Six Flying Dragons: Episode 13
by HeadsNo2
Are you there, Bang-ji? It’s a little hard to tell, but maybe all the darkness is symbolic of the dark and turbulent times these characters are living in. Alternatively, it could be an unfortunate byproduct of shrouding so many characters in mystery and their dealings in secrecy, since daylight isn’t necessarily conducive to underground revolutions. Nor is it ideal for showcasing repressed romantic feelings, of which there are plenty to go around—poor Bang-won’s having a tough go when it comes to rejection lately, isn’t he?
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EPISODE 13 RECAP
Gab-boon had recognized Gil Tae-mi when he came looking for Bang-ji, and because she warned him accordingly, it wasn’t he who came down to greet the famed swordsman.
Gil Tae-mi finds out that the now unmasked man isn’t the one he’s looking for when he hilariously blocks the bottom half of his face to get a look at his eyes, since Bang-ji had covered his nose and mouth when they last fought. While he discerns this, Bang-ji watches carefully from the shadows, ready to strike should Gil Tae-mi try.
Instead, Gil Tae-mi tosses out pieces of jade like free candy, while Jukryong assures him that he and his men will find Bang-ji. Gil Tae-mi leaves him to the task once he finds out that Lee Seong-gye brought a very much alive Yak San to the dodang assembly, practically giddy at the thought of all the drama he’s missing. And we all know what that means: free jade for everyone!
While the dodang members are up in arms about finding whoever falsely framed Lee Seong-gye (making Lee In-gyeom understandably nervous), Bang-won gives his new teacher a low and formal bow to thank him for saving him. And also to ask if Jung Do-jeon’s plan will allow them to defeat the most corrupt in Goryeo.
Bang-won: “Would I be able to bring [the dodang] to ruin? The people I have seen love someone who will win rather than someone who is righteous. My father? He is not loved because he is righteous. It is because he a victorious general who has won countless battles. A man such as himself has dove into the world of politics. He must win. If he does not… the people will abandon him instantly. He must win! He must win.”
Without hesitation, Jung Do-jeon assures him that his father will prevail. Bang-won stands then and asks, “Could you make that promise… as one man to another?” Jung Do-jeon remembers a young boy asking him those exact same words, and asks if Bang-won was the boy he met all those years ago.
Bang-won says yes, and Jung Do-jeon realizes that that’s why Boon-yi was so adamant about saving him, since she knew him when they were children. That comes as a surprise to Bang-won, considering that he hadn’t yet recognized Boon-yi as the girl from the capital.
Now Bang-won knows what she meant when she said he saved her three times, since she was counting the time he saved her as a child. Boon-yi rushes to meet him now that he’s been released, worrying so much over him that she even offers to piggyback him home. Aww.
Bang-won just smiles at her, and powers through her overbearing mother hen nature when she takes him to a doctor for treatment. She’s every doctor’s worst nightmare a she frets over every little ouchie he causes Bang-won, which is just adorable. Even more so because Bang-won knows the truth behind why she’s acting the way she is.
When she asks why he won’t stop smiling, Bang-won pulls her into a hug and asks her why she didn’t tell him that they’d known each other before. He holds her close as he tells her that it doesn’t matter either way—from the moment she set fire to the grain storage, from the moment she stole his clothes, and even the moment she ran away from him at the inn, he knew she was the one.
Boon-yi is silent as he reaches his hand up to her cheek as if to lean in for something much more intimate, but the gesture reminds her too much of when her oppa had reached out for Yeon-hee during the festival, right before everything went to hell.
She pushes his hand away and runs off, gripping her chest. She can’t understand why she thought of her brother during a moment where her heart was pounding and she was happy. Now she feels as if she’s betraying him, but she still can’t make heads or tails of what she’s feeling. “What should I do? What should I do?” she repeats to herself.
But she’s made a decision by the time Bang-won catches up to her. “I have no feelings of attachment for you,” she says stoically. “It’s been a long time since I’ve decided not to feel that with anyone. I can’t bring myself to love someone. I find being loved cumbersome and I hate it. What’s the point of affection and love in this destitute world? I was merely grateful that you saved me. We share the same intentions and goals, like comra—… That’s right, like comrades.”
The part about being comrades seems to be said more to convince herself than him, as she adds that Jung Do-jeon said that the bond between comrades is stronger than a familial bond. Bang-won tries to come to terms with all she’s said, boiling it down to one question: Is she rejecting him right now?
Short answer? Yes. Her explanation is that their class difference makes it impossible for her to even dream of loving him, since she’d be punished dearly for it. Though a tear snakes down her cheek as she says this, her stance remains firm.
Though Yak San hasn’t directly incriminated Lee In-gyeom, he doesn’t need Minister Hong to tell him that it’s only a matter of time. Of course, Hong offers to make sure that dirty secret never comes out in exchange for a higher government appointment, which Lee In-gyeom grants him.
However, Lee In-gyeom knows as well as he does that he did nothing to earn the right to negotiate—this was all part of someone else’s plan, and Minister Hong was nothing more than an eyeshadow-wearing pawn.
Lee In-gyeom takes his recent loss more gracefully than you’d think, and seeks an audience with General Choi since he assumes he’ll be taking over his position once he resigns. He knows he was bested in this game of mental chess with his unidentified opponent, and warns General Choi to pay close attention to Lee Seong-gye in the future. And more importantly, to the shadow behind him.
While Officer Nam voices his displeasure with Jung Do-jeon’s continued dealings with the despicable Minister Hong, Lee Seong-gye ends his ties with the minister. Now that his actions have resulted in Hong not only staying in the dodang, but even getting promoted, he considers the debt for Hong helping to pass the border plan paid.
It’s almost cute how Minister Hong thinks he can go toe to toe with Lee Seong-gye, only for the great general to remind him that he and his army have never shied away from a battle. And he’s never, ever, lost.
Minister Hong isn’t too shaken by losing Lee Seong-gye as an ally, since he and his fellow minion ministers won’t have to share the spoils of their future victories with him. They’ll also have a majority in the dodang, so they don’t need him anyway.
Jung Do-jeon is none too pleased to hear that Lee Seong-gye broke things off with Minister Hong for that very same reason, knowing that Team Hong will be able to control the dodang. He’d wanted to keep Hong as an ally as a temporary means to gain greater control, but Lee Seong-gye outright rejects that option.
He reminds Jung Do-jeon that his strength comes from the people who believe in him, and that he’d not only tarnish his reputation by allying with Minister Hong, he’d also lose their trust. He demands a different plan, which causes Jung Do-jeon to marvel (though not necessarily in the most flattering way) at Lee Seong-gye’s ambition and desire to keep his honor intact.
Bang-won returns home and sees his father for the first time since he was imprisoned, but instead of being reprimanded for his wrongdoings like he expected, his father blames himself. He can only imagine what it must have been like for Bang-won to see his father bow his head to an evil man like Lee In-gyeom, and his eyes sparkle with emotion as he asks, “To think that you saw that at such a young age, how have you been able to live all this time?”
Despite his son claiming that it was all his fault, Lee Seong-gye kneels in front of him and clasps his hand in his. “You used to be proud of me,” he says gravely. “I will become a father you can be proud of again.”
When he adds that he won’t bow to evil or do anything corrupt, Jung Do-jeon happens to be outside to overhear the exchange. Now he realizes that what he mistook for excessive ambition on Lee Seong-gye’s part (in breakin off his alliance with Minister Hong) was actually just his desire to be a father his son could be proud of.
Jung Do-jeon knows that, little by little, he’s learning more about the future king of the nation he’s going to establish. But now more than ever he knows that nothing’s going to come easy, and that the road ahead of him will be a long one.
Bang-won pouts when Boon-yi brings him food and medicine later, since he doesn’t want to accept it from a girl who claims to have no feelings for him. At least she doesn’t hide the fact that both she and Jung Do-jeon eavesdropped on his heartfelt conversation with his dad earlier, which Bang-won finds both unnerving and fascinating—Jung’s secret society knows no bounds, it seems.
With a sigh, Boon-yi admits that she envies him after hearing that conversation, since that’s what the relationship between a parent and child should be. When he asks about her family, she tells him about how her father died at war when she was three, and how her mother is likely dead too. But her story is no different from thousands in Goryeo, she claims.
She gets a little stiffer when Bang-won asks what happened to her oppa, since she remembers how she screamed at him to die when last she saw him. “He died,” she finally says, but thinks to herself, “He probably died because I told him to.” At least she takes comfort in the fact that he wouldn’t have made it in today’s world anyway, remembering him to be weak and fearful of everything.
Speaking of, a worried Gab-boon urges Bang-ji to skip town with her now that Gil Tae-mi’s on his tail, but he doesn’t feel like budging. He chalks up his recent spaciness as the result of his loss to Gil Tae-mi, but Gab-boon knows it has to do with Yeon-hee. She’s the only one who could make her orabeoni cry like that.
Yeon-hee worries for Bang-ji when she finds out that Gil Tae-mi is looking for him, and finds him alone later that night. She urges him to leave because she wants him to, explaining that she’s been having a hard time since they crossed paths again.
She assures him that she’s living happily otherwise, and frames her request in such a way that if Bang-ji refused, he’d be hurting her in the process. She knows it’s a selfish request, but she wants him to leave the capital and never return.
Boon-yi busies herself with housework that night in an effort to keep the memories of her brother from overwhelming her, which is how Bang-won finds her. He smiles that silly grin and tells her how brave she is and how much he admires her, which finally just sets her off.
She’s not any of the things he thinks she is, she claims, and all she’s doing is just trying to live. It’s that attitude that changes Bang-won’s demeanor entirely as he asks her if she really thinks he’s joking with his feelings, to which she replies that if he’s not joking, then he hasn’t matured yet.
Urging him to face reality, Boon-yi reminds him that theirs is a relationship that cannot be according to their class differences—the only way for them to be together would be for her to be his concubine, which she doesn’t want. Bang-won says that’s not what he wants either, but she knows as well as he does that it would be inevitable.
But Bang-won can only try to get across the depth of his feelings for her: “Right now, I want to become your family, your lover, and… someone special to you. Answer me. Answer me! Do you like me or not?” Boon-yi furiously wipes away a tear that escapes before she replies solemnly, “I don’t like you.”
Bang-won tries to keep a brave face, but her rejection has his bottom lip quivering ever so slightly. He asks her one more time if she really doesn’t like him, and she gives him the same reply. Once he’s gone she cries, thinking that she can’t allow herself the happiness of love, since it would just distract her from the guilt toward her brother. That’s her penance.
Minister Hong’s promotion has people lining up at his door with gifts of gold and jewels in the hopes of currying his favor, but he spends his time away from the festivities to remember when he was once a righteous man. And when he changed. “No matter how much this world will mock me for being a traitor,” he thinks, “in the end, I was victorious. I, Hong In-bang, have possession of Goryeo.”
He has the two men responsible for torturing him all those years ago brought before him, and with a cool smile he assures the frightened men that he understands they were just following orders. Then, he takes a club and bludgeons both of them to death. It isn’t quick.
Afterwards, he has no problem joining Gil Tae-mi and his closest followers for a toast in his honor. And one gets the feeling that this is only the beginning of his greater plans for domination.
Now that Lee Seong-gye’s private army will be moving to the capital with him, Bang-woo pep talks the new recruits before they’re set to start a very difficult training process. Moo-hyul and his old Master Hong are among the soldiers, but Bang-woo addresses out favorite derpy warrior specifically when he says that he’ll be taking orders from Young-kyu now.
This comes as a shock to Moo-hyul, who came in taking orders from Young-kyu’s master, but Grandma is quick to intervene on his behalf to say that starting from the bottom would be his absolute honor. Master Hong gets no extra slack when he claims to know martial arts either, since he can’t even defend himself when Bang-gwa and Young-kyu tap him with wooden swords.
Moo-hyul whines to Boon-yi about having to start from the bottom when he’s so much better than that, and she tries her best not to laugh in his face. Aww. But she stiffens when he asks where she goes all alone every day, and gives the lame explanation that she just really, really likes to buy taffy. Why do I feel like Moo-hyul’s going to take that literally and bring her a bouquet of taffy?
In the New Joseon Cave, Shin-jeok frets that they have no hope in the dodang if Lee Seong-gye broke his alliance with Minister Hong (who has the majority), but Jung Do-jeon sees it differently. Minister Hong made a fatal error by pushing Lee In-gyeom out, because it’ll lead to a new force entering the dodang.
And just like clockwork, Minister Hong invites that force in of his own volition, thinking that the famous Haedong Gapjok, a clan of nobles from the Silla era, will be of help to their cause.
The Haedong Gapjok become aware of Lee In-gyeom’s ousting and are worried about Minister Hong’s ascent to power, while the leader’s daughter seems to be on the exact same page as Jung Do-jeon when she tells her father that Minister Hong made a mistake in pushing out Lee In-gyeom.
This politically minded girl is MIN DA-KYUNG (Gong Seung-yeon), who’s described in the chyron as Bang-won’s future Queen Wongyeong. Even her father is impressed with her acumen, which I’m guessing will really come in handy soon.
Jukryong guesses that Minister Hong will burn hot and die out quickly, judging by how much he changed almost overnight with his promotion. Hong will make sure the Haedong Gapjok come to support him, and won’t hear another word about it. And Jukryong doesn’t have another word about it, since his men have finally tracked Bang-ji down.
He and Gab-boon are already talking about leaving the capital to pursue their fortunes elsewhere, but Bang-ji’s spidey senses clue him into the men tailing them. He grabs Gab-boon by the hand and makes a run for it, only to find himself surrounded by a small army of Jukryong’s men.
Instead of giving up, he only grabs Gab-boon’s hand tighter and runs faster. He fails to notice he’s been shot with a paralyzing needle until his arm starts to shake. Gab-boon tastes the poison and knows immediately what it is, just as she knows there’s nothing he can do but try and hide until the effects wear off.
She knows that the monks chasing him are from Biguk Temple, and that they stay away from the gibang since they’re no friends of Cho-young’s. He’ll be safe there while she goes out to distract the guards.
It’s true that Cho-young’s masked amazon warriors won’t allow the Biguk thugs to search the place, which leaves Bang-ji hidden and within earshot of Cho-young’s secret meeting room. There, she tells her girls to keep a sharp eye out for intelligence now that Lee In-gyeom’s been ousted, but keeps Yeon-hee behind for a private chat.
He recognizes Yeon-hee instantly as she lies to Cho-young about knowing less than she did, since Cho-young doesn’t suspect that she’s working as a double agent for Jung Do-jeon. But he’s more floored by the revelation that Yeon-hee’s a spy for the gibang, and recognizes her spy name, Ja Il-saek.
Once the effects of the poison have worn off, Bang-ji tails Yeon-hee secretly, wondering how she got herself into such a mess. When he sees her meet with Jung Do-jeon and hears that it was her idea to spare Yak San (since she’d feigned ignorance with Cho-young), he also realizes that she’s a double agent.
He confronts her once she’s alone, and gets her attention when he mentions her spy name and all the terrible legends that have been spun around it. Did she lie to him about living a happy life? Why would she put herself in such a scary and dangerous line of work? “Tell me why!” He demands.
“Viper,” Yeon-hee calls him by his secret name with tears brimming in her eyes. “Viper. You killed Baek Yoon. You shook up the dodang and the world of politics. I don’t think an assassin like you… should be saying something like that to me.”
COMMENTS
Well, I’d say she’s right in this case, since it is a bit like the spy pot calling the secret agent kettle black. And for just a second there even I’d forgotten about who he really is and what he’s done, since most of what we saw this episode was Bang-ji the Lovelorn, just looking to do right by the woman he’s wronged. He got tricked by Yeon-hee’s well-meaning noble idiocy act into thinking that he was bringing her down, having believed her lie about living happily.
Who knows, though—maybe being a double agent does make her happy, since I’d believe that happiness in times like these is probably based on how not-dead you are at any given moment. And maybe it’s unfair to claim noble idiocy when it comes to her, but anytime someone cries when emphatically sending someone else away, it usually means they’re saying one thing while meaning another. That was true for both women who had to fend off romantic entanglements this hour, which meant it wasn’t the best time to be a young man in love. The future’s not looking too rosy either.
Don’t get me wrong, seeing both Bang-ji and Bang-won in a (presumed) one-sided affair tugs at the heartstrings in all the right places, and it just makes sense at this point that neither have been very successful. Bang-ji is too full of guilt to ever love openly, which is why his love manifests itself in his anxiety over Yeon-hee’s safety. And Boon-yi’s love similarly comes from her concern for Bang-won, as evidenced by her backseat doctoring when he was getting treated for his wounds.
But Bang-won is so idealistic and headstrong that he doesn’t understand why he can’t just love the way he wants, which is why his honesty about his feelings was actually quite refreshing. It was a natural progression on his part, and whatever extra sympathy it might’ve garnered for him was mitigated by Boon-yi’s straightforward reasoning. Because it’d just so happen that every time I felt sad for Bang-won’s loveless plight, I’d listen to Boon-yi’s reasoning and realize that yeah, maybe Bang-won isn’t quite thinking this all the way through. And then I’d go back to feeling simultaneously bad for both of them.
At the same time, his intentions are pure, and Boon-yi seems to know that. She wouldn’t be crying over sending him away if she didn’t like him in return, but this episode seemed to hone in on how the normally cool and collected Boon-yi we’re used to seeing is actually a girl who’s barely keeping herself together. And for reasons I’m sure Freud would have a lot of fun dissecting, being in that intimate moment with Bang-won reminded her too much of her brother and of her ensuing guilt. Good luck getting that association out of your head. I do wonder though, if this Goryeo has masked amazonian warriors and super secret double agents, would it be so out of line for it to have a shrink or ten?
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Tags: Byun Yo-han, featured, Kim Myung-min, Shin Se-kyung, Six Flying Dragons, Yoo Ah-in
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1 hipployta
November 19, 2015 at 3:29 AM
Th episode flew by for me even though we didn't really cover much.
The political knowledge of Bang Won's future wife will definitely be useful and flame his ambition.
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sunnyl
November 19, 2015 at 4:13 AM
Bang Won's wife - She had sad life due to her ruthless husband later.
btw I noticed Minister Hong's eye make up was heavier this time - Is he joining Gil Tae-mi's eyeliner club?
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 5:42 AM
Right and she is one of the best queen in the history of Joseon. I cried like a baby when she died in "The Great King Sejong."
Monk Jukryong has dark smokey eye-shadow too. The men in this drama wears more make-up than women lol.
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nomad
November 19, 2015 at 7:11 AM
I thought exactly the same thing! Aww...they're now in a club, the evil in laws club
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Melona
November 19, 2015 at 3:10 PM
LOL, that's what I was thinking while watching this episode. I had a mental image of Hong In-bang asking for eye shadow application tips from his in-law Gil Tae Mi and couldn't help but chuckle.
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dkaoru, GO GO!
November 19, 2015 at 8:03 PM
Gil Tae Mi is really growing on me, eyeshadow and all. I mean he's evil but I love his evil and just really enjoy watching him on screen.
JanuaryBlues
November 19, 2015 at 10:27 PM
"Eye shadow appication tips from his in-law Gil Tae Mi" LOL, that's priceless
Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 5:29 AM
Lady Min was one hell of a queen and growing up in Goryeo allows her to use her brain and strength openly to support Bang-won and her sons. She was the only person that would put Bang-won in his place. She protected and fought fiercely for her sons and we can all thank her for giving Joseon's best, Sejong the Great.
I was kind of worried about her character the most because it will always be a step down to see anyone else play Queen Wongyeong after she was perfectly portrayed by Choi Myoung-Gil. I think this actress is ok and I'm glad her character is still a teenager. It seems to fit her just fine.
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putihlilac
November 19, 2015 at 7:05 AM
i thought that the girl will be his father's queen. am i mistaken?
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 7:28 AM
Lady Kang will be his father's queen, his 2nd wife and mother of Bang-won's 2 youngest half brothers.
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 7:33 AM
She will appear at some point. Kim Hee-Jung is listed as the actress to play her.
sunnyl
November 19, 2015 at 9:19 AM
Funny that Choi Myoung-Gil played Bang Won's wife in 2 shows -Tears of Dragon (1996) and Great king SeJong (2008). Tears of Dragon Yoo Dong-geun (Lee Bang Won) played Lee Sung-gye in Jung Da-jeon, and TOD An Je-mo (King Sejong) played Lee Bang-won in JDJ.
YDG received the grand prize acting award in 1997 for his
Bang Won role (and Cho Myung-gil got the best female
actress award for playing BW's wife).
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 10:35 AM
She owned it and I loved both shows. I think Chae Si-ra is the only other actress to play the same queen twice. (Queen Insoo).
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2 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
November 19, 2015 at 3:32 AM
I thought I was done after ep 4, but it's shaping up pretty interestingly for the sporadic bits and pieces I've watched (which is where I'm really grateful to the recap because in a 50-episode political sageuk.....I'd be really lost without it).
Also - is the minister's daughter the girl who played Go Ah-sung's sister in Heard It Through the Grapevine? She was pretty fantastic there, especially for a rookie - and I hope this drama doesn't stick her in the 'hateable second lead' zone since her character actually seems intriguing (and will end up marrying Bang-won/becoming part of a love triangle, I guess)
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sunnyxshin
November 19, 2015 at 4:35 AM
Hi pogo! *waves*
Yep, she was in Grapevine. Her role here looks interesting as well - a pretty girl who has clever political insights.
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
November 19, 2015 at 5:13 AM
I would love it if her role had the kind of nuance she did in Grapevine, simply because I love characters who seem to have a working brain, and she does communicate intelligence quite well. I just hope they don't paint it as a bad thing, is all.
(I guess the prospect of a potential secondary romance for her is also out, since it's a little hard for a future queen to have one - I liked her with the cute lawyer in Grapevine).
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Anon3333
November 19, 2015 at 10:32 AM
She's going to be bangwon's queen and the great king sejong's mom, one of the best korean queens
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 5:58 AM
I'm hoping that there is no stupid love rivalry here. Both girls have their roles to play in the revolution. Bong Yi is one of the dragons and Lady Min is the future queen. Not everyone is lucky in love in this era like King Gongmin and Queen Noguk.
Obviously Bong Yi knows her place and Lady Min knows what an arrange marriage is for. Bang-won is definitely marrying up. His family may have the military strength but they are far from being one of the elite.
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sunnyxshin
November 19, 2015 at 6:43 AM
"I’m hoping that there is no stupid love rivalry here." +1. That would seem so unnecessary.
Plus I know this sounds weird but I'm hoping for a strong friendship between Boonyi and Min Dakyung (ahh as soon as I finish typing this sentence, it sounds impossible). I need more sister-mance in dramas, anyway. It would be fantastic to see one in a sageuk.
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 7:18 AM
That would be great for a change but who would be their target? Maybe all the girls should team up and destroy Cho Young's spy organization and free Yeon Hee for good. They are also packing the evil Lee In-gyeom. Taking away his ears and eyes will weaken him a bit.
I'm pretty sure In-gyeom is not done with Dodang yet. He has a plan, probably he is just stepping aside to watch Hong self destruct.
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Anon3333
November 19, 2015 at 10:11 AM
There will be though, i mean, obviously. It was stated when they were introducing the characters, and the story plot before ot started. Boonyi is the girl who bangwon love and min dakyung is the girl who's very ambitious
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nara
November 19, 2015 at 2:04 PM
actually although reversed this time - wasnt Dong Yi the queen person first? and in other cases also
so it would just happen in the opposite order
they can be allies if not friends BY & LM
i hope that at least they wont make them enemies
but comrades
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 2:38 PM
Do you mean Queen In Hyeon and Dong Yi? That kind of friendship?
nara
November 19, 2015 at 2:59 PM
well not that kind exactly, but not rivalry
it a possibility since BY & LM both know any children from BY will not threaten MY and BY have no aspiration to be queen or wish for power
so they wants are not conflicting
is it not at all possible?
Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 7:26 PM
Queen In Hyeon is a descendant of Lady Min's clan. This Min family goes all the way to the last queen of Joseon Empress Myeongseong. Very powerful and influential family in providing the queens for most of the Joseon kings.
Anyway, Lady Min was very protective of her sons. I believe she even tried to eliminate Prince Gyeongnyeong (Bang-won's son with his favorite concubine Hyo). So, I don't think she would be the type to ally with her husband's concubine/mistress especially if they have a son(s).
Since this is a drama, anything can happen. It's very possible for them to ally and contribute to building the new nation. If the writers wants their relationship to be dramatic then, they might end up as enemies in the end.
nara
November 20, 2015 at 3:27 AM
@kiara i wonder if there were female descendant of that line
the females of the min clan seem very powerful
and in a way role model for women
Lin
November 20, 2015 at 12:36 AM
They better not down play this queen's awesomeness or important role she had in bang won's life and political advancement (he and his family leg if couldn't have gotten shit done without her families money and power and her intelligence). Bang won for the most part treated her as an equal and valued her political suave. She is historically all kinds of relevant awesome sauce and if they down play that or turn her into some second lead villain just to push boonyi/boonyi-bangwon imma rage. Like knetzeins say "sorry boonyi but we need Hangul" lol.
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3 nara
November 19, 2015 at 3:34 AM
thanx Heads i was refreshing constantly, loved your comment at the end
doing a great job as usual - thanx
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4 KompaktneHaare
November 19, 2015 at 3:58 AM
I enjoy watching this drama. I was hoping for some clever opponents and that's what I get. It is always interesting to see what happens next.
One thing though. I don't know if this is because of the era we're in or what gives? But I am confused as to why Bangji things that taking the girls far away and not letting them do the things they want is what's best for them. I mean, yes, it's not very safe for Yoon Hee in the organisation. However, there's been many years since he last saw her and she is not the same litte girl anymore. What I mean to say is.. why does he think he knows better? He never listens to what the girl says and thinks that his thoughts about life are somehow right and the girl is not smart enough to decide what she wants and what's best for her. So I got annoyed with him a lot in this week's episodes.. Bangji, what gives?
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sunnyxshin
November 19, 2015 at 4:33 AM
Yeah I'm annoyed at Bangji making all the decisions by himself. But I guess he's doing this to make up for being the protective oppa and lover he should have been when he was young?
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sunnyl
November 19, 2015 at 5:03 AM
I think he is just frustrated as hell, felt defeated and lost hope, representing how many commoners felt at that time period.
I love this show involves general population's feelings, not just the fight amongst high court officials. I think three young dragons kind of represent various type of the Goryeo population at such difficult times - like
Mu-hyul who is naive and accepts his situation, finding happiness in whatever situation he is in.
Bang-ji who is frustrated at their situation, living feeling defeated and miserable, and Boon-Yi who is frustrated, but keeps trying to do something to make it better - Leader type.
They need more Boon-yi, and I love them all.
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nara
November 19, 2015 at 5:45 AM
i think MH in a way suffered the least out of alldragons
that is why he is still just a baby dragon and not a full fledge one as the rest
also when he tells BY his frustrations this ep she tells him his lucky
i think she means he hasnt seen how bad the world cab be and is full of optimism and she envies his optimism and how he is still full of hope for the future that can be changed
and i just think BY is the coolest
i was afraid shell become nothing more than BW lover
but she is so cool she has a mission and a vision
and she will change the world for the better
she is just the best
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KompaktneHaare
November 19, 2015 at 5:36 AM
Yeah. I guess. It's somehow funny that when he makes these decisions all by himself he gets frustrated because nobody does what he wants them to do. :D
I love Bangji anyways. Hope he feels better some day.
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 6:35 AM
I know life sucks for him and everyone else like Yeon Hee especially but he seems to be more of a loose cannon than Bang-won. He rages at the wrong people and I didn't get what the hell he was yelling at Yeon Hee for. He is doing the same thing to survive.
I hope Jung Do-jeon and Lee Seong-gye will take him in as part of the family, like Seong-gye did with Lee Jiran. Jung Do-jeon could straighten his thinking and help him understand that the revolution will take time and Goryeo will not end with just killing Baek Yoon.
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sunnyxshin
November 19, 2015 at 6:39 AM
*sigh* Bangji is so lost... :( Looking forward to his reunion with his sister soon!
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Daniel
November 19, 2015 at 6:03 AM
I don't see the problem. In his point of view, what they do is the opposite of the best thing for them. They are like the enemy of the state. And the probabilty to get killed or tortured as such is much higher.
He dosen't belive in a new world. The only thing he wants is to stay alive and grasp at whatever happines he can. He wants the same for the people he cares about. (it happens to be three women). He tries to convince Yeon Hee. Besides (at this point) he thinks his Sister is dead.
I really like this charakter, because he is the one with the most realistic point of views.
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KompaktneHaare
November 19, 2015 at 8:17 AM
You're right about that. It's just that I feel like his approach is not the best to actually achieve his goal. Also, he hasn't calculated the girls own thoughts into this thing. He sees the world only through his own eyes (which is perfectly normal) and that's why I get frustrated at watching him banging his head against the wall and so does he, I guess.
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Marshmallow
November 19, 2015 at 8:15 AM
To be fair, Yeonhee told him to leave first and not get involved. Now that he knows what she's doing, he's returning the favor. Bangji doesn't act like he knows everything. And yes, Yeonhee was the first to tell him to leave because she wants what she thinks is best for him. They're both just looking out for each other.
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yukie
November 19, 2015 at 9:03 AM
Bangji in this epi is actually very predictable.
Bangji has a very soft character, he doesnt even like to fight however he saw how weak he was and cling to the hope that when he is strong enough he can make "changes" to the world and hopefully protect the ppl he loved.
After killing Baek Yoon, he realizes that his power is still useless and even Yeon Hee asked him to leave.
He believed her coz he thinks she was having a good life, he most probably assumes that she is happily living a normal life based on how she looks.
So when he realized that she is actually being a spy he is angry, partly towards her and partly towards himself. He wanted yeon hee to lived a normal carefree life, he cant protects her and now he cant do anything despite knowing how dangerous her life is.
if he is really forcing his will, i believe he can forcefully drags her but he only argue w her. so I think its all in character.
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dkaoru, GO GO!
November 19, 2015 at 8:07 PM
Yes, I agree I don't like his whole attitude towards Boon yi and Yeon Hee at this point. He's all about saving the women from all the dangers, but he doesn't take into account the women's wishes. Even these two were kicked out from the organization by Jung do jeon, I don't think these two would leave willingly. They're one of the most dedicated followers.
I think at this point he is just letting his past guilt overrule his better judgements. He wasn't able to protect anyone from danger in the past, so he's hell bent trying to protect them from danger now, even thought they embrace the danger quite willingly themselves.
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5 dramamama5
November 19, 2015 at 4:22 AM
Wow!!! HeadsNo2, that was an amazing recap and impressive analysis. I think I'm gonna have to start watching 6D. Daunting...long....but it finally sounds worth it. You rock!
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6 sunnyxshin
November 19, 2015 at 4:30 AM
I wasn't going to watch this but (consider me shallow) I got sucked in by the romance...which won't have a happy ending, right?
Anyway, sometimes Bangwon is so smiley that I'd forget he's clever and calculating. You poor rejected puppy.
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sunnyl
November 19, 2015 at 4:50 AM
Bang Won smiley- Actually I was not excited when Yoo Ah-in was casted as Bang Won for this drama because I thought he does not look manly enough/look too soft.
Bang Won was played by many veteran actors with Charisma before (Yoo Dong-geun from Tears of Dragon, An Jae-mo from Jung Do-jeon, Kim Young-chul from Great King Sejong, Baek Yoon-sik from Tree with deep roots, Choi Tae-joon from Great seer, etc.)
The most famous one was Yoo Dong-geun from Tears of Dragon (still many's favorite Sageuk), and many think Bang Won = Yoo Dong-geun (father in What's with this family, Lee Sung-gye in Jung Do-jeon) who can't be beat (and compared to anyone who plays Bang Won).
However, this show portrays Bang Won in totally different light by Yoo Ah-in (who can be silly, soft in addition to being ambitious and clever), and people (me included) wonder if he could change the Bang Won = Yoo Dong-geun opinion.
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sunnyxshin
November 19, 2015 at 6:38 AM
I haven't watched everything you mentioned above (not really a sageuk fan hehe) but I think maybe it's because Bangwon is younger in this show, so the writer wants show him in a adorable side before he turns all cold and powerful when he becomes king?
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 7:23 AM
Tears of the Dragon will remain my favorite of this era. The veteran actors were perfectly cast. Yoo Dong-geun is always great. I like him more as Seong-gye in Jeong Do Jeon. I think Baek Yoon-Sik was pretty darn good too in Tree.
As for Bang-won's concubine Hyo, I much prefer Kim Hye Ri over Kim Sung-Ryoung in TGKS.
I hope that Bong Yi is not going this route. I'd prefer to see her as a stand alone dragon than a concubine who is basically there to sleep with the king and nothing more.
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Marshmallow
November 19, 2015 at 8:18 AM
Well, Boonyi herself said she's not interested in the concubine route so your concerns are unwarranted.
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Adal
November 19, 2015 at 8:24 AM
Not necessarily. It's still a fear. The underlying reason why she rejected Bang won wasn't because of their social positions but because of her feeling that she betrayed her brother. When she reconciles with her brother, what's to stop her from changing her mind? We all saw that she has strong feelings for Bang won.
I too, hope she remains steadfast and doesn't allow herself to be the concubine of a noble or a king. She's worth so much more than that.
Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 8:40 AM
..unwarranted? Lol ok.
7 mary
November 19, 2015 at 5:03 AM
Heads, your commentary cracks me up so much. No matter what's happening in the drama. XD
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8 Giegie
November 19, 2015 at 6:46 AM
Thank you for the recap. :)
Out of topic: Shin Se-kyung is so pretty & glowing in this episode. ^_^
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9 CaroleMcDonnell
November 19, 2015 at 7:19 AM
oh my! That shrink comment!
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10 nomad
November 19, 2015 at 7:21 AM
I don't have much thing to say, except...I really like this sage! I was going to watch gaekju because of my love for Jang Hyuk, but it's so damn depressing I can't handle it. Sageuk should be like this...the good guys lose some, but then it wins big! Drama is an escapee's place anyway.
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11 Adal
November 19, 2015 at 8:21 AM
I had envisaged Boon Yi dying and Bang won turning from her in grief to marry again although his heart wasn't in it. What I didn't envisage was her rejecting him, and him making a political marriage. Duh - Of course, that's a no brainer! I'm just sad to see my favorite star crossed lovers in this episode. So Boon Yi has no hope but to be his concubine, which she really doesn't want to do... Can't say I blame her, but what are their options?
Shin Se Kyung is really killing it this episode, I love her and I can always count on Moo Hyul for the comic relief.
I still love Gil Mi Tae, he's so endearing for a baddie :-)
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Anon3333
November 19, 2015 at 10:26 AM
It is like that in the past people marry for business/political reasons and the poor cannot marry someone rich, like she said if they were ever going to have a relationship, she has to become a mistress/concubine..
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12 Niki
November 19, 2015 at 8:39 AM
Thanks so much for the recap, Heads!
I think i'm in the minority of being more invested in Bang Ji and Yeon Hee's enfolding love story compared to Bang Won and Boon Yi's. I'm not sure why i feel more drawn to this OTP. Maybe its the combination of pain, regret and longing that Bang Ji feels for Yeon Hee is what's drawing me in. It also doesn't help that both Byung Yo Han and Jeong Yu Mi reminds me of the young Leslie Cheung and Brigitte Lin in old Hong Kong movies. Such classic beauties.
Also, props to Park Hyeok Kwon who portrays Gil Tae Mi. I totally love him. He's an evil, quirky villain with a penchant for theatrical flair and heavy make-up. The scene where he flicked jade beads at his henchmen was hilarious. Hope he perseveres through 45eps. Since he's one of the main villains, it'll be too optimistic of me to expect Gil Tae Mi to make it through all 50eps alive. ^^"
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nara
November 19, 2015 at 9:39 AM
i think the drama cased both "couples" as OTP
there are 2 OTP
i ship them both
i love YH and i feel her pain and really want to know what she went through till she became this legendary spy
to me she is the supreme victim of them all
and also an honorary dragon in my eyes
i like her with DS as much as i like BY & BW
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AJ Tee
November 19, 2015 at 4:23 PM
Ditto! I find Yeon Hee and Bang Ji's scenes together moving and gripping.
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Lin
November 20, 2015 at 12:54 AM
Me too. The twos scenes draw me in more. I think it's because BYH does pain so well. I can feel the longing, regret, and desperate need to make up for that one night of cowardice in their every interaction. At the same time JYM does a brilliant job of showing her pain and fought longing to tell him she's moved on from that day/night that changed them both in so many ways. That he's forgiven. She's never going to forget but he's forgiven and she doesn't hold it against him. It breaks my heart that they never talk about that day/night. It's so clear it deeply stays with them both and both really need to hear that "it wasn't your fault and it hasn't changed you in my eyes. You're the yeonhee and ddangse that I'll always want" or something like that.
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13 galwith_itchyfeet
November 19, 2015 at 8:48 AM
Heads amazing comments <3 always great... can't wait for for ep14 recap.
I love how boon yi rejected bang woon :) kekeke
Bang ji is such a sad character, so depressing. (his still my fave)
Bang woon dang I love how he confessed to boon yi telling her he knows that your mine makes me swoon like a teenage school girl when their crush smiles at them. hahaha Yoo Ah In i love you. :)
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14 TJ
November 19, 2015 at 9:15 AM
Jeez girl where was your head? The "I can't be happy because I'm sorry to my brother/sister/mom/dad" trope is pretty standard in korean drama and isn't intended the way you were thinking. Bang won is such a charming little sociopath. No doubt a very desirable quality in a future king.
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 9:23 AM
"charming little sociopath"
I'm going to have a love hate relationship with his character.
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Anon3333
November 19, 2015 at 10:22 AM
She feels guilty that she let her brother, her only family die, and she thinks she doesn't deserve to be happy because of that
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15 nara
November 19, 2015 at 9:46 AM
what confused me most was that DS thought his sister was dead - although weve seen him watching her from afar so he knows she isnt dead
didnt understand this revelation of his
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Anon3333
November 19, 2015 at 10:20 AM
That was around episode 3 or so.. he visited their hometown in around ep 7 or something and the villager he saw there told him that after the chaos(the burning of the grain storage) that happened she and some others did not return so bangji assumed she died..
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nara
November 19, 2015 at 10:29 AM
i didnt remember that, thanx now its clear
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16 Dukdam
November 19, 2015 at 11:07 AM
As someone said above, Bangwon is such a charming sociopath. This is so wrong but I am kind of anticipating the arrival of 'Kill Bangwon' in all his glory.
Ddangsae's moping, on the other hand, is getting a bit irritating. I keep getting Strider and all his despair cos Men are weak vibes before the Fellowship made him suck it up and claim Anduril. Thankfully it looks like he'll get a new name and start cheering up soon.
And yay for Boonyi! Such a strong, fierce character! I would have you as my comrade any time.
Finally, thanks as always for the recap Heads.
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 11:39 AM
I'd rather that they don't sugar-coat his character. Bring it! release his inner demon. History has been written.
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Lin
November 20, 2015 at 12:59 AM
Me too I want them to go so dark with ban won done the line. We gotten glimpses here and there that shows some of the psycho that is to come, but I can't wait till they hopefully open Pandora's box and bring on the brothers laying, exhaling and throne taking, killing off in laws, and anyone that dares to threaten (real or imagined) his democratic tyranny.
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17 earthna
November 19, 2015 at 12:27 PM
The ships are killing me. I may or may not have thrown my laptop a few times during Boonyi-Bangwon scenes (especially in 14 omg). Both the OST played in their scenes are on point and don't help at all. Bangji-Yeonhee is just heartbreaking though. I think I cry whenever they are on the screen.
Can't believe I'm saying this but I kinda miss Lee In Gyeom. Hong In Bang is a really interesting character. My heart aches whenever I see him. I really feel bad for that guy's soul. He was this upright scholar but after getting tortured and dragged to the ground, he became this evil person. Sigh.
Thanks for the recaps, Heads!
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Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 1:16 PM
I don't think we've seen the last of In Gyeom yet. I think he stepped down just to watch Hong destroy himself or by the Shadow and his dragons.
He is not as powerful and politically savvy as In Gyeom and anyone in Goryeo with a brain knows that his reign in Dodang will be short lived.
The Dodang baddies makes the boring politics entertaining. The actors are so good. I enjoy watching them the most.
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earthna
November 19, 2015 at 3:10 PM
I know right! When I watch sageuk, I usually skip boring political stuff but this one really makes me invested. I really hope so coz I enjoy him making a fool of Hong In Bang. lol
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18 Kiara
November 19, 2015 at 1:31 PM
Thank you Heads. I wouldn't be watching if it wasn't for your recaps. I hope you'll love it all the way to 50 :).
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19 MagMag
November 19, 2015 at 4:43 PM
May be I am crazy, I find Gil Tae Mi quite entertaining ??
I don't think much of the Bang Won and Boon Yi love line but Banji and Yeon Hee they made me cry every exchange they had. I hope they can overcome their obstacles and eventually get together.
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dkaoru, GO GO!
November 19, 2015 at 8:12 PM
You're not crazy :) you're not alone either, quite a number of us finds him very entertaining to watch. I wonder if his blue eyeshadow is gonna start a trend.
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I Will Goryeo You
November 20, 2015 at 5:22 AM
Gil Tae Mi eyeshadow has set the trend in Korea! :D
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20 pliplipli
November 19, 2015 at 6:47 PM
yeon hee is an amazing character (double spy? hell yes!) and I want to love her with all my heart, but something with yoo mi's performance keeps pulling me away from her scenes. her loveline with ddang sae is tragical, sad and raw, but I can't imerse myself on their scenes. not just their scenes, but also the ones with jeong do jeon. I'm getting frustrated with myself for this! I want to love her 100%, but I just can't... /ends rant
on the other side, I'm loving shin se kyung and yoo ah in. they've such a cute chemistry on screen. I know we'll have tons of angst in the future, but I'm enjoying their cute shenanigans for now...
I can't be the only one heart eyes emoji every time kim myung min appears. lol
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21 dkaoru, GO GO!
November 19, 2015 at 8:19 PM
I really like this drama so far :) Thank you so much for the recap Heads! It helped a lot!
While I know this is supposed to be serious sageuk, I really enjoy the funny bits and the quiet moments. I mean it's gonna be 50 episodes, it can't all be heavy, we need a bit of a breather.
I like how in between the heavy political stuff, Bang Won still have time to pout over the rejection. His face says it all: I can't believe you're rejecting me, am Lee Bang won! *sexy pout sexy pout*. Yeah Boon Yi, what were you thinking? hahahaha. And then the scene where she gave me that medicine, he spat out *what is it, it's some round thing* and just look so disgruntled it's so cuteee.
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22 dkaoru, GO GO!
November 19, 2015 at 8:29 PM
My fave moments in drama is the facial expressions of the actors. They say soo much.
My fave moments so far:
1) Gil Tae Mi conversation with Lee In Gyeom about Bang ji trying to kill Hong In Bang.
Gil: *looking disapprovingly with dark eyeshadow* well you shouldn't have sent an assasin to kill us
Lee In Gyeom: *screaming in frustration and rage* I DIDN"T I TELL YA, will ya stop saying that I did!
2) Lee Seong Gye conversation with Jung Do Jeon after the general cast out Hong In Bang.
Lee Seong Gye: I'm not gonna be buddy buddy with Hong In Bang. You gotta come up with a different plan.
Jung Do Jeon: Huh? I chose you so you could just listen to me and do what I say. Whaddaya mean you're not gonna do it? Dude I just pulled off an awesome plan to save your son. You gotta give me time if you want another awesome plan. I need some broody meditation time in my batcave.
3) anytime Bang Won and Boon Yi are together.
Bang Won: why won't you like me? *sexy pout sexy pout* am Lee Bang Won! You should totally like me
BoonYi: we gotta look busy for this oncoming revolution, no time for this sorta thing. I gotta get me some taffy.
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Adal
November 19, 2015 at 9:04 PM
Oh my Lord! ROFL! Too funny!!!
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I Will Goryeo You
November 20, 2015 at 5:17 AM
LMAO!!! Best comment!
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23 healer_ahjumma
November 19, 2015 at 11:54 PM
I love everything about this drama-- so I read and search about their history...
And now I'm nervous and scared that I will hate some characters later. But no--- my dragons...
I think I'll just need to trust the writers. But we all know, that in dramaland... the writer are the only one who can hurt us. HOHOHO but please, writer-nim... Don't make it so tragic. I love sageuk. Historical drama usually hurt me in the end, but I'm definitely up for this one! (I enjoyed Dong Yi but I was depressed by Queen Seonduk.) Ohh well, whatever happens, Six Flying Dragons team, fighting!!
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24 I Will Goryeo You
November 20, 2015 at 5:15 AM
Bang Won and Boon Yi are sooo adorbs!!
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25 Beez
November 20, 2015 at 3:37 PM
Heads said "And for reasons I’m sure Freud would have a lot of fun dissecting, being in that intimate moment with Bang-won reminded her too much of her brother and of her ensuing guilt. Good luck getting that association out of your head."
And while it took me a head-shaking minute, I think Bong Yi meant "guilt and betraying" her brother in the sense that she refuses to allow herself to be happy.
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26 rosaline
November 27, 2015 at 8:11 PM
BOON yi.
not BONG yi.
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