Episode 13 just broke my heart

[dangermousie]

Oh Oh Oh Oh.


My heart broke for Yoon Hee, who has her best friend/man she loves suddenly freeze her out and treat her as a leper and she does not know why, and she has to watch him propose to another woman as she just stands there, knowing she can never reveal the truth of her own gender (but how adorable was she brawling during the hockey match and winning? Has there been a more awesome heroine this year?)

My heart broke for Sun Joon who is trying to bury his feelings so hard (he is past denying them). I almost started crying during his proposal to Ha Eun - he kept looking only at Yoon Hee. And his choice of words "I have always done what I willed to do" (i.e. if I will it, I will make myself stop loving Yoon Hee) and "I have always kept my promises" (i.e. if I make you a promise to be your husband, I will do everything to keep it and thus won't be able to go to Yoon Hee). Oh, his face. Seriously. And he saved Yoon Hee by protecting her with his own body!

My heart broke for Jae Shin, who not only learns Yoon Hee likes Sun Joon, but who feels so cornered and hopeless about justice and vengeance, that he thinks dying may be better than living. His confrontation with Yong Ha got me all misty-eyed. He is so righteous and wounded and young.

My heart broke for Yong Ha, who showed a genuine feeling for the first time - he cried(!!!). He tried so hard to stop Jae Shin from going on his suicide quest. After that scene btw, there is not even a scintilla of a doubt in my mind he is in love with Jae Shin.

My heart broke for Chosun, who finds out the first man she cared for prefers the company of other men. My heart broke for her because the awful Minister of War is not only forcing her into sex, he is forcing her to kill and rob and risk her life, or else her family suffers.

My heart broke for Ha Eun, who thinks she has finally won Sun Joon's heart (and she is a lovely person), when he is solely using her as a shield against his forbidden feelings for Yoon Hee.

My heart even broke for In Soo who is never ever going to get what he wants - any of it, and who really lost it in this ep the way the coolly calculating In Soo never does. I cannot wait to see what will happen when he finds out about Chosun and his father.

Comments

[funk1e.livejournal.com]

"there is not even a scintilla of a doubt in my mind he is in love with Jae Shin." <-- me too think this way^^

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, this ep totally set it in stone for me.

[ejekyll.livejournal.com]

right? right? when I was watching them at the pier in Episode 12, petting and stroking, teasing and flirting (mostly on Yongha's side) I kept yelling at my computer..."JUMP HIM! JUMP HIM!"

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL yes

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

I had suspected something of Yong-ha, but this episode clinches it. Oh, Jae-shin.

I suppose it's too much to ask if all four of our quartet pair off happily and revolutionize Korea?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Jae Shin strikes me as utterly and completely straight (more so than anyone else in the quartet) so nope...Poor Yong Ha.

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

They were trying so hard to pair Yong-ha off with Ha-eun, but it really didn't take, did it?

Maybe they could do a Yoon-hee timeshare! ... aaaand Yong-ha still loses. Poor puppy.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The only way Yong Ha and Ha Eun would work if they could bond over their love for unreachable men and Ha Eun would be OK with Yong Ha calling her Jae Shin in bed.

Re: time share. Did you see Sun Joon and Je Shin getting ready to rip each other's throats at the hockey game? If they did a timeshare, they better get hearses ready.

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

Ha Eun would be OK with Yong Ha calling her Jae Shin in bed

Only if she gets to call him Sun-joon, I think. Or is it doraenim? ;D

Lol really? I hoped that the timeshare thing would take their edges off, so to speak. I mean, they seem pretty chummy aside from the raging sexual tension for Yoon-hee.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think she will call him doraenim - that will cover all the bases. And they could go shopping together, too!

I hoped that the timeshare thing would take their edges off, so to speak. I mean, they seem pretty chummy aside from the raging sexual tension for Yoon-hee

ROFL. Well, they don't stike me as a sharing type, either of them, but who knows - enough sexing and they may be too tired to fight.

[livvy-s.livejournal.com]

I had this thought, and partially worked out the time-sharing schedule. Sun-joon, the perfect husband material, gets Yoon-hee during the day time. Jae-shin gets her at night - after all, it's not like he isn't already used to clandestine nighttime activities. Still figuring out where Yong-ha fits in.... I guess Jae-shin is free during the day?

Oh and I get In-soo because I want to give him a hug and sooth all the eeevil out of him.

[xyrsh.livejournal.com]

then during the night, since they both free.. SJ and Yha together?
:D
This drama turn my mind into a wreck, I tell you *not complaining though*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Well, SJ did pen his mind to possibilities of manloving so...:P

[dapenguinisblue.livejournal.com]

Hahaha =) This drama is turning my LIFE into a wreck!
I spend so much time obsessively reading anything I possibly can about SKK on blogs. And rewatching episodes and texting a friend nonstop with fangirl squeals.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

This works out beautfully. Sun Joon can probably even makea color-coded flowchart.

Also, OMG, I am not alone about In Soo :)

[xyrsh.livejournal.com]

Yep, yep. And while he's at it, he can also squeeze me in between his busy time schedule.
I fancy InSoo's eye brow ^^
He and KangMo (the silent bodyguard) is another pairing that I dig. lol. I have way too many OTPs for this drama >DDD

[hanjae.livejournal.com]

I need a Jae Shin icon to express this.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I've seen some on kdramas comm

[ockoala.livejournal.com]

Hey headless chicken! :-D

You and I are switched, I am 4 eps behind in SKKS. But you gotta catch up on PK in time for this week's hard fought emotional catharsis. I, in turn, need to get some am-I-gheiboy-not-gheiboy loving from SKKS asap!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am going to catch up tomorrow :)

Rain kiss!!!

[yunhalove.livejournal.com]

I really wish the writer would maybe go what would be considered insane in SK (I mean, people freaked out about that pairing in Life is Beautiful and the whole point of that couple was the gay) and confirm Yongha's love for Jaeshin as canon instead of awkwardly pairing him off with Haeun. IDK. It would make me feel better, even if his love is to be forever unrequited, because some part of me will think that if even if he DID get a happy ending with Haeun it would inevitably seem rather forced in comparison D: DON'T MAKE ME SHIP IT AND THEN ACT LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED, DRAMA.

Also, I can't remember the last time I was so love/fascinated with all of the characters in a drama! None of them are one-dimensional or plain stock characters- I see the appeal in every single one and can imagine spin off dramas with everybody as a main character. :D I mean, even that croney of Insoo's isn't as spiteful/cruel as he initially appears (he's just desperate to win over Insoo's favor in order to pay for his mother's medicine). Everything and everyone is all fleshed out and squee 8D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeh, but the problem with hooking up JS and YH for real is that JS comes across as 100% straight for me. Plus, the writer will never dare - see the insanity about LiB.

I know - all the characters are complex - I was thinking about the filial flunkie too - who ever thought I'd feel sorry for him, but I did.

[yunhalove.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't want JS + YH together for real o: Jaeshin comes across as 100% straight to me too (hence my madly shipping him and Daemul together) Mostly I just want YH as a character to be confirmed as gay- obviously that's unrealistic in SK, but after all the evidence the drama's given me I feel like I won't be able to really buy his probable OTP with HE D:

[dapenguinisblue.livejournal.com]

"DON'T MAKE ME SHIP IT AND THEN ACT LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED, DRAMA."
LOL. I totally hear what you're saying, but for me, I think I would be satisfied if we got an explicit indication that Yong Ha is gay or bisexual for Jae Shin. That would be enough confirmation for me. It wouldn't have to be so much that Jae Shin and Yong Ha get together, bc if nothing happened after ten plus years, it isn't likely to happen for Yong Ha. And I agree 100% with DangerMousie that Jae Shin comes off as completely straight. =)

I love all the comments. It's so awesome that we're obsessed to the point of countless opinions and commentaries all across the internet. The Fandom is wonderful! =)

[yunhalove.livejournal.com]

Yup. I agree with the whole Jaeshin is straight thing- I wouldn't be waffling so often between him and Daemul and the main OTP if I thought otherwise- plus I can't really see Jaeshin + Yongha together (though I imagine if it were plausible I'd ship it to bits). I mostly just want Writer to acknowledge Yongha's gay instead of trying to conveniently pair him off with HaEun.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Just acknowledge it, please.

[ambergold.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but next time could you please just do a cut instead of all the blacked-out text? <3 thank youuuu

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Is it too long? (I usually cut when it's too long) or is the font showing up for you despite the blackout?

[ambergold.livejournal.com]

Yeah, too long:)

[timescout.livejournal.com]

Yes, ep 13 was heart breaking all around. I got this burning need to just gather the gang up and squish them all for comfort.

Next epi is going to bring more of the same but there will also be lovely Joon Hee/Jae Shin/Yong Ha moments. I loved how JH and JS sort of pulled together and found strengh in each other. Poor Sun Joon had to do some hard and heavy soulsearching. His backbone must be made of steel. Gosh, I really feel SO bad for him. In fact, I feel bad for everyone as no matter how they resolve things they are all going to hurt, even those who end up together. If that ever happens as I can't see how SJ and JH can be together, even if she reverts back to being herself (a female) again. There are so many obstacles.

I really like the overall charcterisation in SKKS. They are all interesting and kinda wonderful in their own way.

I am sort of wondering if In Soo will actually ever find out about his father and Cho Sun. He is already tethering at the brink and that would surely push him totally over.

I need to make icons.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to watch ep 14.

In the book, SJ married "Yoon Shik's sister" so hey got around it that way, but in the book SJ never declared himself openly gay and left SKK, so this will be harder in this version.

I am sort of wondering if In Soo will actually ever find out about his father and Cho Sun. He is already tethering at the brink and that would surely push him totally over.

I am sure he will find out (well, maybe not about sex, but about her having to be fake Red Messenger). They have to be taking the story somewhere after all. I agree, In Soo, despite his controlled demeanor at the start, is basically a trainwreck in progress. In part because while for Sun Joon, calm demeanor signifies a generally calm disposition, for In Soo it's just holding it all in.

[amandioka.livejournal.com]

This drama just gets better and better. How cute were they on the island?

Have you been getting the latest subs from somewhere or just watching it raw?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

soompi has softsubs through ep 12 :)

[jenniquack.livejournal.com]

really?!
and here i was waiting for goess

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yup. And they are in the process of subbing 13-14

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

I feel like the odd one out re-YHa. His character doesn't come across as gay to me. It's more like JS is his only real friend and he loves him as a brother underneath his devil-may-care attitude. A beautiful bromance if you will.

On the other hand, he doesn't come across as "not gay" either so if I get solid evidence that he's in love with JS in the next episodes, I'll get on board that ship (even if it's one-sided) with glee.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I don't know - his mannerisms, his excessive touching of JS (seriously, he touches that man more than Sun Joon does Yoon Hee!), and the fact that despite all his talk and his porn books we have yet to see him have a lover of any sort (even when he was hanging out with gisaengs, the way he was talking was like a fellow friend, not a client/lover/etc), made me think he was gay even before the latest eps made me believe he is in love with JS (he even told SJ he used to crush on JS).

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

It seemed to me that it was the writers poking fun at us and the popularity of slash (like what was done in You're Beautiful with the slash fanfiction between the 3 guys).

Among other things, what makes me hesitate to see him as gay and in love with Jae Shin is his reaction to finding out JS was in love with YS. He seemed put out that his oldest friend hadn't confided in him but at no point since that discovery did I feel he was bitter/angsty/jealous/pained etc...about it.

Maybe watching eps 13 and 14 with subs will change my mind. But I don't think so. I need more substancial evidence.

My reading of Yha's character is thus so far: although we know next to nothing about him, we know that he comes from the merchant class rather than the noble elite. Nothing has been mentioned but his bitterness in one of the first episodes when he confronted SJ about his disdain for the inducting ceremony got me thinking. It wouldn't surprise me if at first YHa was actually bullied and treated like a parvenu.

Now, in comes Jae Shin, a man who wouldn't judge people on their birth. When such a person comes into your life and becomes your friend, he becomes like a huge fixture in it. The friendship can become so deep that you'd do anything for that friend without it having any sexual connotations.

But that's just speculation.

I'm not against the idea of Yhs being gay, but I need more evidence to be convinced of it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yh and JS have been friends for 10 years, so long before either entered SKK (which leads to the question how they met). I get that this is a long-term friendship, but subjectively it just feels like more to me and I never really see slash (but I suppose unless they explicitly hook them up, it will always be in the eye of beholder). And I also just can't get over YH telling SJ he used to be in love with JS. I mean, that's out of the horse's mouth.

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think that for now it's open to interpretation and will likely remain so after the drama ends. Maybe that's what the writers intended? I doubt they'd acknowledge any real gay relationship, even one-sided, in such a drama.

I'll pay more attention to YHa in the next episodes. I used to watch his scenes obsessively at first but then got sidetracked by all the angsty goodness between YS and SJ! :o)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am pretty sure whatever they intended, they'd never make it explicit - see all the commotion over Life is Beautiful.

[dapenguinisblue.livejournal.com]

Is Yong Ha of the merchant class? I was under the impression that he said that his family owns the land that the merchants use/rent. He's someone with a ton of land. And I'm a native speaker of Korean and I didn't rely on subs. It's said probably in episodes 9 or 10, where the Joseon Four are investigating the thievery.

Some people have been speculating that Yong Ha is actually a part of the Royal Family (some say prince, others say not an essential royal) and they've been using that bit of information as confirmation AGAINST Yong Ha being in the merchant class. Regardless of whether he is royal or not (I honestly have no opinion), it would follow that he knows a lot about business and the marketplace as his family would then deal exclusively with renting out their many properties to merchants.

It may be that something is lost in translation with the subs. =) I remember hearing the pun back in episode 8, when Hyo Eun is visiting the fortune-teller and Yong Ha was chilling there with his girls - the gisengs are talking about the fortune teller's reputation and his logo and stuff, and there's a pun that says the fortuneteller's place is a 수다 박스, pronounced SooDa Box. This literally means talkative mouth or box. But, it is a pun on STARBUCKS, and they were chilling in a cafe like setting. And nowhere did that pun appear in the subtitles. Things like that. =) I hope that makes sense!

Just my two cents on a tangent. Thanks for indulging me!

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

Something very well might have been lost in translation. I don't speak Korean at all and rely on subtitles. It seemed to me a version told us that YHa was from a merchant clan that made it big and now practically owned the marketplace and rented many shops. But I might have been mistaken. I'd need to rewatch the episode in question.

As someone who navigates daily betwen French and English communities, I know how much we lose in translation. I wish I knew Korean!

[jenniquack.livejournal.com]

why oh why did i read this?!?
damn....maybe i'll go download the raws...