steel in farming equipment, that all they want is to live and that they don't care if they own the land or not. Deokman kills the village leaders.
This episode is much heavier on political strategies than most with little personal interaction except for that between Mishil and Deokman. The ending of the episode reflects the hard decisions a national leader must make. There's an interesting speech near the end by Deokman (another exchange with Mishil) in which she says that Mishil was never able to lead Shilla because she was a false mother taking care of someone else's baby, that any true leader of a nation would take care of the people, would explain to the people until they understood and would do everything for the people.
It should be mentioned that there are very few facts that are truly represented in Queen Seon Deok the drama. While there is talk that verges on democratic thoughts in this drama, I wonder if the historical Queen Seon Deok actually thought that way.
Princess Deokman buys back the grains for the military provisions at half the price, having made a good profit which she invests in well made farming equipment. At this point, Deokman and Mishil have their regular repartee during which Mishil says that Deokman's unconventional strategies can't be used continuously. Deokman tells Mishil that there is something she doesn't understand: Mishil is outstandingly perceptive, a cunning thinker, and skilled in all the ways a leader should be, yet in all the time that Mishil has led Shilla, why hasn't Shilla progressed?
Although they've lost one round, Mishil and her family are determined not to lose the next one. An opportunity comes up during the harvest season when taxes are the heaviest, particularly near Angang Fortress where insects have blighted the harvest. Despite the millet harvest only being half the usual amount, Hojong (Mishil's son) taxes the same amount, triggering a riot. Princess Deokman goes to Angang to broker a compromise in which she would return the taxes along with wasteland and equipment as a low-interest loan if the people will cultivate the wasteland. The people agree.
Princess Deokman thinks that all has gone well and returns to Sorabol...where she is greeted by Sowha with the bad use that the people around Angang Fortress has fled with the farming equipment. Yu Shin rounds up the people, and Deokman returns to Angang to question the people as to why they fled when she had given them land and good equipment. The people reply that they don't know good steel from bad steel in farming equipment, that all they want is to live and that they don't care if they own the land or not. Deokman kills the village leaders.
This episode is much heavier on political strategies than most with little personal interaction except for that between Mishil and Deokman. The ending of the episode reflects the hard decisions a national leader must make. There's an interesting speech near the end by Deokman (another exchange with Mishil) in which she says that Mishil was never able to lead Shilla because she was a false mother taking care of someone else's baby, that any true leader of a nation would take care of the people, would explain to the people until they understood and would do everything for the people.
It should be mentioned that there are very few facts that are truly represented in Queen Seon Deok the drama. While there is talk that verges on democratic thoughts in this drama, I wonder if the historical Queen Seon Deok actually thought that way.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
My Fair Lady and style
I can't let go of the clothes and hair thing in Take Care of the Young Lady (My Fair Lady...why do so many Korean dramas have two titles?). I've seen a few images with this hideous velvet outfit culminating in the ridiculously oversized bow on top. I fervently hope it won't be in the actual drama.
What is wrong with Ha Nae's wardrobes? On the one hand, overstylized, none of it seems to be couture. Much of it seems just plain cheap. The best dress I've seen yet is the nightgown in the third episode. Of the many outfits paraded in just the three episodes I've watched, the one I felt cohered best was the riding outfit.
I was pondering why the feel of the outfits were so different than the men's clothing in Boys Before Flowers. And I realized that since that drama is based on a manga, the clothes reflect the overstylization in mangas, the ultra fantasy European clothes with ridiculously wide lapels. The ridiculous aspect of the clothes matches the feel of the whole drama with all the wealthier characters owning multiple sports cars.
While My Fair Lady aspires towards that same atmosphere with similar references (horseback riding, multiple servants, a large estate, "the" chaebol family, riches and rags romance), it's not quite enough. In Boys Before Flowers, all the pieces fit to make a whole, to emphasize the fantasy atmosphere of the drama. In My Fair Lady, the pieces don't all match.
Searching for the internet as to the designer behind the clothes on My Fair Lady, I read that Forever 21 supplied all the clothes and accessories. (For anyone unfamiliar with Forever 21 as an apparel retailer, take a look.)
However, the problem doesn't lie only with the clothes sponsor. A good deal of the problem has to do with a lack of cohesive characterization of Ha Nae through her clothes. In one scene, she's wearing a sophisticated dress. In another, she looks like a cute manga character in a black puffy dress and boots. In another scene, her look verges on a hint of slutty. Other times, she looks sedate, sometimes as though she has on too many accessories, sometimes punkish, sometimes fancy.
Take Care of the Young Lady, Episode 1 & 2
Take Care of the Young Lady (or aka The Fair Lady) is pure cotton candy fluff of the wealthy and the poor. One exceedingly popular take on this was Boys Before Flower. Like Boys Before Flower, Take Care of the Young Lady includes a fantasy mansion filled with servants that's the residence for Kang Hae Na, the misbehaved heiress to the largest corporation in South Korea.
Enter Dong Chan, a guy in debt to loan sharks and who borrowed the money to pay off hospital bills for his mother. Alas, the mother passed away despite all of Dong Chan's efforts. But Dong Chan isn't a mere goodhearted and pure guy (not at all like the Jandi of Boys Before Flower). One of his past professions was being a night club host, a gigolo who lured older women to spend money buying him drinks; one of his nicknames is Di Caprio (after Leonardo). He takes on the job of becoming Hae Na's person butler, staking his liver and kidney on a promissory note to the loan sharks, with the hope that he can seduce Hae Na into paying off his debt.
The person who's been helping Dong Chan with a place to sleep is Eui Joo, a round-faced girl with big eyes and an aspiring shoe designer. As to be expected, Eui Joo has a crush on Dong Chan. The fourth person needed to fill the usual romance square for Korean drama is Tae Yoon, a human rights lawyer who showed up to a blind date set up by Hae Na's grandfather with the ulterior motive of convincing the corporation to rethink a golf course that would damage the environment.
It's weird seeing Yoon Eun-Hye playing the spoiled princess role of Kang Hae Na. I just finished watching her being fresh, poor, and naive in Coffee Prince where she seemed such a natural in that role. I am just having a hard time seeing her play the Paris Hilton of Korea.
Right now I am of two minds about the clothing in this drama. There's a part of me that understands that this is candy...but if it's candy, shouldn't the clothes be even more over the top? Plus, that hair style on the male characters...eech. And I wish they should shave the fuzz off Yoon Sang-Hyun (who plays Dong Chan). It's distracting and makes him look like he didn't wipe his mouth after eating.
The best aspects about this drama is that it's light and fast-paced with some funny scenes.
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