Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! Thanks for joining in on this group watch of this very special show! ❤️

As I mentioned in my announcement post, these are my notes, exactly as they appear on Patreon.

ZERO SPOILER POLICY

We will be adopting a ZERO SPOILER POLICY for this Open Thread, except for events that have happened in the show, up to this point.

This includes, but is not limited to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later in the show.

The spoiler tags don’t work in email notifications, therefore, please take note that WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD. 

We need to protect the innocent! 😉

Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes; have fun in the Open Thread, everyone! ❤️

My thoughts

Episode 13

E13. Oof. The angst. I definitely feel it, this episode.

Before I get into that, though, I wanted to just talk a little bit about how time passes, in our drama world.

I feel like it’s become startlingly clear to me, this episode, that Show is taking a very selective approach, in terms of what it wants to spend time on, and what it doesn’t want to spend time on.

This episode, it feels like Show zooms in on selected moments that are relevant to our OTP, and glosses over other things that are less relevant.

For example, the entire concubine selection process is treated like a sort of highlight reel, almost.

One minute, we see Deok Ro’s sister entering the palace for the selection process, and then before we know it, she’s not only been selected, she’s been formally installed, and by the end of the episode, San has gone to spend the night at her quarters.

Clearly, this all would have taken time to happen; it didn’t just occur in a matter of a few short days.

But Show isn’s interested in showing us the selection process, or how much time has passed, before she’s of age for the royal consummation. It all just happens, almost on the periphery, because this really is all somewhat peripheral, to our story.

Show only zooms in on the bits that are of particular importance and relevance to our OTP, and while this can feel a little bit.. strange, for those of us who are more used to a more chronological, step-by-step approach to storytelling, I think I do prefer this approach, overall.

For one thing, we don’t fritter away screen time on things that are not of great consequence to the focus of our story.

I feel like if Show had wanted to focus on everything equally, this would have been more like a 50-episode epic, than a shorter mini-series.

And for another, this way, our focus isn’t diluted by other things, like Deok Ro’s sister, now-Queen Wonbin, and how she feels about entering the palace, and how she feels about San himself.

There are other things as well, that Show doesn’t go into detail about, like what exactly happens to Princess Hwawan’s adopted son Baek Ik, and how he’d been sent into exile, and how he’d been executed in his mother’s stead.

I guess the bottom line is, I have some curiosity around how these details play out, but they aren’t critical to my engagement with our story.

I’m fully cognizant of the fact that our story is about San and Deok Im, and I’m even halfway grateful, that Show is actively working to keep me focused on them, rather than get distracted by other characters and their happenings.

This is also my cue to treat the political goings-on with a rather loose hand. Coz the idea I’m getting is, I don’t need to know or understanding everything, in order to fully appreciate the story that Show wants to tell.

That’s essentially the blurry lens I’m using for the whole rebel thing, where Wol Hye and her fellow rebel court maids stage an attack on San.

I mean, the whole thing feels quite random, in that I hadn’t expected them to attempt anything, after what had happened to Head Court Lady Jo.

This attack feels sudden and rather foolhardy, really, and I do wonder if this is just writer-nim’s way of wrapping up the whole thing with Gwangan Palace, so that we can move on to other things.

I did like the beat at the prison, where Deok Im visits Wol Hye, and asks why Wol Hye had saved her.

I found the deep sense of connection and mutual regard between them, that transcends the fact that Wol Hye had been actively involved in rebel activities, really quite touching.

I also enjoyed the spirit behind the stone-skipping scene. The comedy around Deok Im trying to sabotage San by giving him a large stone, was low-key kind of amusing, but the thing that really gets me in the heart, is how San puts Deok Im’s joy before his own.

The entire deal had been made, because San desired to hear Deok Im’s answer to his request, that she become his royal concubine.

But when he realizes what Deok Im’s request, that her friend Bok Yeon be allowed to return to work at the palace, means to her, he cedes the game to her – even though he could have easily won, and gained the answer which he’d wagered.

I love that. I find it really touching, that San consistently wants Deok Im to be happy, and prioritizes her happiness, even when it means that it puts a damper on his own happiness.

On a frivolous tangent, I can’t help getting a bit of a fangirl thrill, that San is so good at skipping stones, even though he hasn’t had much practice, and even though Deok Im gives him a really large stone that’s completely the wrong shape, for their purpose. 😁

The scene where a drunken San comes back to his quarters, really hits me in the heart too.

At first, it looks like he’s just being silly, painting random little lines, dots and swirls for Head Guard, Court Lady Seo and Deok Im. But then, we see that he’s actually wiping away tears, in between painting these little trifles.

In the context of the fact that he’s just spent the day eliminating people who are his relatives, because they are deemed to be rebels, this is utterly heartbreaking. 😭

Poor San. He must be feeling so conflicted, and at odds with himself. He’s always been so righteous and upright, that it must disturb him greatly, that he’s taking away the lives of people who count as his family.

I thought that Junho did a really excellent job delivering this scene, because the changes in the nuances of San’s drunken laughter, occur so seamlessly.

They are slight enough, that you don’t actually notice it start to happen. But, the change is also so clear, that you can’t miss how San’s laughter eventually looks and sounds strained, as he wipes away his tears. Really quite masterful, I thought.

San’s tipsy confrontation with Deok Im, over how she’s been avoiding him, feels raw and honest.

It really feels like San puts away his royal identity, and simply talks with Deok Im as an equal, as he complains of her avoiding him, and talks about how he’s afraid of himself, because he’s a man who’s killed his own brother.

There’s a forlornness in his eyes, and resignation and bitter plaintiveness in his voice, as he asks why Deok Im looks at him the way she does.

While I completely believe Deok Im when she talks about how her heart aches for the fact that San’s never looked comfortable ever since he took the throne, I also understand San’s frustration, that she’s evading his feelings for her.

Part of my brain is disturbed by the fact that San basically threatens to rape her, right there and then, but the other part of my brain rationalizes that:

1, this is not actually out of the ordinary, for kings who desire their court maids, and

2, this is likely San drunk-talking and spilling his feelings without filter or decorum.

He’s basically saying that he wants Deok Im, and is resentful of the fact that she keeps pushing him away.

Plus, there’s how he says it all, which I think makes a difference. He’s not actually very aggressive, as he says all this.

In fact, it feels like he’s half-hypnotized, as he whisper-mutters his words to Deok Im. This does make the moment feel less threatening, in its execution, at least by a bit, I think.

Yes, I’m jumping through mental hoops, in order to find a way to not be disturbed by this scene. And again, I think it goes back to the idea that San really does have the power to do this, if he wished.

Like that time in the library, where he grabbed Deok Im by the neck, and reminded her that her life was in his hands. Importantly, though, he doesn’t, so there’s that.

Also, I’m of the opinion that, if sober, San would never have even threatened Deok Im, let alone get close to carrying out his threat.

I think that’s shown very clearly, in how San reacts, when he finds out that his mother had asked Deok Im to be his royal concubine, and Deok Im had declined.

He’s clearly upset, and confronts Deok Im to tell her so, but he doesn’t force her in the matter – even though he could have.

As the Queen Dowager put it, he can literally pick any woman he wants, to be his royal concubine, because there isn’t anyone who should be able to turn him down.

He has the power to force Deok Im into becoming his royal concubine, but he refuses to use it. It’s important to him, that Deok Im comes to him willingly, and that’s why he delays his request, even though it upsets him to do so.

While I don’t know if San fully understands Deok Im’s reason, when she explains why she doesn’t want to be a royal concubine, I get the feeling that he wants to understand, and that’s important.

I think Deok Im puts it quite poignantly this episode:

“If I become your royal concubine, I need to give everything to you… and I will have nothing.

All humans are the same. If you give everything to someone, you will want to receive everything as well. But you are a person who can not do that.

To you it is just adding… an unimportant woman to your daily life, but my whole petty life will change. I will not be able to go back to my old life ever again. I am afraid… of losing.”

“I am afraid of losing myself.”

It makes sense to me, that, because Deok Im loves San so much, she’d want him to give her everything too, in a love relationship. After all, who would want to share the man they love, with a whole legion of other women?

But inevitably, because of the harem system, she would be but one of many women in his life. That’s hard to accept, and I can understand Deok Im’s thinking around this.

However, the alternative, of waiting on him and for him, as he continues to fulfill his royal duties with his concubine(s), is possibly just as hard, it looks like. 💔

Augh. The angst. San pines for Deok Im, and Deok Im in turn pines for him too, but they feel so far apart right now. 😭

Episode 14

E14. What an intense, absorbing episode this was. It’s to Show’s credit, that even though I’d originally balked at the 1.5-hour length, I didn’t actually end up feeling this episode going into overtime, after all.

In the end, it felt like this episode was the right and needed length for this arc of the story. Really well done, I thought, particularly for an episode with such a long running time.

One of the most noticeable things this episode, is how intense San is.

From the beginning of the episode, where I first notice the hint of snarl about his lips when he talks, his intensity grows more and more apparent, till he’s literally filling up the screen with his royal fury.

I think it makes narrative sense, which I’ll talk about in a bit, but first, I just wanted to say that it was really quite thrilling, from a fangirl perspective, to see Junho in this space.

This degree of glower and the smolder is a new look on him – at least, for me it is – and I get a thrill from seeing this part of his range, which Show has only given glimpses of, so far.

Plus, there’s something inexplicably sexy about the smolder, I have to admit. Sometimes it messes with my brain a little bit, which I’ll about later.

For now, just know that I pretty much defaulted to stars in my eyes every time Junho filled my screen with intense smolder, this episode. 🤩😍

And that’s starting from our opening scene, where the camera pans from Deok Im’s face to show us that San is sitting next to her, and her head is resting on his shoulder.

Even the way he silently sits there, and looks at her through lowered lids, while she comes to herself, is so sexy. To my eyes, it feels like all of his feelings – his love, desire and frustration – is oozing out of his very pores, as he looks upon her. Rawr.

I do love that Deok Im’s first reaction to San, after getting over the initial surprise that this is not a dream, and he’s actually there, is to ask him if something bad has happened, because he looks unhappy.

As much as Deok Im denies that she loves San, her concern for him says a lot, about how tuned in to his moods and facial expressions she is, and how her first instinct, is to make sure that he’s ok.

I have to admit, I love how San tells Deok Im so honestly, even with lashings of frustration coming through in his voice and his expression, that he can’t stop thinking about her, even when he’s supposed to be working. I kinda love how perplexed and annoyed San is, by Deok Im, and yet, how, in the midst of his annoyance, he still desires to be honest with her, and tell her how he feels.

There’s no resolution to San’s thrumming frustration around the situation with Deok Im, and that sets the tone for all the rest of his interactions with her, going forward, this episode.

Not only is that frustration always there, it grows in intensity over the course of the episode, until San seeks release for his anger, later in the episode.

I have to say, I love how Show is careful to set the tone early, such that by the time San explodes at Deok Im later, it feels like something that’s been organically brewing in the background, for a long time. I love that attention to detail.

And, I have to admit that I personally enjoyed seeing evidence of San’s growing frustration. Does that make me sadistic? 😅

Like, the scene where he summons Deok Im to see him in the private garden, and asks her why she had been coming from Queen Wonbin’s quarters.

When Deok Im goes into Dutiful Mode and advises him to spend more time with Wonbin, and be nicer to her, San’s overt irritation and resentment, and the distinct plaintiveness in his voice, at the fact that Deok Im is trying to send him into the arms of another woman, is quite thrilling to me.

I guess I just love the idea that San wants Deok Im be jealous over him.

In a roundabout sort of way, it registers to me, as San wanting to belong to Deok Im alone, and I find that a pretty darn thrilling idea, particularly for a King who can literally have thousands of women at his beck and call.

There are legit notes of fear and worry in San’s face, as he asks Deok Im if she doesn’t see him as a man anymore, and that just makes my heart go out to him.

He’s being so honest with Deok Im, with his feelings, and Deok Im keeps refusing to acknowledge her own feelings for him, in return.

To San’s credit, he does keep trying to express his heart to Deok Im and seek her acknowledgement of her own feelings for him, this episode, first at the top of the episode, and then here in the garden.

I think this does add some important context that helps our closing scene to land better – which I’ll talk about later.

“Do you not care about how I feel? Do you… not see me as a man anymore? You are merely a court maid, and you bragged about protecting me.

Until the day I die, I shall protect you. You sacrificed yourself to protect my life. How can I possibly… not love such a woman?

I have always thought… that you also have feelings for me. That you love me… as much as I love you. If that is not true, tell me right here, right now. Do you… really have no feelings for me?”

Augh. San is so.. plain, about how he feels about Deok Im, and I love it.

The OTP-rooting fangirl in me is somewhat disappointed that Deok Im refuses to admit that she loves San too, but I have to admit that I appreciate where Deok Im is coming from.

She’s already told San – and us – why she does not want to be a royal concubine.

And to be fair to Deok Im, she doesn’t specifically say that she doesn’t love San; she merely states that she’s never wanted to be his woman, which is basically the same as saying that she’s never wanted to be a royal concubine.

I can respect that she chooses to love San from afar, because she does not wish to share him with other women, and does not wish to live the burdensome life of a concubine.

While it’s uncomfortable, I do think it’s realistic, for Show to let us see that San is contemplating whether or not he should take Deok Im by force.

Like I’ve mentioned before, this is the reality of the times in which our story occurs. The King can literally order any woman in the entire country, to sleep with him, or be his concubine, if he wishes. And importantly, this is widely accepted as his right.

If San were to take Deok Im by force, whether by raping her, or by ordering her to be his concubine, he would be widely regarded as simply doing what a King does.

Because of this, it actually feels more true to the times, that San would at least entertain the idea, particularly after being thwarted in his romantic advances to Deok Im, so consistently, for so long.

After all, even the Queen Dowager had encouraged him to do so, in an earlier episode.

It’s to San’s credit that he even asks Court Lady Seo for her opinion, and I do think it’s to his credit, that Court Lady Seo can truthfully say that this is not the kind of man, or King, that he is.

The other major thing that feeds into San’s anger and frustration this episode, is the thing with Deok Ro.

When we begin the episode, we learn from Head Guard’s conversation with Deok Ro, that he’s bribed and manipulated the workers from the observation facility, and that San has chosen not to punish him – but is, at heart, still angry with him.

We know that this has been brewing for quite a while now, so it makes narrative sense, that it would all come to a boil, this episode.

I was honestly rather taken aback from Queen Wonbin’s sudden death, and the royal physician’s hapless statement, that he doesn’t know why she died, but I recognize that this is but a plot device, designed to galvanize Deok Ro into doing more shady things, in the interest of “avenging” his sister’s death.

On that note, I kind of hope that Show provides some kind of insight into Wonbin’s death later on, even if it’s a fleeting mention, because otherwise, it would feel rather like lazy writing.

Like, we need something to make Deok Ro do something really terrible, so let’s kill his sister off, never mind about the actual cause of death. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I do understand though, that the main focus this episode, as far as Deok Ro is concerned, is his growing arrogance, in terms of his personal standing with San.

Plus, there’s the thing, that aside from mourning the death of his sister, Deok Ro is also thwarted in his plans for his own future, by her death.

That doubles his anger and frustration, which, I suppose, does help to explain (though not justify) his actions this episode, of kidnapping the court maids, and torturing / forcing them to implicate Queen Kim, in Wonbin’s death.

As our two main arcs collide this episode, San’s glower and smolder explodes to a whole other level, and I find myself just lapping it all up with glee.

I mean, I sympathize with his frustration around Deok Ro, but it really is time for him to do something concrete about Deok Ro. And, when it comes to Deok Im, I just love having San show his feelings for her, even when it’s not his will to do so.

Like when he spies Deok Im jump into the lake to retrieve the perfume sachet, and thinks that Deok Im’s trying to kill herself.

The way he rushes to her, grabs her, and shouts at her, is such a plain expression, for all to see, of just how important she is, to him. Not gonna lie; that gives me a thrill. 🤩

And then when she can’t stop the tears from falling, as she later explains her actions to him, I do love how frank he is, even in front of Deok Ro, “Stop crying. When you cry, I become powerless.”

Augh. That’s an honest statement of vulnerability, isn’t it?? And it feels particularly significant, spoken by a King to a court maid?

Seeing how things play out in regards to Deok Ro and the kidnapped court maids, I do think that Deok Im is right in pointing out, later in the episode, that as King, San calculates everything, whereas for her, she’s simply terrified that Kyung Hee might die, before being rescued.

Deok Im’s not wrong. And, San’s not wrong in making those calculations either; that’s basically part of his job, as King, isn’t it?

Therefore, I can understand why Deok Im would risk San’s wrath, to involve the Queen Dowager. To Deok Im, this is a life and death situation. Whereas, to San, Deok Im’s action implies a lack of trust in him.

I have to say though, I cheered – and swooned, too – when Deok Im’s being threatened by Deok Ro, in Gwangan Palace, and San comes thundering into the place, ordering Deok Ro to let go of Deok Im, RIGHT NOW!

Ahhh!! What a hero moment!! 😍😍

Plus, the way San glowers so fiercely, as he slo-mo walks into the middle of Gwangan Palace, is so cool. 🤩🤩

At this point, I’d like to say that while I don’t think San’s approach towards Deok Ro’s wrongdoings – of turning a blind eye, only to let it all explode, when Deok Ro reaches a terrible pinnacle of badness – is actually a good or helpful strategy, I do think it rings true for what most benevolent people of power would tend to do, during these times.

Or at least, that’s the impression I get, from the various sageuks that I’ve watched.

I do think it would have served San a lot better, to have taken Deok Ro to task much earlier, and either cut him off early, or help him reform his ways, but I get that his long-term tolerance, is his way of giving Deok Ro space to realize the wrong of his ways, on his own.

I gotta say, I do love the way the confrontation scene is delivered.

Junho delivers San’s fire against Deok Ro with such a wide range of expression, from a loud shout, to a growl-whisper, as he bites out his words. I find myself quite mesmerized by it.

I don’t know if I buy Deok Ro’s claim, that aside from his sister, San had been his reason for living.

I honestly doubt that? From what we’ve seen of Deok Ro, he’s been self-serving this whole time, and I’d wager that any allegiance he’d shown to San, had been with his own eventual gain in mind.

Credit to Head Guard, though, for picking up on the fact that San does not actually want to kill Deok Ro, despite Deok Ro’s terrible crimes.

San’s pained, conflicted bellow, with tears streaming down his face, absolutely confirms how difficult this is, for him.

Because, aside from all of Deok Ro’s terrible crimes, San does look upon him as a friend and brother. And, it is within San’s nature, to not want to kill others, particularly those who are dear to him.

It feels like a good compromise, to have Deok Ro resign and leave the palace, though I honestly think San lets him off easy.

I have to wonder whether and how Deok Ro will re-enter our story, in our final stretch, because a clean exit like this, feels rather too easy. Maybe he’ll come back and prove his loyalty to San later, thus proving that San’s mercy on him was worthwhile..?

In our final scene of the episode, when San summons Deok Im to the library, it’s telling of how well Deok Im understands him, when she points out the real reason San didn’t want the Queen Dowager to be involved; because he would not have been able to spare Deok Ro’s life.

Deok Im’s plain statement of the uncomfortable facts, her insistence that her way of seeing things is just as valid, and her blunt pointing out that he had known the truth, but had lied to her, brings San’s anger to a boil, as the main uncomfortable truth between them gets laid bare: she is but a court maid, and he can have her killed, if he doesn’t like her.

The power imbalance now becomes the key focal point in the room, and all of San’s futile efforts to get Deok Im to acknowledge her feelings for him, is, I think, what culminates in that kiss.

Especially since, Deok Im once again, for the third time this episode, denies San’s efforts to reach her heart, by telling him this time, that she’s never loved him, and will never loved him.

Oof. That’s gotta hurt.

I feel that it’s essentially San invoking that power imbalance, to test Deok Im’s feelings for him.

I would like to think that if Deok Im had truly protested this kiss, and hadn’t kissed him back, San would have stopped.

But.. again, that’s my fangirl heart trying to rationalize that this is still a swoony romance, even though San is shown forcing himself on Deok Im, at least for a while.

I guess the important thing is, we know that Deok Im does love San, and has been denying her feelings as a matter of principle.

And while that’s perfectly legitimate, I do think that in choosing to kiss him back – versus pushing him away – Deok Im is finally giving in to her feelings for him, and also, giving San the confirmation that he seeks.

She does love him, and this is her, finally allowing herself to show it.

Ahhh. Is it too early to squee?

Final Open Thread will be up on: Saturday, 24 August 2024!