The amazingness that is Damo
Mar. 18th, 2007 10:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieI haven't been posting as much about it (largely because ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
meganbmoore has done such an awesome job metaing about it), but I have been watching and loving Damo more and more.
I am halfway through ep 9 now and it's amazing. It has everything I could ever want from a drama (or any other fiction for that matter):
1. Honorable men: both Hwangbo Yoon and Sung Baek, even though on opposite sides of the law and destined to fight to the death, are noble men. I hate it when one of the opponents is supposed to be evil, in fiction. How much more interesting when they are both good, just forced by circumstances to oppose each other.
2. Strong heroine: Chae-Ohk is amazing. She is an exceptional fighter, but she is also devoted, intelligent, honorable and yet wholly human.
3. Complicated politics: I love a good love story, but what I love even more is when the love story is not the only thing going.
4. Amazing fights, gorgeous costumes, wonderful score, and sets to die for: Damo is as gorgeous as any movie and the fights are brutal and different and fluid.
5. Love Story to die for: Hwangbo Yoon and Chae-Ohk cannot live without each other. Literally. And then there are strong feelings (of a really complicated spoilery nature) between Sung Baek and Chae-Ohk.
Before I dedicate the rest of the post to discussing Hwangbo Yoon and Chae-Ohk, I just want to say how much I love Sung Baek. In fact, in any other drama, he would be my favorite character. A charismatic rebel leader, fighting against injustice, haunted by the loss of his sister, having strong feelings for a woman he totally shouldn't, and a bit on the self-loathing side because of it? An amazing sword-fighter and a disgraced aristocrat? Not to mention drop-dead-gorgeous to boot?
That's like catnip for me. My favorite scene of his so far are the confrontation between him and Chae-Ohk when she's led the soldiers to the camp and he is bitter that he still feels for her, and still collected at the same time. And they sword-fight in a very small and it's intimate and painful and horrible. Because of course we (the audience) know that they are siblings, that they are the person the other has been searching for, that this is why they are drawn to each other, and to see them be enemies hurts.
And there is is the scene where she is surrounded by the soldiers who of course think she is a rebel and don't know she is the infiltrator and she is lost and everyone is urging Sang Baek to ride away, to leave her, but he remembers his small sister, and her being left behind and even though it's suicidal, he cannot leave Chae-Ohk and he spurs his horse to ride to her. OMG OMG.
Or when he digs the bullet out of her and she says 'Thank you' even though she is supposed to be pretending to be mute. He breaks through her defenses.
So yes, normally, I'd be all about Sung Baek. But not here. While I love him, I am all about Hwangbo Yoon.
And all I can say is OMG OMG OMG OMG.
The OTP takes the 'Gift of the Magi' to the new levels. They have not spoken a word of love to each other (and they never can, because of societal structure), but I have rarely seen an OTP this amazing.
I am thinking of the scene when Hwangbo Yoon gets fired but he doesn't care, he won't breathe a word for the real break-out to the King (though that would re-instate him) because to do so would be to expose the fact that Chae-Ohk is an infiltrator and if there is a traitor in the King's inner circle, she would be dead.
And then he finds out she is wounded, and you see he cannot keep his reserve, no matter how much he tries. He almost breaks down and the only reason he doesn't is because he gets a horse and rides straight to the rebel camp. Even though it's illogical, would get him killed, and she is supposed to be recovering OK.
And he arrives in the nick of time, and he rescues her as she is about to be killed by someone she is duelling with.
And OMG OMG OMG. There is hugging (so tightly!) and they are both weeping(yes, the stern Police Commander is weeping) and they are talking completely at cross-purposes, because the only thing he is concerned about is her wound and she about his loss of position. They are so focused on the other it's scary. And he tells her it's OK to be fired, as long as she is with him.
But that is only the beginning. Due to Sung Baek being super smart, Hwangbo Yoon and his superior are sent to jail to be executed (btw, I love the side plot between the superior and his son, whom he loves but who he doesn't think is ready for command. I didn't care for the son, but he was so very human and died with so much dignity, I ended up sniffling when he died). And HY will still not speak up about Chae-Ohk. And he leaves her a note not to worry too much about him and to forget their 'destined meeting.'
And OMG OMG OMG Chae-Ohk. She needs to see the King, to try to plead for Hwangbo Yoon and to tell him he acted on her info, and to tell the truth about the rebels. But there is no way for a servant girl like her to see the King.
And she comes up with the most insane plan. She plans to break into the Palace and her only hope is that when the guards catch her and kill her, before she dies, the King will be curious to see the assassin and it will be her chance.
OMG OMG.
And she leaves a note to Hwangbo Yoon, telling him from when she was seven, he was everything to her 'father, mother, brother' and it's her fault because for some reason her heart wouldn't let her kill Sung Baek (this is such a parallel to what he told her earlier, that when they were children, he was like some wild animal, and the one person who broke through was this seven year old girl: her). And she breaks in and of course, even though her skills are awesome, she is no match for King's bodyguards and is caught eventually and mortally wounded. And of course the King is curious to see the assassin and OMG OMG, even though she is dying and can barely speak, she still asks that all the credit for discovery of the plot go to Hwangbo Yoon and that he be re-enstated and she tells him about the truth about Sung Baek's rebellion.
And she crawls away, because the King lets her go and she is dying, unconscious, and all the doctors basically say 'just order burial outfits already.'
And Hwangbo Yoon gets released and the King tells him he picks subordinates well and that 'what was her name...Chae-Ohk, she was loyal but reckless' and the look on Hwangbo Yoon's face, as he realizes what has happened. He would so rather die than have harm to come to her and he can never get used to the fact it's the same for her (before she came up with a plan, she was like someone in a coma, not talking or hearing or anything).
And OMG OMG OMG he is at her bedside and he is all quiet, and then someone mentions that maybe they should get the Royal Doctor (as he is the best) and Hwangbo Yoon finds out the Royal Doctor is treating some sick magistrate on the King's orders and he waits outside the estate the whole day until dark and OMG his face. His face. I really don't think either is capable of living without the other. Not because they'd kill themselves, but because they'd just forget to take care of themselves and get killed and waste away.
And finally Royal Doctor comes out and says he cannot, because he needs the King's command to treat anyone. And OMG Hwango Yoon is kneeling, saying he'll do anything.
And the Royal Doctor says 'I am sorry' and walks on and OMG OMG OMG OMG Hwangbo Yoon draws his sword! On a Royal Doctor. He really does not value his life as opposed to Chae-Ohk's. And he tells the Royal Doctor if he still says he cannot come, he will kill the Doctor and his bodyguard and then kill himself.
(Because he cannot exist without Chae-Ohk, you see. OMG OMG).
And I am off to watch more!
meganbmoore has done such an awesome job metaing about it), but I have been watching and loving Damo more and more.I am halfway through ep 9 now and it's amazing. It has everything I could ever want from a drama (or any other fiction for that matter):
1. Honorable men: both Hwangbo Yoon and Sung Baek, even though on opposite sides of the law and destined to fight to the death, are noble men. I hate it when one of the opponents is supposed to be evil, in fiction. How much more interesting when they are both good, just forced by circumstances to oppose each other.
2. Strong heroine: Chae-Ohk is amazing. She is an exceptional fighter, but she is also devoted, intelligent, honorable and yet wholly human.
3. Complicated politics: I love a good love story, but what I love even more is when the love story is not the only thing going.
4. Amazing fights, gorgeous costumes, wonderful score, and sets to die for: Damo is as gorgeous as any movie and the fights are brutal and different and fluid.
5. Love Story to die for: Hwangbo Yoon and Chae-Ohk cannot live without each other. Literally. And then there are strong feelings (of a really complicated spoilery nature) between Sung Baek and Chae-Ohk.
Before I dedicate the rest of the post to discussing Hwangbo Yoon and Chae-Ohk, I just want to say how much I love Sung Baek. In fact, in any other drama, he would be my favorite character. A charismatic rebel leader, fighting against injustice, haunted by the loss of his sister, having strong feelings for a woman he totally shouldn't, and a bit on the self-loathing side because of it? An amazing sword-fighter and a disgraced aristocrat? Not to mention drop-dead-gorgeous to boot?
That's like catnip for me. My favorite scene of his so far are the confrontation between him and Chae-Ohk when she's led the soldiers to the camp and he is bitter that he still feels for her, and still collected at the same time. And they sword-fight in a very small and it's intimate and painful and horrible. Because of course we (the audience) know that they are siblings, that they are the person the other has been searching for, that this is why they are drawn to each other, and to see them be enemies hurts.
And there is is the scene where she is surrounded by the soldiers who of course think she is a rebel and don't know she is the infiltrator and she is lost and everyone is urging Sang Baek to ride away, to leave her, but he remembers his small sister, and her being left behind and even though it's suicidal, he cannot leave Chae-Ohk and he spurs his horse to ride to her. OMG OMG.
Or when he digs the bullet out of her and she says 'Thank you' even though she is supposed to be pretending to be mute. He breaks through her defenses.
So yes, normally, I'd be all about Sung Baek. But not here. While I love him, I am all about Hwangbo Yoon.
And all I can say is OMG OMG OMG OMG.
The OTP takes the 'Gift of the Magi' to the new levels. They have not spoken a word of love to each other (and they never can, because of societal structure), but I have rarely seen an OTP this amazing.
I am thinking of the scene when Hwangbo Yoon gets fired but he doesn't care, he won't breathe a word for the real break-out to the King (though that would re-instate him) because to do so would be to expose the fact that Chae-Ohk is an infiltrator and if there is a traitor in the King's inner circle, she would be dead.
And then he finds out she is wounded, and you see he cannot keep his reserve, no matter how much he tries. He almost breaks down and the only reason he doesn't is because he gets a horse and rides straight to the rebel camp. Even though it's illogical, would get him killed, and she is supposed to be recovering OK.
And he arrives in the nick of time, and he rescues her as she is about to be killed by someone she is duelling with.
And OMG OMG OMG. There is hugging (so tightly!) and they are both weeping(yes, the stern Police Commander is weeping) and they are talking completely at cross-purposes, because the only thing he is concerned about is her wound and she about his loss of position. They are so focused on the other it's scary. And he tells her it's OK to be fired, as long as she is with him.
But that is only the beginning. Due to Sung Baek being super smart, Hwangbo Yoon and his superior are sent to jail to be executed (btw, I love the side plot between the superior and his son, whom he loves but who he doesn't think is ready for command. I didn't care for the son, but he was so very human and died with so much dignity, I ended up sniffling when he died). And HY will still not speak up about Chae-Ohk. And he leaves her a note not to worry too much about him and to forget their 'destined meeting.'
And OMG OMG OMG Chae-Ohk. She needs to see the King, to try to plead for Hwangbo Yoon and to tell him he acted on her info, and to tell the truth about the rebels. But there is no way for a servant girl like her to see the King.
And she comes up with the most insane plan. She plans to break into the Palace and her only hope is that when the guards catch her and kill her, before she dies, the King will be curious to see the assassin and it will be her chance.
OMG OMG.
And she leaves a note to Hwangbo Yoon, telling him from when she was seven, he was everything to her 'father, mother, brother' and it's her fault because for some reason her heart wouldn't let her kill Sung Baek (this is such a parallel to what he told her earlier, that when they were children, he was like some wild animal, and the one person who broke through was this seven year old girl: her). And she breaks in and of course, even though her skills are awesome, she is no match for King's bodyguards and is caught eventually and mortally wounded. And of course the King is curious to see the assassin and OMG OMG, even though she is dying and can barely speak, she still asks that all the credit for discovery of the plot go to Hwangbo Yoon and that he be re-enstated and she tells him about the truth about Sung Baek's rebellion.
And she crawls away, because the King lets her go and she is dying, unconscious, and all the doctors basically say 'just order burial outfits already.'
And Hwangbo Yoon gets released and the King tells him he picks subordinates well and that 'what was her name...Chae-Ohk, she was loyal but reckless' and the look on Hwangbo Yoon's face, as he realizes what has happened. He would so rather die than have harm to come to her and he can never get used to the fact it's the same for her (before she came up with a plan, she was like someone in a coma, not talking or hearing or anything).
And OMG OMG OMG he is at her bedside and he is all quiet, and then someone mentions that maybe they should get the Royal Doctor (as he is the best) and Hwangbo Yoon finds out the Royal Doctor is treating some sick magistrate on the King's orders and he waits outside the estate the whole day until dark and OMG his face. His face. I really don't think either is capable of living without the other. Not because they'd kill themselves, but because they'd just forget to take care of themselves and get killed and waste away.
And finally Royal Doctor comes out and says he cannot, because he needs the King's command to treat anyone. And OMG Hwango Yoon is kneeling, saying he'll do anything.
And the Royal Doctor says 'I am sorry' and walks on and OMG OMG OMG OMG Hwangbo Yoon draws his sword! On a Royal Doctor. He really does not value his life as opposed to Chae-Ohk's. And he tells the Royal Doctor if he still says he cannot come, he will kill the Doctor and his bodyguard and then kill himself.
(Because he cannot exist without Chae-Ohk, you see. OMG OMG).
And I am off to watch more!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-03-18 04:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-18 06:22 pm (UTC)And normally, I'd be all about Jang Sung-Baek and just "fond of" Hwangbo Yoon, but not here. Do you see now what I mean when I say that everything that makes her think she's romantically drawn to Sung-Baek are things that are connected to her brother? So much substitution going on there for her...but I understand why.
I felt the same about the other commander...I never exactly liked him(though I am very fond of his father and sister) but he was always trying, it's just that in his father's eyes, he was never quite good enough(largely because of Hwangbo Yoon)
As of the post, you're about to get to some of the most wrenching parts for me(the return to the mountain, and then the near meeting at the temple)
no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 02:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 03:03 am (UTC)I love that they are both so wonderfully full of good intentions and integrity. It's really the society's fault that they are at the opposite sides.
see now what I mean when I say that everything that makes her think she's romantically drawn to Sung-Baek are things that are connected to her brother? So much substitution going on there for her...but I understand why.
Oh yes. YES. I can see that: she cannot deal with HY and the enormity of it, so she transfers. I love how tangled it is. And SB is eminently worthy of love so it makes it easier. But it's transference.
the return to the mountain, and then the near meeting at the temple
That made me cry so much.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 03:12 am (UTC)The scene where SB and CO almost met at the temple and then he ran through the mountain screaming "Jae-Hui" even though he knew it was too late almost made me run to bury my head in fluff fort a week because, seriously, how traumatic and tragic is that? And...the thing is...if he hadn't been such a kind, cosiderate and decent guy, EVERYTHING that happened after that could have been avoided. *has tears remembering scene*
no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 03:20 am (UTC)Oh yes. YES. I am all for it.
And I totally agree re: his decency. if he just left her in that hole etc etc etc.
Damo makes me so incredibly sad.
It just might be the angstiest drama I've seen.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 06:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 12:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 07:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 03:01 pm (UTC)