dangermousie | SKKS 12: In which the Confucian Ideal faces the fact that he is in love with a man (Reply)

Ahhhh, drama, how ridiculously do you spoil me? Now that it's more than halfway over, it's pretty clear Sungkyunkwan Scandal is by far my favorite drama this year except for Chuno. And ep 12 was the best yet.

Why are you so perfect, drama?

In a setup straight out of a manga, Sun Joon and Yoon Hee are stranded on an uninhabited island. I love that she is so mad that he invited her there to meet girls but she can't express it because she is supposed to be a guy, and she does not realize SJ is doing it as a last-ditch effort to prove to himself he is not in love with his male roommate. She so looks like a puppy and I adore the way he looks at her so tenderly, much as he tries not to.

Uh-oh, he got sick from beig drenched nonstop. And now she has to nurse him, while fixating on his lips. This drama is written by my id.

And then he wakes up and sees her there and OMG. Seriously, I ship them so much.

This scene, with Yoon Hee being so terrified of a cricket, was priceless. If after her reaction SJ did not figure out she is a girl, there is no hope for him :) I love the way she makes him laugh though - nobody and nothing else does the same way.

O-M-G.

I feelso horrible for him here, especially when he runs out and just starts hitting himself in the chest over and over. I wonder how he will react when he finds out that Yoon Hee is a girl - relieved or angry? On one hand he has no ground to be as angry as hero of Coffee Prince (in CP the girl kept it up even after they started dating, and was in modern times when beheading was not in the offing) but OTOH this is 18th century and this feeling for a man is against everything he's been brought up to believe is right and for him to find out he's been put through emotional hell for nothing. Hmmmmm. Especially since apparently in ep 14, Sun Joon declared to everyone - a student tribunal, no less - that he was gay. In 18th century!!!! In a Confucian society!!!! To protect Yoon Hee (who was facing expulsion on suspicion of being gay lovers with Jae Shin. It's complicated). If I were Sun Joon, I would be devastated to find out the truth of YH's deception. But I am not him - he really is utterly principled no matter the cost, isn't he? He was ready to "betray" his father when he believed his father was making life untenable for the poor, and once he admitted to himself he loves a guy, he will admit it to everyone and damn the consequences to protect the 'man' he loves. Oh, wow, Sun Joon.

Oh, further heartbreak. You know, I may be in a minority but I feel very sorry for Ha Eun. She is in love with someone who will never love her back, however much he knows he 'should.'

You know, by now, ep 12, nobody is going to convince me Yong Ha is (a) not gay (b) not in love with Jae Shin. Seriously. They are not even trying any more, what with YH telling Sun Joon he used to fancy himself in love with JS and all the touching that goes on. He never came across as straight to me but after these eps, that opinion became conviction.

Yeah, I think they are trying to set up Yong Ha with Ha Eun but it's not working. He is in love with Jae Shin, sorry.

Not that I can blame Yong Ha. Jae Shin is freaking gorgeous.

Jae Shin is going to break my heart, isn't he?

I don't know why but I really liked the scene between Sun Joon and Yong Ha, where Sun Joon seeks advice and "comes out" to Yong Ha. SJ has so little life experience in some ways. GUUUUUUUH, I love him. I am ambivalent on Yong Ha - he derives too much pleasure out of confusion and dscomfort of those around him - but he is certainly interesting. I'd like him better if, just once, I could see him show genuine deep emotion, genuine deep care for someone. If for once, something wasn't a game.

This drama is filmed so beautifully. Really, like a painting.

Bonus, Sun Joon given Yong Ha porn book :P Yes yes, go practice on Yoon Hee!!! (I bet Sun Joon is a virgin - can you imagine him with a gisaeng? And Yoon Hee certainly is. That can lead to a pretty awkward first night. Hmmmm).

Not related to anything above, but I think I will finally finish the Russian telenovela Bednaya Nastya. It's really long (close to 130 eps) and I spaced out somewhere on ep 80. But I feel in the mood. Ahhhhh, Vladimir/Anna, I used to be so obsessed with them.

This soundtrack vid even has occasionally OK English subs.