Otteoke~~
It's undeniably pretty but it has barely made me FEEL anything yet. 😭😭😭😭😭

I know, I know. "What Sic? How could you!"
Alas, it's true though.
I know I'm heartless at the best of times but it's hard to be invested in something that doesn't make you care.
I'm most engaged when Kang Hanna is on screen, and, specifically, when her scenes with the King are from her POV. (Like that scene on the bridge where she recalled their past meeting after his father died- THAT was a good scene).
If I keep watching, it will be for her (hardly the worst reason to keep watching tbh).

Otherwise, I'm just not connected with this drama as much as a) a lot of other people seem to be (😬) or b) as much as I'd really like to.*

As a Historical Fashion Nerd aside:
I don't yet know the level of historical authenticity to them yet, but I like how this is as a sageuk set during winter, actually has winter clothing- quilted and or fur lined hanboks, secondary warmer layers over the top, etc.
I don't know if the representation of this is as I said, accurate, but logically to me its completely within the realm of it and I think it's a nice touch.

(*Tbf- part of this may be from a kind of drama burnout I'm experiencing at the moment, in response to which I really need to just bite the bullet and drop a whole bunch of stuff, and never mind why I'm trying to continue them. Lol.)

I'm sure that the amount of tears Yi Tae has shed will soon qualify/qualifies as record-breaking for all Joseon Kings.

The left state moves are so smart and powerful that I can't help but applaud despite my hatred of him and I begin to wonder if Yi Tae and Jeong will ever get a chance. The King especially always seems 10000 steps behind and I wonder how he survived in that Palace until now when he doesn't come off as quite the smart person. It also doesn't help that the only trust worthy person he has had in that Palace for 20+ years seems to be Eunuch Jung. How? Why? Is the LSC really all powerful and all knowing? 😪

I had called the Left state councillor - Queen Dowager thing after watching the second episode. There was just this way she looked at him and almost waited for his instructions to do any thing that gave it away. Left state councillors are really always assholes and the epitome of wickedness 🙄; he obviously loved power more than any feelings he ever had for her to ask her to do such a thing. I'm not sure how the king will use this "weakness" but it will surely come in handy.

I really really want to see how Jeong will start making power moves on her own and pull in her own weight in this fierce battle after all more than her feelings for Yi Tae, her whole family was annihilated so she has scores to settle as well.

Yeon-hee annoys me a lot, she's such a spoilt brat but then I also realise she doesn't know what's really going on and sigh

Everything about this drama screams pain and I'm here wondering if I really needed another painful Sageuk right after TRS albeit completely fictional

Finally Lady Jung makes a move that imprints herself in the palace. At this point it'd be nice to align herself to power. She can build power so she can get protection independent of the King or Councillor Park because time and time again these two men have proven incapable of coming to her aid. Once the King appoints those Sarim scholars, it would be a very good way to hold sway in court. Lady Cho has her fathers people, hence she needs to align her own people.

Frankly, seeing the King and PGW on screen boils my blood. They are impressive but the imbalance this two episodes made the question the King's wit. Did PGW really have all the cards here? He could have backed PGW into the corner but the choose not to. He could take Lady Jung as queen and still alienate PGW from the benefits of being the king's in-law. He has the weight to do so. So why? Why punish Lady Jung twice for the errors of his father, him and PGW, and then his errors and PGW's.

I was really hoping she would hate the King even if it was for an episode. He ruined your ancestry for crying out loud and you do not even have an actual civil conversation about that. It's too easy. Her love really covers a multitude of sins.

I don't know if it's because this drama is so beautiful that my brain can't focus on the plot or if the story is lacking and it's why I don't really care about the characters... I mean Jang Huyk and Lee Joon are big enemies but it sounds more because the plot wants it than a real reason behind it. After 6 episodes, it's only about Palace intrigues and the people could dance naked, nobody would care.

I'm like @sicarius, I love their clothes are actually made for the cold season. They look cozy like that.

I continue to be impressed by the directing. There are some really interesting shots and visually, this is the most beautiful sageuk I've seen.

Both episodes were predictable, but I thought they did a good job building the tension anyway. I loved the end of Episode 6 with Jung declaring her intentions to become Queen. She's definitely the most sympathetic and interesting character in my eyes, and she's smart. PGW definitely seems to respect her a bit.

I appreciate a restrained Jang Hyuk, it's something that doesn't happen often, but he's playing it a little too restrained for me. I feel something for the other characters, at least, but not him.

I keep pondering if the king played by Junho. It is not like Lee Joon is bad, I love his expression at the scene where he must to lift up her veil like the mix between he is glad she stays and fears that she can't leave. Junho retains his cocky-ness (like NJH that always has that nerdy aura) in whatver character he plays which suits this type of character.

I had zero expectations going into this drama. Maybe that's why I'm just enjoying the ride. I'm not BLOWN AWAY by it, but I'm really captivated by the characters, the cinematography. It feels like slow burn, and that's okay with me :)

What a conundrum the King finds himself in. He is so worried about Lady Jeong that he can't focus on accumulating power. He needs to impregnate Yeon Hee, but keeps looking out for Jeong. He needs the backing of her father, but he just can't focus. Jeong meanwhile said I don't care, I am going to get my man, lol. What a mess. Bloody heart indeed.

The betrayal scene of that eunuch of PGW was actually a real plot twist, even the bossy PGW couldn't trust anybody. His people could be enermies in a blink of an eyes. Maybe the next one was his son or wife? Let's see. Ddong-geum isn't gonna end well for sure.

And The scene I'd like to mention was when Lee tae going to see Jung at the bridge and she realised that he wasn't play with her heart.

I'm with a lovesick-puppy king but he needs to step up his game from now on.

If anyone gets me anxious in this show it's Ddong-geum. I know she's a friend to Jung, but she has no notion of how to be discrete. She's going to get herself killed or put Jung in more danger.

And as most Beanies here have mentioned regarding Gye-won, he's certainly doing some bad things, but you just have to give him points for how he makes his moves.

This show does many things extremely well. It's expertly directed to be addictive and supremely watchable, even when not much is actually happening. It also manages to show the soul-sucking horror of living in and being beholden to the palace (the casual way the King ordered the flogging of all those servants--which we then had to actually see--was brutal largely because the naked disregard for those people's lives was casually accepted) while still making viewers (or this one at least) want to believe redemption and a way out of this mess is possible for everyone.

The actors are playing all the layers of what are often very straightforward lines and dialogue expertly, and the costumes, sets, cinematography, makeup are extraordinary. I enjoy watching this drama and will continue to do so.

I also understand those who are saying that it's surprisingly difficult to feel a strong emotional attachment to the characters or the story. I think part of the problem might be the decision to start the story in the middle of things. Doing so meant we were spared extended backstory and set-up scenes (which I appreciate!) but it also makes it difficult to connect to these people. For me, although Lee Joon and Kang Hanna have excellent chemistry and convey a lot of feeling in just a glance, I'm not yet feeling the intensity of their love. And I have to feel that way in order to be invested in the story as that love is supposed to be the basis for every plot turn and development. Maybe it's because the early scenes of their romance showed a very restrained and careful connection, and perhaps a dynamic that was more familiar and passionate would have worked better (although I understand doing that may have made the King look like a selfish jerk).

In the end, I think the fact that this show is so good makes me have higher expectations for it than is perhaps fair, lol.

Still excited about this drama despite it being predictable this week. It was still a setup mode for the main leads to get in place. I knew Jung couldn't have left Ddong Geum in danger. The last scene to reveal them was drawn out a bit much.

I couldn't remember if Jung's court lady was known to be Gye Won's spy so I was surprised to see her report to him this time. I wonder if she will be conflicted by Jung's genuine care and actions in the future. It was also interesting that his eunuch spy went to Minister Won Pyo instead. Oh how the different sides will have various betrayers.

There was a brief, but notable line from Tae when he mentioned the Queen Dowager's affection for Inspector Park (Gye Won's son). This made me instantly think that maybe he is her son as well.

Want to see more of Madam Yoon and Gye Won. I was shocked when he gave her his thanks. It sounded so sincere too. Does he love her? Does he love Ga Yeon? Madam Yoon seems very loyal to her husband.

But to state the bleeding obvious, what are “his carefully laid out plans” beyond the desire to rule absolutely? Power for its own sake and the riches that it brings has been the motivation for countless absolute monarchs and other authoritarians/dictators throughout eons. Does Tae have a vision beyond his seething, humiliation led revenge agenda?

Jung is finally in the game and I believe that it's all for good. Park Gye Won is extremely smart , he knows everything about Tae. Surely he knew about the library exit too which is why Tae can never outsmart him. Though YJ is different.

He just knows she's smart but not what she's capable of. Now that she is in the game too, I guess her and Tae teaming up equal to PGW's sly moves. But I loved seeing him running frantically that he's going to lose it all. Seriously the story becomes boring if only one party keeps on winning and outsmarting everyone so it was good for a change that he did not predict the king will make an exit for Yoo jung.

I think one reason the story feels thin is that the drama really is more focused on presenting one intense moment after another. It really has no interest in downtime, in little everyday moments. It goes from one beautifully filmed intense scene to another, and the tension never lets up. That's OK for a 90 minute spy movie, but hard to sustain over a series of one-hour episodes. There needs to be more storytelling, less crises. And yeah, I get that Tae is always bursting with suppressed emotion, and his glistening eyes do convey that, but you can only use the same device so many times before it gets tired.

I love the tension in BH, but to be honest I fear the show might lose the audience (me!) if they place the focus on the wrong character(s). Up to this point, the only engaging character is Jung who is clear where her heart and mind should be despite being kept in the dark for many things. PGW is evil and cunning, which is fun to watch but his intention is not one I can wholeheartedly root for. The king is given the most screen time but he's the weakest link of all. His move to snatch Yeon Hee's dad appeared to be smart at first, but then his fake shot revealed his intention to PGW too early! I was like wtf you're weak, you're not even half-way there, and now the enemy just sees you through, how are you gonna survive *sigh*. He desperately needs to get a child from Yeon hee but can't seem to act his part. His maneuvers suck, his love sucks, his focus sucks. Without substantial character growth, I feel like it's a waste of time to give Tae that much screen time. I'd rather watch more of Jung gathering support to rise to the power and take revenge for her family. I wouldn't mind if the king dies at the end and Jung leaves the palace to live with her people lol.