dangermousie | Korean Paul and Virginie in a painting come alive...

One little moment in (Return of) Iljimae ep 3 totally broke my heart: it's Iljimae asking the police officer so hesitantly whether his father would reject him because Koreans are big on formal speech etc and he doesn't know any. Oh God, his fear and concern and uncertainty so break my heart.

No, he won't! He will reject you because he is a horrible scumbag who raped your mother and tried to commit infanticide when you were born. Not that you know either fact. Poor kid. Because that's the thing - he is 16, he is still such a kid.

Oh, God, and then the scene that follows. Awful. Just awful.

And of course, his depairing thoughts near the end of the ep, when he is all alone, hunted fugitive, denied by his horrible father, that people are all evil, and how the narration says that he stole chickens to survive and was gradually turning into a wild beast. Of course, he is going to meet Dal Yi and get a reprieve for a bit but we all know what happens...GUH. Poor boy. It's funny, because he really does manage to portray the bewilderment and loss of someone who is still almost a child and has to grow up horribly, and you just want to protect him. Maybe it's the new mother in me. But JIW has such an air of vulnerability and is also age-appropriate for the role.

Side note: Iljimae has one of the most gorgeous soundtracks ever. And I love the narration.

You know, if this keeps up, this will become my favorite sageuk except for Legend. More than Damo, more than Kingdom of the Winds, more than Hong Gil Dong. It's amazing.

Oh God, somebody please put it on DVD with English subs. I can't believe the disappointing Lee Jun Ki version got subs and this only has subs in streaming. GRRRR.

Check out this gorgeous bit (Iljimae and Dal Yi): it's gorgeous like a painting and I love the feel of almost Rousseauvian state of natural innocence a la Paul and Viginie...

I love the role reversal: she is the agressor, examining him like a strange toy, initiating a kiss, commenting on his looks, and he is so completely shy. Adorable!