Six Flying Dragons: Episode 37

72 February 9, 2016February 9, 2016

by HeadsNo2

I know there’s been a lot of Bang-won up here lately, but there’s a lot of Bang-won in this show, which makes any attempt to avoid him a futile effort. So here’s the man himself, doing his best impression of someone who’s actually paying attention and not, say, plotting the domination of a newly minted nation. He’ll need a lot more mace-wielding muscle to do his bidding now that the last roadblock to a new Joseon is gone, but something tells me he’ll get his way eventually.

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EPISODE 37 RECAP

When Bang-won confronts Jung Do-jeon about how there was never a role for him in his great cause to begin with, the first part of Jung’s answer shouldn’t surprise him: “No, there was never a role for you.”

But the second part does when Jung Do-jeon adds, “But you created one. Your killing of Poeun will become your role.”

With Sa-kwang’s sword held to his neck, Moo-hyul tells her of Jung Mong-joo’s death, and more importantly, that her king is safe. Sa-kwang takes the news that he might be dethroned soon as good news, and drops her sword.

“Why didn’t you kill me?” she finally asks. Moo-hyul just shrugs that she had multiple opportunities to kill him that she didn’t use, so he returned the favor. Her next question is much more introspective, as she asks why he lives his life wielding a sword.

“To protect those dear to me,” Moo-hyul answers gravely. “In order to protect… my dream.” This is another thing Sa-kwang can relate to, since she too wants to protect someone dear to her.

Which is why, when asked if she’ll take revenge for Poeun’s death, she replies that she won’t—all she wants is for life to be like it was before her dear king took the throne. And he wouldn’t have taken it in the first place if it weren’t for Jung Mong-joo, so, good riddance.

“As long as no one means to harm me, I shall not fight against anyone,” she proclaims weakly, before attempting to step outside the cave. The attempt fails and she slumps to the ground, unconscious.

King Gongyang knows his days are numbered even before he’s visited by Jung Do-jeon & Co. Jung Do-jeon makes good on his plan to declare Jung Mong-joo a traitor and hang his decapitated head in the market, figuring that he may as well use his friend’s death to further their cause unless he can magically bring him back to life.

Though the king knows full well what really happened, he stamps the royal seal on Jung Do-jeon’s proclamation that Poeun planned to commit treason, which also absolves Bang-won of any wrongdoing when all he did was execute a traitor.

But the king stops Jung Do-jeon momentarily when he reaches for the newly minted royal command to ask when he’s going to be dethroned. Without skipping a beat, Jung Do-jeon tells him that there’s a proper time for everything, which the king takes surprisingly well—he never wanted to be king, anyway. (Does he think deposed kings sit around eating bonbons all day?)

Master Hong is agape to see Bang-ji mimicking the Goksan Swordsmanship method he picked up from fighting Sa-kwang, though he doesn’t get long to dwell on it when Jung Do-jeon calls for the younger dragons (including Bang-won) to gather.

But this meeting is all about damage control, as he charges Yeon-hee and Boon-yi with using their respective contacts to spread rumors absolving Lee Seong-gye of any part in his son’s doing. He wants to heft the responsibility of Poeun’s death on Bang-won alone, so that his father can be free to lead their new nation.

Understanding that this means Bang-won will have to be cut out of their group, Boon-yi attempts to stand up for him by claiming his actions were more than justified. Jung Do-jeon is not of the same mind, and adds that if they had planned to use force to achieve their goals, they could’ve done that the night they attacked General Jo at Dohwa Manor.

“It is a heartbreaking matter to establish a new nation by the sword. Bang-won must take responsibility in his own way, and we must endure it in our own way,” he offers sagely. When Young-kyu gets riled up for Bang-won’s sake, it’s Bang-won who talks him down, seemingly siding with Jung Do-jeon.

“He’s right, that I killed Poeun. ‘I made the decision to kill Poeun on my own. I, Lee Bang-won, murdered Poeun Jung Mong-joo, Goryeo’s last loyal subject. General Lee Seong-gye had nothing to do with it.'” That’s how Jung Do-jeon wants the word to be spread, and Bang-won understands because he’s ready to take responsibility.

But on the inside, he thinks, “That’s how I differ from father and Sambong. I do not avoid responsibility.” Boon-yi follows him outside out of concern, though he insists to her and his wife that he’s fine. He only wants to know who’s littering the market with posters calling for his execution.

Lee Seong-gye’s fourth son LEE BANG-GAN comes into town looking for Bang-won, though he certainly doesn’t look or act like any of his other, more refined brothers.

In front of Jung Mong-joo’s severed head, Lee Saek and sinister Minister Woo curse Jung Do-jeon. To his credit, Jung Do-jeon takes all this in stride, and while he acknowledges Lee Saek’s prediction that he might meet a crueler fate than Poeun, he adds menacingly, “You will not be around to see it… because you do not have much time left.”

Jung Do-jeon is losing track of all the ministers he wants impeached before Lee Seong-gye is crowned king, and the stress seems to be manifesting itself physically—he clutches his stomach and doubles over in pain, before quickly recovering.

Bang-ji waits outside while he stops at an inn for a bite to eat, but Jung Do-jeon’s meal is interrupted when candlelight flickers from the room next door and a familiar voice calls to him. “Yeon-hyang!” he says in shock, going to the now open door.

He has so many questions for the woman he once knew as a court maid, but aside from her part in Nameless, he asks whether she knows her own son is waiting outside. She knows, but she’s not here to see her son. She’s here to see him.

While Bang-ji gets in a momentary tussle with Gil Sun-mi outside, Yeon-hyang attempts to make Nameless relevant again by saying a lot of contradictory things about how they’ve even helped Jung Do-jeon’s cause. The rift between them started with the land reformation, which we know to be patently untrue.

In what begins to sound eerily like an argument pitting communism against capitalism, Yeon-hyang defends the idea that human ambition needs an environment in which it can thrive (i.e. people being able to gobble up as much land as money can buy), while Jung Do-jeon defends the idea that an even distribution of land will prevent anyone from taking more than is their due.

To Yeon-hyang’s personal-greed-breeds-growth argument, Jung Do-jeon asks how much that ideology has helped Goryeo thus far. Oh, it hasn’t? That’s what he thought.

“From now on, the world will be different. The place where humans chase after greed will be taken by Confucian scholars. A nation where all citizens are virtuous, where they will not steal from others, and where they will not take from others to fill their own bellies. That is the nation I will create.” It’s only after this that Yeon-hyang understands he won’t change his mind, but that won’t stop Nameless from doing what they can to stop him.

Afterward, Jung Do-jeon kind of broaches the Yeon-hyang subject with Bang-ji, who already seems to know. He’s going to do his best to forget her like his sister said, though he’s unaware that his mother stole a glimpse of him outside the inn before she departed.

“It’s war,” she tells Gil Sun-mi, before asking where Sa-kwang is. Moo-hyul finds himself wondering the same thing as he returns to the cave where he left her, only to find a note she’s left behind, written on a length of her skirts. Unable to read, he just folds it away for now.

The day finally comes for the change Jung Do-jeon has been hoping for since the beginning: King Gongyang bows before them to hand over the royal seal, which they then present to Lee Seong-gye along with their pleas for him to take the throne.

Lee Seong-gye finally takes up the seal and the crown, while Lee Saek is exiled, and the other sinister ministers are tortured and sent off to the same fate. Along with Lady Kang, who is posthumously known as QUEEN SINDEOK, Lee Seong-gye officially becomes KING TAEJO, the founder and first king of Joseon. (Though we haven’t made the Goryeo-Joseon switch in name yet, the transition didn’t happen in a day.)

Former King Gongyang goes into exile with more dignity than is usually afforded, riding on a horse rather than in a rolling cage. He’s joined by Sa-kwang, whom Moo-hyul spots in the caravan trailing behind the king.

They exchange a long look, and he smiles. In order to protect her, he keeps her true identity a secret from the others.

Official posts in the new state council are granted to King Taejo’s closest supporters (and Daddy Min, since he’s technically family), ending with Jung Do-jeon as Prime Minister, second only to the king himself.

King Taejo is eager for Jung Do-jeon to start implementing some of his bigger changes to their new nation, but is most excited at the idea of the gwageo, or civil service exams that give anyone the chance to take up office should they pass. (Nepotism ran rampant when it came to official appointments in Goryeo, though that didn’t change all that much with Joseon’s civil service exams—they were still dominated by noble families, since only noble children could afford the luxury of learning how to read in order to take the exams. Bang-won’s son, King Sejong, would do a lot to change this with the creation of Hangul.)

While Jung Do-jeon works to enact these changes and get the word out to what must be a very confused citizenry, he also tasks Yeon-hee with poring through records from the Silla Dynasty to find any trace of Nameless there. He also wants her to become close with Queen Sindeok, I’m guessing as a way to keep tabs on the royal family.

She asks whether it’s not too late for Jung Do-jeon to take Bang-won back into the fold, since he’s been building up a formidable force since being cast out from Jung’s good graces.

Bang-won is surprised when Ha Ryun pays him a visit dressed up in ministerial garb, even though Ha Ryun defends his official appointment as being one of necessity—with so many ministers resigning from their posts in protest, they had to take what they could get, and he’s it.

No sooner does he remind Bang-won that his father still doesn’t wish to see him does Da-kyung come in, chattering about Jung Do-jeon taking on more positions/titles. Ha Ryun jokes that Jung need only to take command of the military in order to gain absolute power, which causes the sour expression on Bang-won’s face to tighten even more.

Scholars start to go missing, especially those scholars who rallied for Bang-won’s execution. Thanks to Boon-yi’s people though, he comes upon a map that was circulating amongst those scholars, which points toward a place called Tongseong.

Boon-yi, Moo-hyul, and Bang-won follow the map to Tongseong, finding nothing of note. Moo-hyul stops when he spots something on a nearby hill, though we don’t see what it is.

Meanwhile, King Taejo admonishes Jung Do-jeon for eating and living poorly in the time leading up to the first civil service examination, but is in for a surprise when he’s turned away at the door by a concerned Shin-jeok and Officer Nam. Of course, he just pushes past them to see what the fuss is about…

…Just as Bang-won and Boon-yi climb up to see what Moo-hyul’s looking at: a tree decorated with gats from the sadaebu as well as Sungkyunkwan scholars. The meaning, that they’ve all literally hung up their hats in resignation, is clear.

Bang-won tasks Moo-hyul with following one of the scholars who hangs his hat on the tree, while we find King Taejo sitting amongst the vast emptiness that was supposed to be the civil service exams. Not one person showed up.

As Yeon-hee tells Jung Do-jeon that scholars have gone missing, likely in relation to the eerie civil service exams, Moo-hyul and Boon-yi report their disturbing findings to Bang-won. At least four hundred scholars have made camp outside of the capital, with more arriving every day.

Bang-won knows it’s a revolt waiting to happen, and gives Boon-yi permission to tell Jung Do-jeon exactly what she told him. She does, and Jung Do-jeon knows that it’s their way of protesting the current government and the royal court.

Unfortunately, since gathering en masse isn’t illegal, there’s no action Jung Do-jeon can take against them. They’ll only grow more dangerous to their cause as their numbers grow though, so all he can do is try to think of a way to stop them from doing more damage.

Jo Joon is ready to use force to bring the scholars’ village (known by the people as Domundong) down, but lacks just cause to do so. Laws are for plebes, man.

King Taejo’s sons, all officially princes now, greet their father along with their wives. The only sons missing are third song Bang-eui, who has an actual reason, and eldest son Bang-woo, who doesn’t. Knowing how much Bang-woo opposed his father ascending the throne in the first place, this isn’t a surprise.

Outside, Jung Do-jeon greets Bang-won by his title as Grand Prince, the formality of which has changed their entire way of being toward each other. It’s much different for Bang-won to offer his help to the cause as a prince, and much harder for Jung to refuse, even though Bang-won’s solution to the Domundong problem is for him to go and personally convince the scholars to cease and desist.

The irony of Poeun’s murderer going to convince Poeun’s supporters to stop supporting their dead teacher isn’t lost on Jung Do-jeon, but he can’t very well say no. It’s just that he doesn’t seem to have listened fully when Bang-won said that he’d convince those that he could. As for those that he can’t convince, well, they can’t be allowed to stay in the village.

Even Da-kyung tries to talk her husband out of it, and tries in vain to remind him that he’s Public Enemy No. 1 to those scholars he seeks to convince. Bang-won just smiles, hinting at a deeper plan.

Bang-won lets no one in on his thought process, and merely takes a small army to track down the village. Even Ha Ryun’s reasoned voice does nothing to sway the prince, who seems inordinately preoccupied with the direction the wind is blowing.

To his credit, Jung Do-jeon defends Bang-won’s actions to his father, claiming that he’s just trying to show that he’s trying And even if he fails, no harm done, right? (Did he forget who Bang-won is?)

As expected, Bang-won is not greeted fondly by those scholars guarding the gates of Domundong. They’re sure that there’s nothing Poeun’s murderer can say that will convince them, and Bang-won seems to be of the same mindset as he tells his men to set the place on fire.

“Did you not want to persuade them?” Ha Ryun asks in shock. “I will persuade them after I draw them out. There will be those who come out, and those who burn in the flames. I will only take and persuade those who come out,” Bang-won replies authoritatively.

Inside, he thinks to himself, “Father, and also Teacher Sambong, you will see, I shall gain power in my own way.” And it’s on this same breath that he claims to believe that he’s right, which is a belief that wouldn’t be shaken even if he were to die and be reborn. He will find his place in the new nation this way.

Then, jolting those around him, he barks, “What are you all doing? Did I not tell you to set this place ablaze? At once!” But they stand hesitantly by his side, as though unwilling to believe what they’ve just heard.

COMMENTS

It really is amazing how this writer can completely change our perspective on revered historical figures, so much so that we’re essentially rooting for one voice to hold an unwieldy amount of power over many. And for no other reason than that Bang-won is the one who gets things done quickly and effectively, as opposed to others like Jung Do-jeon and his father, who would sooner shake their fists at their inability to act than act.

But which side is actually right? Is it Jung Do-jeon, who sees any use of force to achieve their goals as an unnecessary evil, or someone like Bang-won, who’s willing to make much tougher choices? See, even the language I’m using is inherently biased toward Bang-won, because I’m doing like the show is doing in making him out to be the rebel with a cause. He’s the young’un fighting for what’s right, while the elders piddle around with their noses in books, or whatever else old people do in a recently restructured monarchy. (I still love you, Kim Myung-min!)

In the end, I guess that just speaks to the influence of this show, and to the power of the writing and acting involved to make a character like Bang-won—who may very well kill people if this fire gets set—still so much more sympathetic than anyone who’s against killing people, like, say, everyone else. How exactly they manage to accomplish that, I’m not quite sure. Bang-won’s character was portrayed in Tree With Deep Roots as an unbearable tyrant, but here, he’s just Bang-won. And we love him, bloodlust and all.

And strangely enough, it somehow makes him more tragic that he’s doing something so terrible when it will only take him further away from those things that might yet save him, like his father’s love and admiration. That short inner monologue with King Taejo proved that he’s just waiting for Bang-won to do something he can like him for, so he can have an excuse to bring him back into the fold.

Little does he know that the road forked before Bang-won got to that bridge with Jung Mong-joo, and he couldn’t be traveling any further away. Maybe Bang-won’s path is just coming full circle to the days of his hot-headed childhood, back when he killed for what he thought was right. Whatever happened to that wide-eyed youth who dreamed of making people smile? This is all your fault, Jung Do-jeon. (Again, huge fan of your work, Kim Myung-min! Change nothing, you’re already perfect!)

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1 kookicookie

February 9, 2016 at 8:21 PM

Woah! I'm thoroughly enjoying this 50ep drama and I feel that they are using ever single minute for character development. Unlike some other long historical dramas *COUGHempresskiCOUGH* which just added fluff to add fluff this series comes together like beautifully crafted masterpiece. I can't wait to see where it takes us!

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Dani

February 9, 2016 at 11:11 PM

Me too!! Super impressed with how it is written. The story was well thought out and the writers avoided unnecessary sub plots. Every line and scene has a purpose and that's why even if we already have an idea of how things turn out, we're still at the edge of our seats. Also, like you said the characters are so developed that we know and expect what their desires and fears are. Ahh, i love you show.

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aumzyt

February 10, 2016 at 9:26 AM

Empress Ki was very good BUT all the entire drama made me want to kill myself many times ! it was so deeply sad all the way through till the end.I almost ran to the kitchen and get a knife to stab myself ! Promise I'll never watch anything like that again that made my mood very down for weeks after it ended !

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2 earthna

February 9, 2016 at 8:31 PM

This show will forever leave me conflicted and it doesn't matter. After a while, I decided not to rip my hair because I cannot choose sides anyway.

Bang Won is becoming more of the King Taejong we saw in Tree and I like how they're transitioning him to be that since the "I'm not playing with you anymore" scene.

One thing that's making me sad though is Moo Hyul slowly growing away from Bang Won. My heart can't take it. It seems like love and affection can guide Bang Won back to the light but everyone keeps on leaving him behind and pushing him down deeper into the dark. On second thought, he's in too deep and nobody can probably take him back to the light.

Moo Hyul! So many times, I told you to learn how to read! Are you going to keep that letter until episode 49 and keep us wondering what she wrote? See, people? Years later, there will be a man who will seek revenge on the wrong person because he didn't get to read his father's last will. He will only get to read it 14 episodes later and regret everything. Moo Hyul, don't be like him! Ask Boon Yi to teach you how to read!!

I'm so going to miss Yoo Ah In when he goes to the army. What a great actor!

Thanks for the recaps, Heads!

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mary

February 9, 2016 at 8:38 PM

I think (I hope) Moo-hyul will still be with Bang-won until much later. At least, if the Writer will be consistent with TWDR. Didn't Bang-won assign Moo-hyul as his heir's personal bodyguard? That must mean they still have a bit of respect for each other.

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Xingii

February 9, 2016 at 9:08 PM

Totally agree with you Mary, if this is consistent with Tree (which it has been so far) then Moohyul will stick with Bangwon till the end (until Sejong comes along then Moohyul can play the beloved role of his "nagging wife"! LOL). However I do think that by the end of SFD, Moohyul's idolisation/view of Bangwon will change. He can stick with him till the end but I don't think he will be agreeing with his heart, unlike what we have seen until now. (blindly agreeing/following Bangwon, believing that Bangwon is right)
I think Moohyul is smart enough to feel that some of Bangwon's actions are shady, and he may feel morally conflicted, however it doesn't mean that conflict would be so dire that Moohyul would ditch him. After all, Bangwon's family has treated Moohyul's family so well, he would probably be following Bangwon out of gratitude/duty, rather than blind devotion.

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Dani

February 9, 2016 at 11:17 PM

Moo Hyul is now developing his own views and learns not to take things on face value. He is slowly forming ideals, some of which are different from his master LBW. It shows growth, which is good, but yes it makes me sad too because he doesn't see LBW like he used to. He has seen his master's darker side, which kind of shook his loyalty. I hope he grows to be a force that keeps Bang Won's violence in check.

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mary

February 10, 2016 at 12:06 AM

Yeah I think he's starting to see that Bangwon isn't perfect. But Bangwon is still working towards his and Boon-yi's dream so he will stay on their side, though he will try to walk a righteous path. It's a tough balance.

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Xingii

February 9, 2016 at 9:09 PM

by the way @ earthna, you asked me for a link of Kyunsang talking about Jo Jinwoong in the last odds & ends post. I did reply with a link! Just letting you know here just in case you missed it. (that post was a while ago now)

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earthna

February 9, 2016 at 9:39 PM

OMG I didn't go back to that. Thanks for reminding me!

Kyaaaaa he's the perfect example of a fanboy! You can see his feels overflowing from his body. HAHAHAHAHAAHHA. So cute. >< I love how positive he is despite everyone's reaction to him getting the role. I guess when you're a total fanboy, you just have to make every effort not to ruin your idol's youthful image.

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3 wonhwa

February 9, 2016 at 8:34 PM

I'm not sure that the show is really wanting us to wholeheartedly embrace Bang-won. His methods may get results, but there hasn't been any effort to sugercoat their brutality. Violence may spur change, but it also inflicts lasting damage that can derail positive reforms, and I think the writers are fully aware of this. A society run by scholars only works if there are highly educated scholars left alive after the scorched earth policies of regime change end. What I find interesting about the show is not its endorsement of any specific path of action but the way it explores the tensions between pragmatism and idealism, caution and action, ruthlessness and moral rectitude. It's the rare piece that shows the costs (and benefits) inherent in choosing either side.

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Dani

February 10, 2016 at 12:05 AM

I also think that the show doesn't want you to strictly root for one side since it wants you to feel the power struggle between the two opposing forces. The scholars on one side and the monarchs on the other. Since power in the new country is dispersed, both must fight to gain ultimate control. Sambong wants it for the scholars to prevent the corruption of Kings, while Bang Won wants to preserve the Crown's power in order for the monarchy to properly rule over the Kingdom. Their ideals are polar opposites so the rift between the two former allies is inevitable, and sad. I like how you mentioned the dualisms in politics, and how the writers used the clash of Sambong and Bang Won to breathe life into it. I can't wait to see how it all goes down.

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Kiara

February 10, 2016 at 9:18 AM

They are actually trying to make him brutal which makes sense in connection to Tree.
The burning of the scholar village was rumored to be Lee Seong-gye's doing but he is a lamb here who doesn't want to get his hands dirty. The scholars were supposed to be all dead if I remember correctly.

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wonhwa

February 10, 2016 at 11:24 AM

I was trying to find more details about the burning of Domundong - I certainly remember its portrayal in Dae Wang Sejong, but since it's only shown in there in flashback, there wasn't a ton of detail provided about exactly who set the fire and why. I do agree though that from a writing perspective, you wouldn't have your protagonist instigate this particular action if you wanted him to viewed solely in a positive light.

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Laura

February 12, 2016 at 9:07 AM

Some historical sources wrote that the burning of Domundong might be exaggerated and didn't actually happen.

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Kiara

February 12, 2016 at 12:29 PM

It's not written in the official historical record (Annals of Joseon) but the fact that Yisan paid tribute in real life to these scholars makes one wonder if it really happen or just a rumor as we take it.

The Annals were compiled starting at 1413. This event is rumored to have happened right after Joseon was established in 1392.

4 mary

February 9, 2016 at 8:34 PM

WHAAAAT. I know Bang-won will turn "evil and cruel" but burning down a scholar's village just for protesting is...

Can't Writer-nim do something again to make us side with Bang-won? Maybe make the scholars steal puppies and starve them in the name of protest or something?

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Kaylie

February 9, 2016 at 8:55 PM

Strangely, I can't seem to feel any sort of anger towards Bang-won for his actions. It's scaring me a little that I see everything he did as necessary evil (because I'm sort of siding someone who is known in history as a tyrant).

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Jeanie

February 10, 2016 at 7:11 AM

Same. Found myself rooting for him in the last few episodes.

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earthna

February 9, 2016 at 9:40 PM

That was my reaction at first too! But watching 38 just made Bang Won so intelligent and pitiful at the same time.

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lia

February 10, 2016 at 5:56 AM

personally i don't think his decision to burn down the village of protesting scholar's is horrifically cruel, ruthless yes, but everyone on the village should have plenty of time to escape if they choose to do so.

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

February 10, 2016 at 7:20 AM

They definitely had time to escape, given how all he did was shoot flaming arrows at them. Even thatched roofs don't go up in flames within a second with just that. All one had to do was pour water at them if he was really determined to put the fire out. It's not as if BangWon drowned the village in gasoline and waited for an unpredictable explosion.

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hibeautiful

February 11, 2016 at 12:32 AM

Episode 38 gives more explanation of his action..so, team Bang-won ftw. lol.

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5 Xingii

February 9, 2016 at 9:02 PM

Dark Yoo Ah In is where it's at! and I'm absolutely loving it. This man's acting just keeps on getting better and better by the episode.

Moohyul at the end though, his shocked reaction was pretty much me (and most viewers) Bangwon's ruthlessness is starting to come to the surface, that "worm in his heart" is going from being something internal to something external, for everyone to see.
I'm not even going to play side choosing here because every side has a valid point (except Nameless, what on earth are they doing idek tbh) What I love about this drama though is that it makes you think, like, REALLY think. It's amazing I actually wish that we would have more episodes, Bangwon's life is just so fascinating.

Any thoughts as to what point in history the drama will end? Will Bangwon be on the throne by episode 50? (I personally hope so, but with like 12 episodes left, can they fit in all of the relevant content? Who knows)
Either way I'm going to be just so devo when this drama ends. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHEN IT ENDS???

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Sam

February 9, 2016 at 9:47 PM

Comment was deleted

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Laura

February 12, 2016 at 9:08 AM

Actually he only killed 2 half-brothers, not all.

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6 witwit

February 9, 2016 at 9:31 PM

funny thing is he gets tagged as the killer when he has not actually killed those he was accused to have killed. it's somebody else who kills for him.

the only time i remember him killing someone was at the miountain when he had to act quickly before the sinister ministers' team get to his father.

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Yeri

February 9, 2016 at 11:12 PM

Same thought make me laugh,pointing him as a murderer while the real killer is out there chatting wd MH!

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lia

February 10, 2016 at 5:59 AM

he's not the one wielding the mace or the swords, but he's the one giving the orders. the ones doing the physical killing are bangwon's tools.

he killed those delinquent students back when he was a child also.

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7 Sam

February 9, 2016 at 9:41 PM

Comment was deleted

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8 earthna

February 9, 2016 at 9:42 PM

Also, only 6 weeks left, guys. This will seriously leave an empty spot in my heart since my Mondays and Tuesdays have always been for Dragons. Full two days every week, I slave myself to the Dragons, literally. ;A;

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Lisa Purba

February 9, 2016 at 11:32 PM

What will I do with my ID name after this? *horror*

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aumzyt

February 10, 2016 at 9:31 AM

do you watch Jang Young Shil ? it's like SFDs part II I love it a lot ,different from this but really good !

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earthna

February 10, 2016 at 11:52 AM

No. I haven't seen Jang Young Shil yet but I don't think I'll move on to another long drama after this. It's seriously exhausting. lol. I might check it when it's all done though.

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9 crazyahjummafan

February 9, 2016 at 9:46 PM

Isn't it ironic that JDJ doesn't want the the king to have absolute power, yet does not hesitate to gain it for himself? I'm not sure why he would want the king powerless when the last few Goryeo kings didn't have much power in any case. King Woo was first under Lee In Geom's control, and later General Choi. His little son too, was powerless and King Gongyang was under Jung Mung Joo's.

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Yeri

February 9, 2016 at 10:57 PM

Agree,F he could give him a chance then there is no "ruthless BW" and "manslaughter"BW trimm the path for them but he pushed him away , also it's a father's fault if he maybe embrace,listen and understand him then their is no rebel son!

creating a country wd a king but a Prime minister on top? Geeeezz..dont get it,he also want power a power that no can surpass!

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Yeri

February 9, 2016 at 10:58 PM

*one*

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10 crazyahjummafan

February 9, 2016 at 9:58 PM

"Whatever happened to that wide-eyed youth who dreamed of making people smile? This is all your fault, Jung Do-jeon. "

LOL! Based on this drama, I can't agree with you more! JDJ, who is supposed wise, should know Bang-won's propensity for harsh and rash reactions. Frankly, I believe that if BW had been given the recognition and power he deserves, he would have been less blood-thirsty.

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wonhwa

February 10, 2016 at 1:05 PM

So, if you view someone as dangerous and likely to make rash, bloody decisions the solution is to give them more power?

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11 Yeri

February 9, 2016 at 10:07 PM

The worm inside swallow him already and Boon Yi doesnt notice it! It's hard to choose wether BW or JDJ. They have their own good and bad.
Looking 4wrd for the next ep.
Thanks heads:-)

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12 JanuaryBlues

February 9, 2016 at 10:29 PM

Thank you so much for the speedy recap Heads!! I was dying to watch this episode since last week's cliff hanger.

Eventhough i already kinda knew where Bang Won is headed, i was still shocked to see to what length he was willing to go. Seriously the last three episodes were so good, you know where its heading but it still managed to shock me good.

I am glad Sa Kwang and King Gongyang at least managed to escape unscathed.

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13 Dukdam

February 9, 2016 at 11:11 PM

Moomyung = Chicago school of economics.

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Lisa Purba

February 9, 2016 at 11:30 PM

LMAOOOO!!!

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Dani

February 10, 2016 at 9:58 AM

Hahahaha and Moomyung's Leader is Adam Smith's mother.

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nomad

February 10, 2016 at 11:44 AM

LOL!!!!!

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14 Lisa Purba

February 9, 2016 at 11:29 PM

Why do I feel sad when King Gongyang left? He's not a bad guy *sniffs sniffs* May I say that Sakgwang is Moohyul's first love? I'm really curious what she wrote for him!!

Bangwon you keep giving me chills! Yoo Ah In's devilish acting is so on point!

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nomad

February 10, 2016 at 11:44 AM

I am too...but I feel like it was never his place from the beginning. He never even enjoyed his time in the office. At least now he can be with Sakgwang...

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Lisa Purba

February 10, 2016 at 7:44 PM

Yes, he was smiling in the end. On one hand, I hope the drama will not show his death, since it will crush my imagination that he lives happily with Sakgwang. On the other hand, I wish Sakgwang will meet Moohyul again after the king dies.

PS: When will Moohyul get his dragon title? I thought it would happen after he met Sakgwang :/

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15 lia

February 10, 2016 at 6:02 AM

I wish this drama was going to be longer, I want the drama to end with Bangwon becoming the King but I don't feel like there's enough episodes to do that unless they have some major time skips, which I also don't really want because I'm enjoying following all the maneuvers and intrigue.

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16 Gehrel

February 10, 2016 at 6:20 AM

The new Bang-Won is slowly easing to be one handsome magnificent bastard and I want more. The only Civil War I'm looking forward is the Yi Family's.

On side note, Moo Hyul and Sa Gwang parted on good terms is all I ever want from these two gentle souls. Though I suspect that this separation will not last. Right now, I have no idea what Moomyung would want from Sa Gwang, one can only assume it has to do with the former king's death.

Oh well, Yi Seong Gye's looking mighty fine in his newly minted royal robes though.

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17 gambitfan

February 10, 2016 at 6:25 AM

Alright, I think the writers have no idea what they want Nameless to be, unless their being an aimless organization that lost its original purpose IS the point. First they are about stability; fine. I can actually get behind that. We can even have a point of reference for this apparent split the organization had; either the Mongolian invasion OR the Military Dictatorship 100 years before. Two huge events that forever shook up the Goreyo kingdom.

Now they are a pseudo-capitalist movement (despite class-ism being one of the most detrimental things TOO such a movement) who are all about managing desire towards positive end?

What the ever living hell? Pick something and move on. The mysteriousness made them threatening in the beginning, now it is making them annoying. We really need some Nameless-centric episodes, and I mean soon. Otherwise, they're just people taking up space.

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Kiara

February 10, 2016 at 9:10 AM

That's why it's sometimes better to watch their shows without knowing the history first. It's a fusion sageuk but still we do expect the changes to make sense. Nameless along with Sambong, Poeun and Lee Seong-gye are bipolar in this show just to make a charming psychopath out of Bang-won. They can't seems to make up their mind.

I'd go with stability too although it's a pretty weak basis for an organizing like Nameless to exist for centuries. When you look back at the very loooong history between (QSD) Shilla and Goryeo it makes you wonder where the heck do they fit in during the major crisis Goryeo went through and what the heck were they doing all these years.

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Kiara

February 10, 2016 at 9:20 AM

*organization*

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18 I Will Goryeo You

February 10, 2016 at 6:32 AM

I don't think it's a good idea for JDJ to still leave the task to LBW whenever he needs it with the reason "taking responsibility". Also, it's not a good idea that the father, Lee Seong Gye just sit back and wait to see if he can accept LBW again by his next action.

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I Will Goryeo You

February 10, 2016 at 6:34 AM

Anyway, LBW looks good in red. And his brother Lee Bang Gan is very interesting.

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19 Jeanie

February 10, 2016 at 7:09 AM

Another tension filled episode and I'm still loving everyone in it. Such awesome acting! Tho as was mentioned by alot of people in this thread, because of how the story is shown, I am siding with Bang Won in this. I wonder as well if his father or if sambong have shown more consideration and gratitude to his contributions to the cause, if this would have prevented the animosity? Or maybe it would not. As sambong is also greedy for power (of course for the good of the greater cause) and because he's scared of Bang Won's potential. Such amazing writing. It has always kept me excited for what's to come, despite already reading up a bit of history. Wow and we are already at ep37! I'm a bit sad to see this show end (and I never thought I'd say this about a 50 episode show!!).

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

February 10, 2016 at 7:35 AM

When Bangwon was playing with those leaves, I thought he was using them to decide between two courses of action until he said "I feel a west wind" then I was like "oh shiet, he gonna set the village on fire."

I have been watching waaay too much of drama!BangWon to know what he's thinking... And given how he's practically given up on his dad or Jung DoJung welcoming him back into their fold, his "persuasion" is to probably twist the scholars arms and make himself look like a bad guy and prick at the anger in them because there are really only two reasons for passionate motivation/action - for dreams or because of anger/humiliation (survival not counted). And BangWon just killed their dreams - literally.

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

February 10, 2016 at 7:36 AM

Oh no! I didn't really mean to ride on your comment! Sorry!

But I agree with you that being at episode 37 makes me a little sad because we're in the last stretch now. :(

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Jeanie

February 10, 2016 at 11:06 AM

Hehe, no worries! :) ..and agree with you regarding drama!BangWon. Especially when he gets his "game face" on.. Yoo Ah In is really killing is doing such an awesome job!

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20 CaroleMcDonnell

February 10, 2016 at 7:22 AM

Bang-Won's seething rage: so sexy.

I love the way this writer never forgets a thread or a ramification of a plot point or character choice. This writer would be so good at writing a believable romance.

All that said, I'm really losing patience with Nameless. They are just intrusive privileged self-proclaimed saviors of their society who are just meddlers at worst and the illuminati at best. Did they actually exist in some form back in the day?

I love how the writer is so good at showing the changes in these characters. Thanks for the recap.

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21 aumzyt

February 10, 2016 at 9:52 AM

Salute to Master Yoo Ah In !!! He's delivery the role of LBW perfectly. Can't imagine anyone would do this kind of
"Bad ass bastard - I want to hate you but I love you and I'll stick with you till the end no matter what" Role better than him !

I love this so so much ! The saguek that not so dark,nobody stupid in this drama. Everyone have their own power in their own way and always have the reasons to do what they did.Also there's no silly unnecessary death here ! (many saguek do!)

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22 Saya22

February 10, 2016 at 11:03 AM

I wish this drama was going to last more episodes! It's so good! I want the the drama to end with BW on the throne! I want to see his fight with his brothers for the throne! I agree with the others I'm totally rooting for BW I even sympathize with some of his actions. Yoo Ah In has made it to my list of top 5 Korean male actors!

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23 nomad

February 10, 2016 at 11:41 AM

Finally! Some explanation on why Nameless is so set against the land distribution system. (somehow I feel like the writer is a devoted reader of this recap, so she/he/they spy on us talking about how Nameless hasn't made any sense so far)

I find it very intriguing, since we're in primary season in the US, and the debate between Nameless and JDJ (wait..is that this episode or next?) is the timeless debate between free trade and state-influenced trade. I'm for free trade, by the way...so...JDJ, there's less vote for you from my side, buddy.

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Lisa Purba

February 10, 2016 at 7:50 PM

Nyahahaha...I'm for free trade too. JDJ sounds like Marxism thousand years before Karl Marx existed while Nameless are true capitalism.

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24 Islander north

February 10, 2016 at 12:52 PM

Hearing Sambong's plans for Utopia gave me the creeps. His understanding of human nature is cerebral, not practical. Too bad he doesn't have the benefit of history to show the nightmare that these schemes inevitably lead to.

Love the gentle relationship between Moo-Hyul and Sa-Kwang.

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25 Ikran

February 10, 2016 at 12:54 PM

I wonder what that messed up group (Nameless) want to do with Chaek Sa Gwang? Do they want her to defeat LBJ for them since they're planning to interfere Sambongs work at any cost!

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26 modestgoddess

February 10, 2016 at 1:17 PM

Nameless should call themselves pointless. They have no big goal and no big connections. They just use their network to try to influence those with real power.

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27 Musa Moo-hyul manse!!!

February 10, 2016 at 1:17 PM

Can this EPICNESS get an extension please, pretty please. I just feel that 50 episodes won't be enough especially now that the end is upon us. I am starting to get nervous and twitchy about the 12 episodes to go. Will 12 episodes be enough to touch on the historical events that they still need to take into account? Will it be a rushed ending? Please please don't ruin this epicness. All these questions are going through my head and it's given me a headache :( lol. I have to say though this is the 1st drama that has ever got me this hot and bothered...that should be a good thing though lol.

I am still looking forward to Moo-hyul officially becoming a dragon. Please writer-nim make this happen soon for my sanity lol.

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Lisa Purba

February 10, 2016 at 7:51 PM

Words!!

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28 pliplipli

February 10, 2016 at 5:09 PM

after 37 eps, I still love JDJ and his utopic (?) ideas. maybe it's SFD's "version" of this historical character + kim myung min's charisma, but I'm usually "YES! YES! YES!" after his scenes lol

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29 Adal

February 10, 2016 at 7:22 PM

This drama is sooooo good. I am going to be sad when it's over.

Ungrateful bastards! (JDJ and LSG). Bang won helped them clean up their mess and he is to be treated like a pariah because of it? Why keep him in the capital? Why not banish him to the northern region until the King's anger blows over and public sentiment becomes favorable again?

And JDJ so greedy for power and position, I hope he realizes that he can't do everything himself. LBW's suspicion of JDJ's ambition may be proven to be justified.

Poor MooHyul is growing up and finding his hero has feet of clay, hang in there poor chap! Growing pains. At least he had an opportunity to form a crush, lol.

I have no problem seeing LBW moving over to the dark side, it might be as a result of the writer making him a sympathetic character. However, we've been able to follow his thought process, and we realize why he had to take the steps he did, why he acted the way he has. One thing I admire LBW for is his total honesty to himself. He's never lied to himself about who he is, his ambition or his capacity for ruthlessness. His total absence of self deceit is what makes him a very formidable enemy, ruler or future king.

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Laura

February 12, 2016 at 9:11 AM

Very well said!

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