Bridal Mask eps 25 and 26

[dangermousie]

This is going to be relatively quick because I am travelling but I couldn't not cap. Especially since these eps were pretty much hurt/comfort central times a million.



Some emotional highlights for me - Mok Dan kneeling to Rie begging her to save Kang To. Kang To, even with everything, being glad he is caught because it means he doesn't have to kill Shunji. The relief it is to Kang To to finally have the truth of everything, good and bad, to be out there. The fact that Shunji was human for a moment and then the monster returns. The way Kang To closes his eyes when he is caught, steeling himself for the inevitable, but then is brave and defiant no matter how awfully they torture him (nail cage OMFG! I just knew they were going to use it on him, they kept mentioning the damn thing) but the way he yells to Shunji to torture him instead when Shunji tortures that tailor to get info. The way he is with Mok Dan - when she finds him healing but still weak and the way they radiate happiness. Damsari's death - oh, he was so amazing and what he said to Shunji keeps eating at Shunji the rest of the eps. Mok Dan's grief and the way Kang To just comforts her, shielding her in his embrace like a wall to shut out the world. The way he thinks about being a noble idiot and giving her up and is talked out of it by the leader and the way he tells her that he fights for her. The way he goes on a mission to the capital and even though she knows it can mean his death, she sends him off with a smile and encouragement because she knows that is what he needs. OMFG! They are just amazing together (I love that with all their baggage and circumstances they are, nevertheless, utterly functional together) and Kang To is amazing and the whole thing - BM is going on my all-time favorites list.


































































































































































































































































































































































Btw, is anyone reading/looking at these? I am asking because if not, I won't really cap and post such giant cap dumps (though nothing will shut me up about BM utterly :P) because then there isn't much point :P

Comments

[elanatothemax.livejournal.com]

I am reading! I'm just not watching the show so I never really comment. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

If you ever have a chance, I totally rec this - it's good and Joo Won is unreal.

[elanatothemax.livejournal.com]

I watched the first few episodes and liked it, but I think it might be a little too dark for me. It's interesting, I enjoy dark movies, I love dark TV shows as long as they have a sense of humor, and I ADORE the premise of a complicated twisty superhero-type, but Gaskital was just SO intense I found myself not looking forward to continuing. Every episode was just like torturetorturetorture and while I found the mind games and social dynamics interesting, I didn't feel compelled to keep watching. I might try to pick it up again once it's over, though. If I'm feeling masochistic. Haha.

[(Anonymous)]

I am! Basically stalking actually o.O But never comment because I'm a bit too lazy to log in and don't want to be a creepy anon. Plus, I'm more of a tumblr person :P Haven't watched 26 yet but the confrontation scene in 25 with Kang To and Shunji is probably one of my favorite drama-scenes of all time, especially with the acting. - Aigayafu(lj)/akikiz(tumblr)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

*waves*

I like anons :)

[(Anonymous)]

Definitely reading these! and watching the show. youre comments are awesome

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[amandioka.livejournal.com]

I'm reading too!
Actually I'm depending on your caps to see when I can start watching again... I stopped on episode 21 because I hate Shunji too much and I can't watch KangTo suffer without knowing the bad guys are going to suffer twice as much. Seriously, my heart can't take it if KangTo dies... I need to know beforehand. So I'm waiting one more week to marathon the episodes, if I see you post that KangTo is alive by the end of the last ep. ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am crossing everything in hopes he lives!

[(Anonymous)]

I'm reading too! Mostly I'm too lazy to log in, but I like reading your recaps. It's a good way to re-live the episodes!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heee, thanks :)

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

I'm always stalking your BM posts^^

I can't believe there are only 2 episodes left. I'm more and more certain that the big finale is going to be KTxShunji with an epilogue telling us about Japan leaving Korea (and hopefully KT and MD living HEA. Yes, I'm completely ignoring what's going to happen next in history). When the freedom fighters started to take center stage, I thought the drama might be moving away from the conflict between Shunji and Kang To but I'm happy to see that we're now back on track.

I really pity Shunji. It's clear now that his humanity is actually still there and he's aware of it but he's tamping it down with all his strength because he knows he can't go back. He has chosen to walk down this road and he has no one to pull him back from it. It's really tragic. Even if he did manage to stop on his own, he wouldn't be able to live with himself after all he has done anyway. Death is the only answer and I'm starting to think that he knows it but tries to ignore it. The scene in his office after his conversation with Kang To is chilling. He's all rattled and shaken by what he has learned and then he takes that big, shaking breath and he's back to Monster Shunji.

Rie OTOH is going in the opposite direction. I really loved her scene with Shunji in episode 26. All their animosity was gone. There was only 2 deafeated undividuals until Shunji rallies. Rie looked kind of horrified and sad for him. I would really like to see her survive at the end. She deserves it.

Kang To... I wanted to hug Yang Baek when he basically told him to stop being a noble idiot and to do all in his power to stay with Mok Dan. And how I loved when Kang To acknowledges that and tells her it's thanks to her he finds the strength to fight... That's even better than an 'I love you' and throws the focus back on the characters themselves instead of the big picture.

If I were to predict what's going to happen in episode 27, I'd say that Kang To manages to kill Kimura senior and does in fact come back for dinner as he promised. That would be a perfect time to make Gaksital babies with Mok Dan before they all head off for the big fight. Do you remember that scene in The Princess' Man where Se Ryung conforts Seung Yoo after he came back covered in blood after a fight? I could totally see that happening in Bridal Mask when KT returns from Kyeong Seong.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I'd love a revolutionary baby but I am worried that would mean KT would die but MD and a part of him would go on. So hmmm...

Yes, Shunji knows he and his cause are doomed however hard he's trying to deny it. He is, in a lot of ways, smarter than his Dad and Kishokai and that dooms him - he can't be happy being evil but he can't stop and doesn't want to, either.

I thought it was such a relief for KT to actually admit everything, even the awful part about the death of his own brother at his hand. Not that the torture offset but at least he got some momentary lightning of his burdens out of the torture horror (and also that definitely precludes him from going back - you know he'd keep going as a policeman no matter what despite his claims he'd quit - that position was too advantageous).

[cleobulle.livejournal.com]

Yes, we could really see how relieved Kang To was that the cat was out of the bag. It really weighted heavily on him and he kept it all to himself.

I completely agree with your assessment of Shunji. Like you said, he can't be happy being an evil monster but he isn't able or even willing to stop.

The fact that he's the real antagonist and not the rather cartoonishly evil Kishokai elevates this drama above many others.

Re-baby, I know. That would be a typical Korean ending. But I refuse to lose hope. Don't you think that episode 26 kind of hinted at a HEA for KT & MD? All that talk about how she's already lost both her parents. Her questioning the viability of their cause etc... Would they give us that only to kill the main couple off at the end?

Korea has a very strong national pride. I find it hard to believe that the writer would pass up the opportunity to send the message: they fought, they made sacrifices and they managed to pull through. It's not simply a drama, it's a drama about a dark period of Korea's history. Would they really want to leave us mourning the death of its hero?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Your points about why the ending should be happy (or at least open - with both alive to continue the struggle) makes sense. I really really hope the makers go that way! You are right, ep 26 did hint at a happy ending and love as motivation for the fight. I hope hope hope.

[(Anonymous)]

Hello! Another anon reading here! (i has no lj a/c) Lurve your caps and gaksital! Looking forward to more :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[(Anonymous)]

You have the most awesome caps ever!
Plus they are a great introduction to many dramas (for those who haven't watch) with the commentary and stuff.
So pls don't say they're pointless coz they're not! (:

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I am totally blushing at all the compliments!

[(Anonymous)]

I'm reading n looking at e giant caps!!

Jowoon!!! why so sexy even when you are being tortured???? LOL

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am sick, but I think he's especially sexy when tortured - he looks extra intense.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm reading too!
Gaksital is a little too ontense for me but I'm fllowing your recaps cause I'm curious and want to know! LOL!

Emma

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Gaksital is going to give me a heart attack before it ends, I swear!

[bluviolet.livejournal.com]

I actually tend to read and look at most of your posts... I'm sure there are some that I don't look at, like maybe some wuxia ones, but I can't think of any in recent memory. I enjoy reading your thoughts and point of view, even if I'm not necessarily interested in the show you are discussing--sometimes the discussions are very entertaining for me, when I can't be bothered to watch the actual show. So don't stop making these posts! Pretty pictures of pretty people, accompanied with your awesome opinions, are so much fun to look at/read!

I'm about 6 episodes behind on Gakistal right now. I'm not sure when I'll catch up (I mean, I left of on episode 12 of City Hunter when it was airing, and just finished watching the remaining episodes about a week or two ago, so it could be awhile).

But suffice to say, I find Joo Won and Lee Min Ho to be amazing actors.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Wow!

Also, yay, another person who takes a while to finish a drama - I sometimes go years before finishing something :)

[(Anonymous)]

I´m totally in love with your recaps. I love those big pics and your writing. I don´t need to read every detail of the episodes (because I can simply watch it with subs, right?) but you always put a whole thing into few words. It´s great because you always highlight what you liked. Please don´t stop.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Wow, I am super flattered!

[mrdimples.livejournal.com]

I have been lurking almost everyday to see any update on Bridal Mask. I understand that you have lots of dramas on your plate now but still I love your screencaps. They always capture what I want in BM. Recently I was working on something and was searching high and low for the appropriate pics and I found so many I wanted from yours. However I could not upload them onto my photobucket, error message something about error in resizing. Pity.

Appreciate your hard work(honestly I cannot imagine how you do it). 2 more episodes, so hang in there. Anyway, looking at all these comments, you know there's lot of people checking this out.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Sometimes pb is picky about other pb images. If you save them on your HD first, that should clear the issue :)

[evennexsoul.livejournal.com]

I'm reading! I find that your taste in dramas is very similar to mine so I use a lot of your posts as a way to decide if it's worth trying certain dramas. I'm just a bit lazy to leave comments >.>

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you! *is super-flattered*

[lyrayoo (from livejournal.com)]

hey im reading this too. im a gaksital masochist XD

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Aren't we all? :)

[(Anonymous)]

No!! Don't be. I'm watching this every week and I really love your huge HD screencaps! It's painful and heartbreaking to watch Kang to's being tortured like that. Screw Kimura Taro!! However, I was glued to the screencap for I don't know how many minutes. Yeah, it's probably true that I'm becoming a Gaksital's masochist too hahah

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

We are all Gaksital masochists now :)

[rectherapyfreak.livejournal.com]

Oh man I love this drama SO much!! I have been super busy and thought if I started to marathon I wouldn't be complete until it finished airing but I finished on friday! Can't wait for the last 2 episodes! Thank God they extended it!

I agree with everything you post. My favorite being how Shunji is starting to go crazy from Dam Sa Ri's message to him! Ha! I hope he realizes soon that he needs to give. My problem with Shunji is that no matter how much you love someone you know what they deserve. His brother was a dick and brought upon his death by his own actions. If it hadn't been Kang To that killed him it would have been someone else. Once he found out his brother killed Kang To's mother that is when he really should have just backed off. Maybe he just realized he fell to far down to get back up...he is now a sad excuse for a human being...

I'd love to see him and Rie togetehr though in the end..but I expect one, if not both of them to sacrifice life to save Kang To.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I am hoping for at least KT and MD to emerge out of this alive, but the chances are slim.

[(Anonymous)]

since i found this lj of yours, it become my preference to all dramas i watch or eagerly to watch, cause i find your tastes in dramas is similar with mine and thats include the PoV, and you're not only do recap of kdramas only, but all asian dramas as well,, and dont forget the hugeeeeeee caps with clear and detail for every episode of dramas you follow, i really love it... after BM end, i'm going to stick with you for Five Fingers Recap because it really hard to find one who going to do that and also because we share the same big love for Joo Ji Hoon :p
so please dont end it ok please please please *wink

--sophiechoice--

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, thank you!

Also yay, another Five Fingers viewer! That drama is way too fun!

[(Anonymous)]

No caps of the woman agent who used 2 wooden sticks >__<, she is so beautiful.
Anyway, I really adore your hardworking of screen-capping every precious moment of Bridal Mask.
Thanks a lot!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Sorry :( I'll cap her next time :)