A few Sungkyunkwan Scandal thoughts (not spoilery)

[dangermousie]

1. I honestly do not get why the King of all of Joseon, who has plenty of advisors and loyal officers decides to use 4 college students to help him locate the all-important document that will change the course of history. I mean - bwah? Yes, even if the document is on premises of the University, how about using his pet advisor/prof? Seriously, he needs to use hormonal kids? I do not get. I also find it pretty off-putting that he desires to use Sun Joon when he knows this will force SJ to go against his own father. Ugh.

2. I don't understand complaints about Sun Joon not being angry on finding out Yoon Hee is a girl, especially when they use Han Kyul's reaction in Coffee Prince as their justification. Leaving aside the not-insignificant difference that HK is an impulsive drama queen and Sun Joon is a very reserved, reasoning, measured person, the situations are entirely different. For one thing, Sun Joon is the one who dragged Yoon Hee into the situation which forces her to hide her gender all the time. Let me make it even clearer - if YH reveals her gender, she and her whole family gets beheaded. Han Kyul did not unintentionally put YEH's character in that situation - this is the modern world and the most that could happen to her is she'd lose her job and she can find another (and in any event, HK wasn't responsible). Also, and this is a huge difference - they start dating and YEH still does not reveal her gender - HK finds from someone else. Sun Joon and Yoon Hee are not dating and she was actually going to tell him the truth as soon as he confessed his feelings (and he didn't find from others about her gender, either). Not to mention relief of 18th century nobleman about him not being gay thus being allowed to have a normal life and nor harm object of his affection either is huge compared to someone dealing with issues through 20th century prism. Anyway, short version. It all made sense to me.

Just an FYI: I am currently watching Chinese Paladin 3, Daemul, Gloria, Giant, SKKS, Joseon X-Files, Soulmate, Nagareboshi, Guilty, That Love Comes, Shanghai Bund. So those are ones I am going t blabbing about.

Comments

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

Your first point sounds familiar. Oh yeah, it's one of the major complaints I've seen on DCgall, that the writer's overshooting by forcing the Golden Scroll story so late in the drama when it wasn't even in the novel orginally. That's all I can add by way of comment since I have yet to catch up, but it sounded like a familiar refrain and just wanted to let you know you aren't alone in feeling that way.

FYI, Daemul subs are out all through ep. 8 on soompi.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The problem is I also don't find that part of the story interesting - I am not big on mechanics of puzzles and mysteries. When you add in the fact that clearly Jeongjo never successfully replaced the capital and that I, with my 21st century Western eyes, find the whole will not particularly relevant/earth-shaking/shocking the way the characters do, and you sort of have a damp squib.

I know re: Daemul! I have just obtained them :)

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what they're saying as well, that it doesn't serve much dramatic purpose at this point and it's actually deflating after the build-up with SJ & YH, pointing to the ratings dip as evidence. Many of them are fans of the novel, and they seem disappointed the writer keeps introducing these extraneous elements at the expense of mining the relationships between the F4, which has always been their primary attraction to SKKS.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It also is based on a stupid premise - all my liking for Jeongjo went out the window when he revealed that he wants to find this not to control factions or make better laws but to move the capital to create a classless society in it (and just in it?) without any further details on how this plot is supposed to work without massive nasty bloodshed and horrible upheaval. It made me switch to the Noron side!

[gurlygirl10.livejournal.com]

I really liked how SJ wasn't angry with YH for pretending to be a man, I think if he was it would have detracted from their love story. His anger would probably last for at least half an episode which would take away from cute sweet moments.

I was wondering if you ever read any romance books with a character similar to SJ as the hero? I really want to read a book with a hero like this- the only hero I could compare him to is Mr.Darcy in Pride and Prejudice but I want others. A somewhat cold, arrogant, reserved, innocent- but not wimpy-hero and the heroine who he becomes emotionally vulnerable to. Thanks!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, it felt real.

Let me think about recs. Oooooh, Gaelen Foley's The Duke - it's the only book of hers I liked.

[mionenoelle.livejournal.com]

I think the king used J4 more for their youthful idealism than anything else. He's an idealistic king with an idealistic vision that doesn't sit well with his *elderly* officials, most of whom are either Norons or controlled by Norons. He knows that two of them (Yoon Hee and Jae Shin) can be motivated by curiosity/revenge for what happened to their family.

I think the king chose SJ as a Take That to the Norons for their "country before filial piety" policy, which brought about *as far as I understand* the death of his father and his own ascent to power as a Noron puppet. That doesn't really justify his actions and on the whole, I think it's pretty immature. This may be explained further in episodes 19 and 20.

But yes, however interesting it sounds in retrospect, I found myself blanking out on this part of the drama because (a) I don't read Chinese; (b) I know no one ever found the GDJS in real life. Even its existence is debatable. On the other hand, their search does bring about some truly epic, heart-tugging scenes, so I'm willing to forgive the draggy parts. The dramas I love usually have some draggy parts near the middle or the end. That's what the ff-button is for;)

*sighs* I think I'm ready to check into that SKKS AA. The drama isn't over yet, but I already feel like crying at the very thought of no new SJ/YHee/JS/YHa next week T_T

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think his vision is idiotic and would lead to a massive civil war so I am not sympathetic to start with L)

Yeah, this part of the plot is not my favorite, bu I agree, the shippy scenes arising out of it are epic, and that's all I care about.

Yes, a lot of dramas drag. SKKS is a lot less draggy than most.

[quaggy]

HK is an impulsive drama queen and Sun Joon is a very reserved, reasoning, measured person

BWAHAHAHAHA!! Very true! And the whole beheading thing makes a big difference. And, truthfully, so did being told by somebody else. Han Kyul calmed down a lot after he realized she WAS going to tell him, but Whoyamacallit beat her to the punch. I bet if she had a chance to tell him herself, Han Kyul would have freaked out and yelled and then been really, really happy all in the space of five minutes.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Awww, now I want to rewatch CP.

[paatriiing.livejournal.com]

First paragraph -- I see what you mean. And if he was so into it even 10 years before, why start just now? On the other hand, tbh, I give the dramas I'm watching (and liking a lot) a lot of leeway and I guess I'd have to go with somebody else's assessment of the situation. His plans for a new Joseon sound so idealistic that it's not really going to fly with anybody else but young idealists. I think even Prof Jung is a little side-eyes-y (though he does seem willing to help despite that). Re: SunJoon, yes, that is pretty selfish of him (the king). And an extremely risky move. It's never easy to go against your own father.

Joseon X-Files -- I read a recap of Ep7 on dramabeans and I was so freaked out. lol. It sounds very smart but it made me feel unsafe at night :p

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can see why idealistic, out of touch king high on opium would come up with this plan, but where the drama and I part ways is in seeing that plan as in any way viable or useful.

I do like what it does to SJ and YH's dynamic.

I am staying away from JXF spoilers :)

[paatriiing.livejournal.com]

ut of touch king high on opium
lmfao

I am staying away from JXF spoilers :)
What ep are you in? I am both intrigued and scared. lol

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

honestly do not get why the King of all of Joseon, who has plenty of advisors and loyal officers decides to use 4 college students to help him locate the all-important document that will change the course of history.

I think he's using them because they're fairly low-profile and extremely bright. He's surrounded by political leaders and schemers of all factions and he's like a pawn on a chess board that cannot move. What he's planning is huge and he's kind of alone. Prof Yung is too high profile to conduct an investigation of that sort. The best he could do was send him to SKK, probably to scoot-out the students there as well as doing what he could without attractting any attention.

The F4 have proven they place loyalty to the country above family ties and that they have high ideals. It's probably like a dream come true for the king. But to be honest, his dream is too utopian. The king himself looks high most of the time (perhaprs because of those herbs he keeps smoking for the pain, lol). Perhaps he actually never expected to be able to do anything and kept dreaming. Then the F4 came along, and sensing death approaching, he's making one last attempt.

Or maybe it's just shoddy plotting. I'm not really interested in that part of the drama either actually. I find it a bit sad that we'll probably stay confined in the city with the "boys" looking for that will for the last two episodes. I would have liked some prettiness like the trip on the island or the one to the waterfalls. It's a bit of a breather between Hanyang or interior scenes.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think his advisors totally have a point - his plan is insane. I'd be all for it if he was "I want to find GDJS so I could reduce Noron influence and pass better laws" but moving a 1000-yr old capitol and creating some sort of classless non-functioning utopia (just in it? In whole country? What?) is bugfuck insane.

Leaving aside the expense and social upheaval of the move (both huge), the whole little social experiment, whether he wants to limit it to capital or spread to whole country would lead to bloody unrest and revolt.

I am siding with the Norons here, I am afraid, whatever their motives- better YH's dad and JS's bro die then all the country go in flames as per King's nutty plan.

This whole plan makes Akhnaten's Amarna thing seem long-lived.

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

Oh, definitely a nutty plan, not viable at all and potentially disastrous for the country. I was just trying to see things from the king's point of view.

I would have liked it better if the F4 hadn't jumped on board that GDJS wagon. I respect SJ too much to believe him completely pro-new capital. He should know how disastrous it could be for the country.

I think we'll be better off watching the drama for the relationship between YS and SJ and leaving our brains asleep for the rest. A pity that false note should come just at the end of the drama. I believe it's started to lose viewers again with eps 17 and 18 and I'm not surprised. People probably wanted the romance and the F4, not that political nonsense.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes. Some dramas do politics OK, SKKS is not one of them.

[doozy05.livejournal.com]

I agree with your no. 2 point. Other people were not satisfied with Sun Joon's (lack of) reaction when he discovered Yoon Hee's true gender, but I thought his reaction was consistent with his personality and appropriate given the situation and context, like you said.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes, I never had any problems with it