Faith - episode 4

[dangermousie]

By now, it's official - this is my perfect drama and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Dreaming he is with his dead father, as he is burning up. This drama is made by h/c junkies.














He keeps coming up with reasons not to get treated. They are all reasonable-sounding but it's pretty much covering up a deathwish.











She comes out all dressed, only it turns out to be underwear. Heeee.








Here for the pretty.





I posted about this scene already, but I loved it, so here is a repost. It's like the light-bulb went on - he totally wants to die because he doesn't want to be a slave bound by his oath to all these royals - these ones, previous ones, the next ones who will probably kill these ones - he is bound by his honor but he hates it and wants out even if he dies. I never thought about it but when the queen mentioned it, I went 'of course!' I also love when the queen figured it out.. she pays attention that he is sick and what makes him tick when her husband doesn't and treats him as some sort of dangerous machine.




















How eagerly Gongmin listens to ES describe his future...I loved it when she figured out who he is (historically). Heeee!








I get the sense that Philip Lee's character and Choi Young are friends - I love the sense of history and relationships between these characters that doesn't necessarily get dwelt on but is there in the background, lending 3-D and character to these people.





I love it that he freaks when he finds out everyone is gossiping Eun Soo is from heaven - he knows it's going to put her in danger. Dangerous, CY, you are actually caring about something in this world!








I love that she got a Goryo vase because they are so expensive in the future. Heee. And thenhHe goes to see her and their usual adorable bickering interactions ensue. Until he topples on the floor in front of her (and she drops her precious vase - her priorities are right). TBH, I am actually cheering it on because, let's face it, he is only going to get treated if he's unconscious.














Compliments on six-pack and her inquiring if he is 'that' Choi Young. Bwahaaa I love that he has no idea how to deal with her.


























Until evil red lady appears and tries to kill them and he chases after her (while still sick. Rest, dammit!). And ooooh, is the maid in love with the hot doctor? I ship them.




















My favorite scene in the episode, the one which explains what makes CY tick and why he has a death-wish. He was so happy and full of life before. But realizing that he fought and bled and had his comrades die for an utter degenerate who mocked them, almost violated his friend and killed his father figure (a great general, killed not in battle but by his sovereign - no wonder CY treasures his sword so, it used to belong to his commander), and to whom he had to swear fealty and pretty much be a slave to, all the while knowing how unworthy the King was - and to do that not out of misguided loyalty but to save his comrades - that's going to fuck you up for life, especially since he knew his honor would bind him to serve unless he is released no matter how much he hated it or even if there was no one of his comrades left to protect. He really must hate the monarchy - he is loyal to the people he cared for but not this institution. I love that the King feels guilty because it was his brother (significantly, CY doesn't answer when the King asks him if he hated him (the King) because of who his older brother was) and I love that ES overhears because it makes her understand him. It's so heartbreaking when, in response to what he is going to do when he leaves, CY says he will repay his debt to Eun Soo and fish because he is good at it and after, he'll try to find a reason to continue living. The man is so burned out inside. I actually do like that the King doesn't release him yet, because it might give him a reason to exist.





































































































I love that he falls as soon as the King leaves, as ES rushes to his side (as she yells out 'psycho' - I love that this is her nickname for him). He really was functioning on willpower alone. And it's clear he has no wish to live (maybe the King was wrong not to release him - maybe he would have fought to live harder). Instead he pictures himself with his dead father and begs him to be allowed to stay. My heart! I do love that while ES does her best to treat him, she is limited by her lack of medicines and tools - I find it realistic.




































































Yes, they are finding solidarity/he is seeking her advice. I am so excited for the development of their relationship, as historically Gongmin was quite in love with his wife.






Off to watch ep 23 of Bridal Mask!

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I so love the animations in this episode. But his scenes with his father. :(

I'm still internally screaming about him not getting treatment but then after the heartbreaking flashback (That was one disgusting king! Diediedie.) I now understand why he doesn't see any other way out from all the pain he's suffered. But he can't die so I wish he'll finally get a king who is worthy and of course, Eun Soo (Nuff said). His father asking if he's found it yet means if he's found his reason for living, right?

Ohgod. I love chatterbox ES. And isn't it funny how JB seems to have gotten used to her? She steps out in underwear but he treats it as a normal thing (because it's ES. Lol.) and just tells her she can't be seen in it. I hope we get more scenes with them. And of course, Deoki, as well. And the way ES just puts whatever stuff Deoki brought into her mouth. Lol. I see a smile there, JB.

Am I the only one that doesn't see the scene with NG and CY as something other than a queen being concerned for the man who saved her life and the man she can count on to protect the king? I ship the king and queen. Even though the king is being a bastard right now, but I don't blame him for his issues. And it makes for such a poignant story for them when they finally can forget the past and move on.

I love money-grubbing ES. It's realistic. Hey, a girl has to take care of expenses, right? It's tough to be living in a modern world. When she said she'll forget about the whole kidnapping thing if they can give her a vase or a painting or two. Lol. And when she found out her psycho (yes, he's her psycho!) is THE Choi Young.

Gossiping exists wherever and whenever you are. ES did get a vase out of that meeting, after all. Lol. The way she's all smug about the king being her backer. Lol. And CY asking Deoki for something to tie her up with (which she produces gleefully) so he can lug her around like a luggage again and asking for a gag as well. Lol. CY sure knows how to treat a girl right. But CY, there are other more effective ways to shut her up. Winkwink. And yes, she's utterly unconcerned about her vase when CY collapsed. Awww. But maybe she figures she can get another one. Lol. But I know ES's heart is in the right place.

She's checking him out? Lol. I hope ES plays a really big role in getting CY back on the right track so he can become the revered hero in history that he is. X-Men. Lol. Deoki loves JB? Awww.

When CY collapsed again and ES was saying he needs oxygen or something, my mind went immediately to mouth-to-mouth. I know, I'm a perv. But I like that they made ES unable to function properly without the medicines and equipment she needs. She needs to learn how to get around without those. It will be a challenge for her.

The scene with the king and queen. Maybe they'll be alright soon.

Poor ES. Being accused of being shape-shifting demon. I'm wildly curious as to how she'll answer. Will it bring chaos and pandemonium? Coz ES tends to have that effect, disrupting their world. And it's all the more fun.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I love the animations too. People keep criticizing them but I think they are beautiful.

The scenes with his father make me sad - he is much too young to want to die and to have to seek to have reasons for living. I do think his father's question refers to a reason for living.

That King was awful. He makes me think of the king in Hong Gil Dong. I think that day pretty much broke him and he's not been fixed since. So I get why he wants to die but I really really hope ep 4 was the nadir and he can start climbing out of his pit of despair - Eun Soo, cheer him up! Though I guess she does - she is so unpredictable and open and doesn't react ever the way he expects.

I love how ES remains stubbornly herself, new period clothes or not. And I totally get the vase thing because I'd be that way too.

Add me to the list of people who only see the Queen as concerned about CY as someone who saved her/can help the King. She is so utterly in love with the King, there is no way she can fancy anyone else.

[joonni.livejournal.com]

Isn't episode 4 so delicious? It's the episode that made everything click for me and fun to recap. It's fun to dig through the details and see how the story and characters are unfolding.

I'm shipping Gongmin and Nogook so hard right now. All that coldness and anger is waiting to be sparked into a fire of passion and love. Guuuuuuh.

And Young...god, this boy. My heart weeps for him.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am amazed how long Young managed survive for sheer duty alone because yes - he is so so broken.

I ship Gongmin/Nogook super-hard too. I am not even sure I like Gongmin (though his issues are understandable and I also don't blame him for wanting to keep CY - he has too few assets) but I find his fascinating and I ship them like a mad thing.

[algelic.livejournal.com]

The heroine is kind of losing her spunk. I liked when she was bossy after stabbing him and I kept wishing that in this episode she made him rest and did everything to treat him. I'm kind of disappointed that she's not working hard to find a treatment (not that I'd like this drama to turn into JIN).

The only reason I don't ship Doctor/Maid is because I really REALLY dislike the actress playing the maid. I don't remember where I saw her before, but she went into my black list.

I wish they'd shown Choi Young flashback in episode 1. I don't like cold/rude characters unless I know where they come from.

[akosikae.livejournal.com]

Plenty of ships in this drama :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmmm, yes.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, did you notice the evolution of the setting in the "cartoon" with his father (I just noticed thanks to your recap)? The closest Choi Young is to die the fuller the picture is getting. At the beginning he was standing talking with he's father and by the end of the ep he is sitting with a cane but there is still no hole in the ice before him! Choi Young is not dead yet!

Also I wonder what his relationship was with his mother. They don'y seem very close...

emma

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That's a great observation about the dreamscape - I did not notice that!

Do we even know if his mother is alive? I assumed she was dead - mortality rate back then was pretty high, especially for women.

[(Anonymous)]

I read on Dramabean that court lady Choi might be his mother. That could make sense because she has the same name and she directly spoke to him (not very nicely, about his looks) when she went to take care of the queen after they enter the palace...

emma

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That doesn't seem likely to me though - she seems to be blunt with everyone and he's been at the palace a long time so she knows him. Plus, she would have been a court lady during the monster king's reign and that just doesn't seem to fit in with the flashback where there was no indication he had any knowledge/connection the the court, nor, in the present, would he say there is nobody in the palace for him.

Korea isn't exactly swimming in last names, either - I just don't get a close blood relative vibe.

[(Anonymous)]

I love the drama faith, i love the two lead, lee min ho is great and kim hee sun is beautiful and funny. The set and costumes are beautiful. The story is well tell. But i disapointed. I am a grand big fan of legend and i think if the director was filmed legend with the redOne (chuno, arang, bridal mask, gentleman dignity... ) or the arri alexa (love rain, to the beautiful you) this drama will be more wonderful. Unfortunatly this two camera don't exist in 2007. I anticipated faith because i was expected the director choose one of the camera. But no he take a bad numeric camera who waste the pictural quality of the drama. It's a pity i don't understand the director don't watch drama in recent years. Just love rain will be enough to convince him to take the arri alexa. The difference of image between arang and faith is big and even the korea press talk of that. Fortunately the story is great.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I watch so many twdramas and weekend dramas that Faith and every weekday kdrama look amazing to me anyway ;)

[(Anonymous)]

i am a director and i always said that asian drama are filmed like movies, have the construction of movies with good angles of camera and good construction of the scenes. Unfortunatly people don't see that because of the texture of the image. The mumeric camera give the image a clinical aspect and people said is like a sitcom or a telenovelas whereas drama is better filmed than us series or european series (i am french); for exemple for me the legend is better and more epic in realisation than the two season of the games of throne. With the arrival of the new camera is flagrant now. Love rain is a good exemple. With the texture of the image people see now that asian drama are well made like movies. Its the reason i was expected faith. In the version 2010 of faith with kang ji hwan in the role of lee min ho (a version who dead because of the departure of kang ji hwan the same director use one of the great camera. Then i don't understand why for this new version he use a bad camera.
I give you the teaser for the original version and you could see the difference. It's beautiful like arang, love rain or bridal mask or gentlemen dignity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SyMrcMdcT6E