If (pause) you've (pause) only (pause) seen (pause) episode 17, dfkladslfjapdf! ITS SO FREAKING AWESOME! And its starting to take its toll on me by craving for the next episode and cursing Olympics! Never in my life that I hated Olympics. I mean it happens every 4 years and a lot of countries bid for them to host the event and after winning, they will build new structures to accommodate Olympics! Our beloved Kdramas were not spared from giving way to its coverage with the explanation that I had earlier. If you don't know Olympics shame on you. But really Olympics why now? Why?
[SPOILERS, you've been warned!]
I failed to write about my thoughts in episodes 15 and 16 for a stupid reason now (thought I was doing a noble thing by catching up with I do, I do and BIG - the BIG disappointment!). We were left with Kang-to asking Damsari where is Mokdan, that left beaten-to-death Damsari asking Kangto in full disbelief if he likes his daughter and Kang-to even used her real name, Boon Yi. As I said, the show was so bad that it let Shunji (now I kinda love him in episode 17) over heard the conversation that mounted to a mountainous suspicion that Kang-to is Gaksital. Really Shunji, you can simply ask Kang-to to yell "GAKSITAAAAL!" and you'll get your answer! hehe. And with that we were left with the scene below, Kang-to dragging Mokdan from the restaurant to escape. Of course Shunji pointed the gun to Gaksital Lee Kang-to! Bleh!
The ever witty Kang-to said a very fine excuse, "I love Mokdan!" Another bleh! for you Shunji! I first learned about Kang-to's excuse as I we (together with Shaui) were reading the live recap. In case you don't know a site is doing a live recap and even would post screenshots of an ongoing drama you simply can't imagine how earnest those girls are. However, with such writing, the intensity of how Kang-to uttered his confession in front of Mokdan and Shunji's gun, was not relayed nicely to non-Korean speaking audience that can't wait for it to be recapped by dramabeans or subbed in kimchidramas or dramacrazy. And that is a big bleh! for us. After that we, vowed not to read live recaps anymore. I don't know why reading recaps in dramabeans doesn't ruin the episode that I will watch later, though it sets the mood for me and it greatly influenced my drama choices.
Come episode 16. See that look on Damsari's face after Kang-to shot one of his comrades from behind to save the fake wife of Damsari. Shunji is quick to follow and whew! Kang-to hit Damsari to Shunji's full view. This being-caught-tortured-escape-and-caught-again dance number can get you bored at times, it just that the drama was so good that you'll forget about all those things. Mokdan dared to enter the tortured cube on her own, after the Chief decided to interrogate her. Mokdan was told by her dad that she can trust Kang-to.
So now episode 17. I actually thought that it will be like death this week, meaning no Gaksital, due to Olympics coverage preemption, but I read it wrong. Still we have one episode a very good one and as what was said in dramabeans, its worth 2 episodes. That's how rich episode 17 is.
Shunji is another clever person in the house, he ordered Mokdan to be taken somewhere, well apparently to the hotel. Which our never be outsmarted Kang-to able to locate. Two significant conversations happened, Mokdan and Shunji and the other one Kang-to and Mokdan.
This is the first time that Shunji were able to explained to her why he wore the Imperial uniform. I suddenly want to shift to Team Shunji for a moment there. But he smeared Kang-to-ya's character. Mokdan told how her mom were tortured and dumped into the well just gives me chill (reminded me of Sadako) and let Shunji realized how Mokdan hates the invading Japs and now he is there convincing her to trust him. At the end, Shunji powerfully slapped her. Pain.. pain.. and more pain. Our resident poker faced samurai, heard everything, and reported to Ueno Rie. Still dressed like a geisha (minus the white make up), she comforted Shunji and asked for the head of Mokdan. I really liked Shunji again, because he is not afraid of Rie, and even told her how pitiful she is. Bleh! I am still thinking of the real essence of Rie in this drama, and I kinda guess that she will later on be on the good side, after all she is a Joseon, but of course she'll die.
Down to Mokdan and Kang-to conversation. It was graced by the flashback of how Young master, asked his dad to take Boon Yi. Kang-to told Mokdan that he is the Young master. My heart goes for Mokdan as she can't believe what she is hearing from Kang-to. I know Kang-to had been itching to tell Mokdan that he is the Young master after he had seen the knife from their catch-me-if-you-can encounter at the hotel. Kangto at the verged of kneeling to beg for Mokdan to believe him and tell her where is the rest of the rebels, was interrupted by Shunji. Did he hear everything?
Goodness! Thanks to a No what-are-you-doing-here-and-great-excuse-of-Kang-to kind of scene! Kang-to went to Damsari. Why Abe is not suspecting Lee Kang-to? I love his loyalty and his cuteness! Damsari told him where the rebels are, after the now famous Egg and Boulder talk. hehe!
And now we see, GAKSITAAAAAL! with the rebels to plan on how to save Damsari on the execution day. Look at the face of the rebel after Gaksital walked into their den.
Rie is on the move of killing Mokdan which we know that will never happened, not in this episode, NEVER! unless the writer wants to screw us on the ending and get institutionalized after for being crazy. She reported to father Kimura about Shunji's love for Mokdan didn't waver. Samurai brought unconscious Mokdan like a sack of cloth and Rie told the samurai to kill Mokdan. Do you think Gaksital will see this just seating down? Something hit the samurai from behind the doors and comes our GAKSITAL!
SWORD vs METAL FLUTE! Daddy Kimura also grabbed a sword! Oh no! And also Rie after daddy Kimura was knocked off. They ran outside. Mokdan vs Rie and Gaksital vs Samurai! Our hero was triumphant but was badly hurt and asked Mokdan to run! First time for Gaksital to utter something. Did Mokdan recognize the voice?
She did and run into the woods waiting for Gaksital with the palms of her hand pressed together on a prayer. A horse came with the unconscious and pale Gaksital.. OMO OMO.. We have a clever horse too!
Answered prayer for Mokdan! Can she take these? What are you doing?!
She unmasked Gaksital only to see Kang-to-ya! Judging from how big her eyes now, she will have a nervous breakdown. She'll go from denial to flat crazy! haha! And so I am and all who is under Gaksital spell. We have to wait for next Wednesday for the episode 18! Booo!
Those shots kills me. I screamed "Kang-to, you can't kill Shunji!" Really you can't kill your best friend. Sobs..sobs..sobs..
Its good to see a smiling Shunji again. That is what Kang-to remembers, the kindness of the then Shunji. There is still hope in Shunji's character, though we may not see it fully, but I am sure we will see redemption. I hope Shunji will not die. I hate it when drama kills all the baddies and sometimes the good ones too (the second lead usually) as if they don't know what to do, so lets just kill them. I saw it in Moon/Sun that is why I hated that part. As for Kang-to, its also been a while since I see a genuine smile and I can see his dimples too! And if I may say this, I am really a sucker when it comes to dimples! Going back, I love the ring made from a wildflower. I wish I could get myself with HD copy of Gaksital episodes for the cinematography is just daebak! I will not talk about the romantic part between Kangto and Mokdan, for I didn't feel anything. And I blame you "Stairway Kiss" of Yoon-jae and Shi-won! He!
image credit: dramabeans.com[/caption]
