Ep 15

was sort of a mixed bag for me - well-acted and written as always, and while I do not like Sejong, because I think he's a ruthless, scary borderline psychopath (who, luckily, is interested in benevolent goals and not offing people by the score), he is a great character. But (and I realize it's my personal preferences talking), I am not happy with Chae Yoon becoming Sejong's man. It feels too sudden, alphabet or no alphabet - after all, his issue about powerlessness remains. I can see him letting of of vengeance, but to serve Sejong seems - I am not buying it as I should. CY's whole family died because of noble intrigues involving Sejong - steering clear of Sejong is the most I can imagine.

But it's not even that because I can sort of handwave that if I have to. I have huge issues with saintly absolutist authority figures (OK, Sejong is not saintly but is presented as andmirable) - after growing in a Communist country, I am allergic to the trope, and the whole 'conversion of CY to the light with the help of the ideologically-correct girl and stern-but-perfect absolute ruler' really reminds me of too many Soviet movies to count.

That is the problem when sageuks address class - it makes me think of class issues. This is fine in something like Chuno or Hong Gil Dong which follow outcasts and rebels, but in TWDR, the drama makes me think about the wrongs of class structure and absolute power only to want to have me be OK with it. I don't have that issues with dramas which never address it in a meaningful fashion (some of my favorite sageuks do not - Legend, Kingdom of the Winds - there are other interesting topics to explore in sageuks) but when they do in a specific fashion, they better carry through.

I think I'll be taking a little break from the drama. It's an excellent work but I think the direction it's veering into is one I need some time and headspace to come to terms with.

Ep 15

was sort of a mixed bag for me - well-acted and written as always, and while I do not like Sejong, because I think he's a ruthless, scary borderline psychopath (who, luckily, is interested in benevolent goals and not offing people by the score), he is a great character. But (and I realize it's my personal preferences talking), I am not happy with Chae Yoon becoming Sejong's man. It feels too sudden, alphabet or no alphabet - after all, his issue about powerlessness remains. I can see him letting of of vengeance, but to serve Sejong seems - I am not buying it as I should. CY's whole family died because of noble intrigues involving Sejong - steering clear of Sejong is the most I can imagine.

But it's not even that because I can sort of handwave that if I have to. I have huge issues with saintly absolutist authority figures (OK, Sejong is not saintly but is presented as andmirable) - after growing in a Communist country, I am allergic to the trope, and the whole 'conversion of CY to the light with the help of the ideologically-correct girl and stern-but-perfect absolute ruler' really reminds me of too many Soviet movies to count.

That is the problem when sageuks address class - it makes me think of class issues. This is fine in something like Chuno or Hong Gil Dong which follow outcasts and rebels, but in TWDR, the drama makes me think about the wrongs of class structure and absolute power only to want to have me be OK with it. I don't have that issues with dramas which never address it in a meaningful fashion (some of my favorite sageuks do not - Legend, Kingdom of the Winds - there are other interesting topics to explore in sageuks) but when they do in a specific fashion, they better carry through.

I think I'll be taking a little break from the drama. It's an excellent work but I think the direction it's veering into is one I need some time and headspace to come to terms with.

Ep 15

was sort of a mixed bag for me - well-acted and written as always, and while I do not like Sejong, because I think he's a ruthless, scary borderline psychopath (who, luckily, is interested in benevolent goals and not offing people by the score), he is a great character. But (and I realize it's my personal preferences talking), I am not happy with Chae Yoon becoming Sejong's man. It feels too sudden, alphabet or no alphabet - after all, his issue about powerlessness remains. I can see him letting of of vengeance, but to serve Sejong seems - I am not buying it as I should. CY's whole family died because of noble intrigues involving Sejong - steering clear of Sejong is the most I can imagine.

But it's not even that because I can sort of handwave that if I have to. I have huge issues with saintly absolutist authority figures (OK, Sejong is not saintly but is presented as andmirable) - after growing in a Communist country, I am allergic to the trope, and the whole 'conversion of CY to the light with the help of the ideologically-correct girl and stern-but-perfect absolute ruler' really reminds me of too many Soviet movies to count.

That is the problem when sageuks address class - it makes me think of class issues. This is fine in something like Chuno or Hong Gil Dong which follow outcasts and rebels, but in TWDR, the drama makes me think about the wrongs of class structure and absolute power only to want to have me be OK with it. I don't have that issues with dramas which never address it in a meaningful fashion (some of my favorite sageuks do not - Legend, Kingdom of the Winds - there are other interesting topics to explore in sageuks) but when they do in a specific fashion, they better carry through.

I think I'll be taking a little break from the drama. It's an excellent work but I think the direction it's veering into is one I need some time and headspace to come to terms with.

Tree with Deep Roots ep 15 - after some reflection, I changed my mind and I love it!

If you read last night's post, it was clear I had some major problems with how a resolution of one of the central conflicts was handled. But having gotten more sleep than I had yesterday and having time to think and rewatch certain scenes, I've done a 180 and I believe I am pretty happy with it now.

( Thoughts on why that is so, plus some caps of the ep )

Tree with Deep Roots ep 15 - after some reflection, I changed my mind and I love it!

If you read last night's post, it was clear I had some major problems with how a resolution of one of the central conflicts was handled. But having gotten more sleep than I had yesterday and having time to think and rewatch certain scenes, I've done a 180 and I believe I am pretty happy with it now.

( Thoughts on why that is so, plus some caps of the ep )

Tree with Deep Roots ep 15 - after some reflection, I changed my mind and I love it!

If you read last night's post, it was clear I had some major problems with how a resolution of one of the central conflicts was handled. But having gotten more sleep than I had yesterday and having time to think and rewatch certain scenes, I've done a 180 and I believe I am pretty happy with it now.

( Thoughts on why that is so, plus some caps of the ep )

Every possible drama in existence.

1. The first teaser for Moon that Embraces the Sun is out.

Whenever I see a trailer full of only sageuk kids, my first instinct is to run. At this point, it will take a miracle for me to watch this.

2. Out of possibly terminal stupidity, I decided to check out Goong S. Surely it can't be as bad as everyone says, thought I. I thought wrong. The horrifying leads cannot act and have no chemistry and the screenplay was written by a tree. This might possibly be the worst kdrama I've ever seen - it's not even campily bad, just a horrifying time-waste conduit.

3. I also checked out the cdrama Splendid Life, a cdrama remake of Brilliant Legacy. Jerry Yan is a long drink of cool water but this is pretty much word-for-word remake so I don't see the point of watching once I've seen the original.

4. Goong S was clearly not enough to satisfy my inner masochist, because driven by a PadamPadam-inspired bout of Jung Woo Sung love, I decided to give Athena: Goddess of War another chance. I thought seeing that now I know it was just loud, slick, soulless action thing, I could enjoy it better due to adjusted expectations. We'll see. Have a pretty MV:

5. Watching Tree with Deep Roots got me quite interested in Sejong. Anyone know if 2008 drama Great King Sejong is subbed? I am not sure if I have the fortitude to sit through 80+ eps but I have been watching subbed clips of it on youtube with a great deal of enjoyment, concentrating on the dysfunctional royal family ones. Apparently, )at least according to the drama) before making Sejong's wife Queen, Taejong had her Daddy executed, the rest of her family demoted to lowest ranks, and eight concubines 'donated' to Sejong, all so that no woman would have much influence. That must have made for an interesting marriage for Sejong and wife...

Sample scene:

Every possible drama in existence.

1. The first teaser for Moon that Embraces the Sun is out.

Whenever I see a trailer full of only sageuk kids, my first instinct is to run. At this point, it will take a miracle for me to watch this.

2. Out of possibly terminal stupidity, I decided to check out Goong S. Surely it can't be as bad as everyone says, thought I. I thought wrong. The horrifying leads cannot act and have no chemistry and the screenplay was written by a tree. This might possibly be the worst kdrama I've ever seen - it's not even campily bad, just a horrifying time-waste conduit.

3. I also checked out the cdrama Splendid Life, a cdrama remake of Brilliant Legacy. Jerry Yan is a long drink of cool water but this is pretty much word-for-word remake so I don't see the point of watching once I've seen the original.

4. Goong S was clearly not enough to satisfy my inner masochist, because driven by a PadamPadam-inspired bout of Jung Woo Sung love, I decided to give Athena: Goddess of War another chance. I thought seeing that now I know it was just loud, slick, soulless action thing, I could enjoy it better due to adjusted expectations. We'll see. Have a pretty MV:

5. Watching Tree with Deep Roots got me quite interested in Sejong. Anyone know if 2008 drama Great King Sejong is subbed? I am not sure if I have the fortitude to sit through 80+ eps but I have been watching subbed clips of it on youtube with a great deal of enjoyment, concentrating on the dysfunctional royal family ones. Apparently, )at least according to the drama) before making Sejong's wife Queen, Taejong had her Daddy executed, the rest of her family demoted to lowest ranks, and eight concubines 'donated' to Sejong, all so that no woman would have much influence. That must have made for an interesting marriage for Sejong and wife...

Sample scene:

Every possible drama in existence.

1. The first teaser for Moon that Embraces the Sun is out.

Whenever I see a trailer full of only sageuk kids, my first instinct is to run. At this point, it will take a miracle for me to watch this.

2. Out of possibly terminal stupidity, I decided to check out Goong S. Surely it can't be as bad as everyone says, thought I. I thought wrong. The horrifying leads cannot act and have no chemistry and the screenplay was written by a tree. This might possibly be the worst kdrama I've ever seen - it's not even campily bad, just a horrifying time-waste conduit.

3. I also checked out the cdrama Splendid Life, a cdrama remake of Brilliant Legacy. Jerry Yan is a long drink of cool water but this is pretty much word-for-word remake so I don't see the point of watching once I've seen the original.

4. Goong S was clearly not enough to satisfy my inner masochist, because driven by a PadamPadam-inspired bout of Jung Woo Sung love, I decided to give Athena: Goddess of War another chance. I thought seeing that now I know it was just loud, slick, soulless action thing, I could enjoy it better due to adjusted expectations. We'll see. Have a pretty MV:

5. Watching Tree with Deep Roots got me quite interested in Sejong. Anyone know if 2008 drama Great King Sejong is subbed? I am not sure if I have the fortitude to sit through 80+ eps but I have been watching subbed clips of it on youtube with a great deal of enjoyment, concentrating on the dysfunctional royal family ones. Apparently, )at least according to the drama) before making Sejong's wife Queen, Taejong had her Daddy executed, the rest of her family demoted to lowest ranks, and eight concubines 'donated' to Sejong, all so that no woman would have much influence. That must have made for an interesting marriage for Sejong and wife...

Sample scene:

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Bored.

Talk to me, people!

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Bored.

Talk to me, people!

(no subject)

Bored.

Talk to me, people!