Hong Gil Dong: Episode 24 (Final)

239 March 26, 2008January 24, 2016

by javabeans

Wow.

Um, wow.

The more I think about the ending of Hong Gil Dong, the more I like it. I’ve mentioned that the series was starting to feel repetitive in recent episodes, and I’d wondered how this episode would wrap everything up to satisfaction.

Some people aren’t going to be happy, and I admit my initial impression was mixed. Though it’s not sad or tragic, it’s bittersweet, but mixed with an open-endedness and, dare I say, even hopefulness.

I didn’t expect the writers to pull out this kind of finale, but the more I consider it and the knee-jerk reaction fades, I think it achieves a kind of poignancy I didn’t think it would, or could. In fact, the finale actually brings the series up to scratch and vindicates some of the meandering plotlines for me. I like the series better for its ending, when I was actually prepared to go out on anticlimax. Although that may put me in the minority (sigh, once again).

SONG OF THE DAY

Dear Cloud – “꿈” (Dream) [ Download ]

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FINAL EPISODE RECAP

The king sends his troops to attack Hwal Bin Dang, and with no opportunity for escape and surrounded on all sides, Hwal Bin Dang prepares for confrontation.

Soon, it’s all-out battle.

Hearing that Chang Whe ordered the attack, Enok rushes to Gil Dong. Chang Whe hears of Enok’s departure with dismay, but believes that Gil Dong will send her back. Although this is exactly the scenario Chang Whe feared, both men love Enok too much to let her stay in harm’s way.

She tries to persuade Gil Dong to run away while he can — he was once on the same side as Chang Whe. Why is he fighting when he knows he’ll die?

Gil Dong tells her that he must continue — and because the king has left his side in the fight for a better world, that puts them at odds.

Chisu and Yong Jin convey a message to Hwal Bin Dang, and it’s clear that they don’t relish the idea of fighting their former allies, either. They will certainly act in loyalty to their king, but they have both seen the world inside of Hwal Bin Dang and felt wistful pangs themselves. They ask how long Hwal Bin Dang can hold out, and the rebels answer that they’ll fight till the end to protect the world they’ve created. Within their stronghold, there are no nobles and no servants — everyone is equal.

Chisu tells Yong Jin, “That place is a dream. A dream everyone wants to enter.”

Chang Whe’s message (a demand to disband Hwal Bin Dang and surrender) does nothing to alter Gil Dong’s course. But he knows he can’t hold on to Enok, and therefore sends her back with a letter, telling her that she’s the only one who can deliver his message safely to the king.

Enok: “I’m thinking carefully about where it is I want to be.”
Gil Dong: “And?”
Enok: “I thought it over, and come this far. This is my place too. This is where I want to be — where you are. So I’ll be right back.”

For him, this is goodbye, but he doesn’t contradict Enok’s belief that it’s just an errand.

Although a fight between the king and Gil Dong was what Eun Hye had intended, the swiftness of reality shocks her, and she realizes this isn’t what she wanted at all.

She tells Gil Dong of a bird she’d had whose mate had died, which she’d sent away to its freedom. She’d thought that if she got rid of Gil Dong, into whom she’d poured so much attention and emotion, she’d be freed too. But now she knows that’s not the case, and begs him to retreat and flee somewhere far — it’s okay if he doesn’t come to her. All she wants is to know he’s safe.

Gil Dong: “I’m already in a faraway land, one that’s completely different from this one. What I’m fighting for now, and my friends here, is not the king’s world. It’s a tiny but decent place we’ve built — that’s what I’m fighting for.”
Eun Hye: “That kind of place is a dream. A dream you’ll die for.”
Gil Dong: “No, the land we stand on now is that place. Because you can’t come over to our side, you can’t see it, and believe it’s merely a dream. But for me it’s reality, something I’d happily die protecting.”

As he turns to leave, Eun Hye calls out, “Then protect it through the very end. Don’t die, and keep protecting it, so that I can know that you’re still alive guarding that place.”

Enok delivers the letter to Chang Whe, who doesn’t intend to let her return to the Hwal Bin Dang he plans to destroy. Chang Whe shows her the letter — it’s blank. Gil Dong was actually sending her away.

Chang Whe: “As a king protecting my country, I may have to kill him. But to kill you along with him? You’re an irreplaceable person to me. I told you that it was because of you that I became a real person. But you want me to kill you and keep on living?”

Enok tells him, “The world I chose is Gil Dong’s, so I will go there. I’ve seen the good person in you. I believe you will be a good king.” She begs for him to let her go — and he does, defeatedly.

Rushing back and launching herself into the fray, Enok comes face to face with Chisu, and tells him the good person she saw in Chang Whe is dying — “Go back and protect him.”

Across the battlefield, Gil Dong sees her arrival, and this time he (finally!) accepts her choice to remain.

That night, Enok tends to Gil Dong’s wounds. She reminds them that they’re in this together now: “This is where I want to be. So don’t stop me from fighting to save it.”

This time, he grabs her in a hug and thanks her for sticking with him.

The next day, we have a bit of a reprieve from the fighting — Hwal Bin Dang is holding steady despite the siege — and Su Geun begs Mal Nyeo to marry him formally. Just like Gil Dong and Enok, who’ve just married. Enok now wears the wedding hair ornament her grandfather had bought for her.

Mal Nyeo agrees to the wedding, and Su Geun rejoices.

Meanwhile, Enok excitedly shows Gil Dong a bud that’s just sprouted out of the ground. But as she can’t remember what she planted there, she and Gil Dong cheerfully speculate about what it will grow to be.

Chang Whe comes to speak to Gil Dong and explains that he doesn’t consider his stance a betrayal of Gil Dong — he’s (yes we know, for the hundredth time) just a king protecting his people. He also says that he will remember Gil Dong years from now (speaking with an assurance born of knowing the outcome will favor himself) and what he’d fought for.

Gil Dong adds that he shouldn’t forget to fear him, either — because even if he dies and Hwal Bin Dang disappears, there may be a new Hong Gil Dong and a new Hwal Bin Dang that will rise up to change the world.

Gil Dong: “It may not come today, but someday that world will arrive. People will believe in that world and inch toward it. The world will change a hundred, thousand times, gradually progressing toward that place.”

Gearing up for more battle, the rebels send away a protesting Gom. Gil Dong steps in and tells him to get out and survive. He must live on and see to it that their work isn’t forgotten, and keep the fight going: “Do that for everyone, Gom. No, I mean Leader Gom.”

Yeon ushers Gom and Hae Myung out of the area, fighting off the soldiers who patrol the area. But more soldiers keep arriving, poised to shoot the escaping pair. Yeon plants himself in front of them and takes the arrows to the chest, and urges Gom to run away.

Injured but not fallen, he continues to fight the oncoming soldiers, fueled by the determination to protect Gom: “This is for Gom’s world to come.” Despite being shot with numerous arrows, he continues fighting until finally he falls.

Back at Hwal Bin Dang, Su Geun and Mal Nyeo have their wedding ceremony, with Gil Dong presiding. Enok puts freshly plucked flowers into Mal Nyeo’s hair and the couple is married. The others chant for the newlyweds to kiss, and then for Gil Dong and Enok to do likewise.

It’s a brief interlude that’s over all too soon as they gear up for more fighting. Feeling the intensity growing, Gil Dong knows that Chang Whe is anxious to finish the fight quickly, and will be increasing his attacks. Hwal Bin Dang prepares to continue holding ground, while the king’s soldiers prepare to charge in.

And then the sequence that brings everything to a head:

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First, the mood takes on an ethereal quality, helped in large part by this hauntingly beautiful traditional Norwegian song “Lær Meg Å Kjenne,” as sung by Sissel Kyrkjebø. (The actual song starts around 40 seconds in.) [ Download ]

Original lyrics:
Lær meg å kjenne dine veie
og gå dem trøstig skritt for skritt
Jeg vet at hva jeg fikk i eie,
er borget godt gods, og alt er ditt.
Men vil din sterke hånd meg lede,
jeg aldri feil på målet ser,
og for hvert håp som dør her nede,
får jeg et håp i himlen mer English translation:
Teach me to know your ways
and to walk them trustingly step by step
I know that what I own,
are borrowed goods, and everything is yours.
But if your strong hand guides me,
I will never see the wrong goal,
and for every hope that dies
down here,
I will receive a greater hope in heaven.

As Hwal Bin Dang prepares to move out, soldiers shoot a barrage of fire-tipped arrows in. But rather than scatter or run, everyone stares, calmly transfixed, at the fire flying in the sky. For a prolonged moment, it looks like the arrows are hanging in the air, and they gaze at the sight almost peacefully.

It’s like time pauses as everyone around Gil Dong and Enok fades into black and white, and Enok remarks that the arrows look like shooting stars: “Shall we make a wish?”

Gil Dong: “In this situation?”
Enok: “It looks like they’re bidding us a nice farewell.”
Gil Dong: “We’ll be going together.”

They hold hands as the arrows start descending toward them.

Then the arrows fall, landing everywhere.

Enok: “Gil Dong. [in English] ‘I love you.’”
Gil Dong: “I know.”
Enok: “You know what that means?”
Gil Dong: “Dummy. I love you. I love you… I love you…”

Alone in his palace, Chang Whe hears the report and sheds a tear. His soldiers storm the burning headquarters.

We don’t see any people, dead or otherwise, as the arrows land and set Hwal Bin Dong on fire. But the next morning, everything is charred and eerily empty, but for Mal Nyeo’s fallen flower and the lonely green plant, still alive in the ground.

I’m thankful that they don’t show us any bodies, because for one, it keeps the ending (and implied deaths) on a metaphorical level, which spares me the trauma of seeing the carnage. It also gives us our last image of them as whole, intact, and nobly defending their ideals. Furthermore, we don’t need to be reminded of death — that’s not the point. (More on that later.) On another level, it helps some of the more denial-stricken among us cling to the belief that maybe, just maybe, some people survived.

Chang Whe assures his men, and therefore his citizens, that Hwal Bin Dang has been subdued. He will continue to do what he must to protect his country.

Not unlike the first time Gil Dong “died,” Hwal Bin Dang and Gil Dong may be gone but the legend lives on.

Merchant Wang tells the other villagers that they must read Gil Dong’s story and remember him so that he never dies. Watching from the sidelines, Hae Myung tells Gom:

“He’s alive. Through them, and through you, they all live on.”

And some undisclosed number of years later, when Hae Myung is old(er) and gray(er), he comes upon a young boy crying by himself. The boy is upset that because of his poverty, he’s unable to learn anything. Only the rich are educated. Hae Myung asks, “Do you want to be Hong Gil Dong too?”

That gets the boy’s attention, and he follows the priest, asking about Hong Gil Dong.

Boy: “Do you really know Hong Gil Dong? Is he really not dead, but still alive?”
Hae Myung: “Of course. Hong Gil Dong is someone who’ll live forever.”

And then the scene transitions into modern-day Korea — subways, sidewalks, cafes, city lights.

Hae Myung: “Even in a hundred years, five hundred years, he’ll still be alive.”
Boy: “What will he be doing in such a far-off time?”
Hae Myung: “Even when much time passes and things look different on the surface, the way people live will be similar. Like we have the noble and lower classes in our world, that world will have its own strong and weak people.”
Boy: “What will Hong Gil Dong do there?”
Hae Myung: “What’s more important than what he’ll be doing is the fact that there will be someone watching and guiding the world to live properly. Don’t forget. The sword that looks the world in the face, takes stock of it, and changes it — in any world, there will be a Hong Gil Dong.”

THE END

Additionally…

First, the knee-jerk reaction: disappointment that my expectations for a goofy, giddily happy ending were thwarted. I’m guessing that I was not alone in expecting the series to come full circle and give us more of that opening sequence from Episode 1, with the happy rebels cheerfully continuing to wreak their vigilante brand of justice upon a corrupt hegemony. I feel a bit cheated out of it, even though such an ending wouldn’t quite fit in with the way the plot has been developing — because then we’d have to assume Chang Whe turned corrupt and ignored his desire to become a good ruler, which goes against everything his character has been built up to be all series long. (My interpretation of the opening sequence (Gil Dong’s hairstyle notwithstanding) is that it already happened and we just didn’t see exactly when the initial time-jump backward caught up with the “present.”)

But as I think more about the series and get used to the resolution, I love the way they wrapped things up. (And never underestimate the power of a well-chosen score, because that last song? Is pretty killer.) The series actually had a meaning beyond mere entertainment — yes, sometimes it was heavy-handed in its delivery, but at least there was some sort of depth there. Perhaps the Hong sisters’ take on egalitarianism is a little clumsy, therefore more propagandistic than needle-sharp social commentary, but hey, they’re in good company — apparently the original writer of the book Hong Gil Dong Jeon was accused of pushing anti-government propaganda.

I appreciated the surrealistic way the final battle was portrayed because, like I said, death was never the point. Starting from a few episodes back, it became increasingly obvious that Gil Dong was meant to transcend the present, and therefore his present life. His existence held more purpose than his physical lifetime, so it’s only fitting that we don’t see a definitive death scene to give his story a sense of finality it’s not meant to have.

Because it hardly matters in the big picture — and Hong Gil Dong really is about the big picture — when hundreds of years later, what’s important isn’t how long Gil Dong and Enok and everyone lived, but that their legacy continues. And that the world they dreamed of and staked so much to bring about has (more or less) come true, where people are judged equally, are not confined by the status of their births, valued on meritocracy (again, more or less — sometimes less), and are able to choose their leaders.

We might even infer that Gom carried on the legacy — after all, Gil Dong’s last words to him were “Leader Gom,” anointing him his successor. The ending of the series, with the juxtaposition of the fallen flower and the sprouting bud, shows that with their last great stand, they ushered in the beginnings of a new era.

So, happy ending? Not completely. But satisfying? For me, it was.

239

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101 Chapter

March 30, 2008 at 4:31 AM

I'm so mad at myself for reading about the last episode instead of just waiting to watch it. When I tried to read it out loud, I found myself having to pause since i was mostly in tears from reading the end. I wanted so much for it to be happy, but even so, I would have to say it was a GOOD ending for the series. This is one of my favorite shows now. It made me laugh, cry, and wondering. Wondering if I'll ever see another show like this.

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102 Peggy

March 30, 2008 at 12:52 PM

Still watching this on TV.
As for the ending which I have just read here...Well I think that ending is perfect because it gives a strong basic structure for the whole of the previous crazy story. Now it all come together and means something.

Peggy

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103 [email protected]

March 30, 2008 at 9:07 PM

twas only after hong gildong came to an end did i discover this site and i'm so impressed with the way this site is designed and written.
i would like to congratulate you 'javabeans' ? what's your nationality ?
how come you're not only articulate but profound in your analysis and comments?
i'm glad to have found this site.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

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104 Mai

March 30, 2008 at 10:26 PM

I love reading your writing and summaries.

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105 JASON

March 30, 2008 at 10:38 PM

thank you for a very eloquent comment and analysis.
am really interested from what country you're form.

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106 mary

March 31, 2008 at 11:15 AM

i am so sad that i want cry . i never want this kind of ending.I always crying when see
end korean moveis however I still love korean movie even if they want the ending to be this sad they must let that them alive 10 years together and kill gildong and yinok after 10 years. this kind of miveis that stsrt very comedy upshot ending sad .anyway this movie had horrible endinggggggggggggggggggg same kneeah said
.if I can i again come back and tell more about this movie. I want come to korea for see korea and learning language korea. and know there

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107 haezi

March 31, 2008 at 12:52 PM

wow, lots of opinions.

i'd say my reaction is partly surprise and partly apathy. my attachment to this series is not as strong as it once was and guess i can bring myself to accept the ending since most heroes need a tragic death to be elevated to legend status. plus, i admire the hong sisters for ending it the way they wanted to without resorting to obvious (boring?) crowd-pleasing antics

i would have ended it slightly differently, however, but i suppose it would not have been as fun. i believe the king also agreed with hgd at heart but couldn't endorse his position openly since it could possibly resort in anarchy, bring about a yangban revolt, or at least threaten his own hard-earned position. i feel that they could have done what they had done throughout the series...fake a death. it would have been smarter for the king and hgd to pretend to disagree while making secret arrangements for the gang to drive out a number of the corrupt yangban throughout the country. this agreement would be made from the get-go of their supposed disagreement, even behind the audience's back, making for a twist in the end when the nature of their actual conflict is made known to the audience . thus, the king pleases the yangban by declaring hgd his enemy and hgd and gang can still live to instigate the changes they have always been hoping for...one bad yangban at a time. plus, hgd can get out of the spotlight, which is what the king and he both wanted. it would be very hgd-esque plus could be somewhat of a twist, though not nearly as shocking as the actual ending...

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108 anakoo

March 31, 2008 at 7:45 PM

aww i'm sad now...

i'm on ep 16...
and i dont think i wanna finish it...
i've already read the ending...

it'll just be more sad if i watched it...
i'm just SO SAD...! Changhwi ended up being the mean one in the end!!

arrgghh.. i dispise sad endings... they make me sad...

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109 fishmeal

April 2, 2008 at 10:54 AM

though I haven't seen the whole thing, I believe they survived somehow. Because think back to the begining opening scene, I think it refers to Hong-gil-dong continuing his mission, and then it jumps back to tell the beggining of the makings of Hong gil dong.

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110

April 2, 2008 at 12:58 PM

the more i think about it the sadder i am! but it was, although sad and unexpected, a good ending.

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111 DA

April 2, 2008 at 11:36 PM

IT IS A GREAT BEAUTIFUL STORY... I HAVENT WATCH ALL, BUT READ FROM ITS FINAL EPISODE RECAP (MALU NGASIH TAU-NYA) THAT I CRIED,,,... IT IS SO MENYENTUH BGT!!! HOPE I CAN WATCH IT ALL SOON.

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112 rhianne

April 3, 2008 at 8:36 AM

Since it has ended already, I just hope that Kang JihWan and Seong Yuri will do another together. I think that they do have a good chemistry. To Kanh JIwhan and Seong Yuri Congratulations and more power!!!!

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113 dreampryncezz

April 3, 2008 at 12:56 PM

Thank you. Your critics are amazing.

Well, I'm glad we did not see the carnage also. I think it keeps people like me in denial.

You know...HGD survived being shot by an arrow and falling off a cliff! I bet he can survive a few arrows. =) They're smart; they know what to do in this situation.

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114 del

April 4, 2008 at 11:35 PM

i pity Chang Whe. He's left with nothing. All his life he lived believing that he is the rightful heir to the throne then came out the truth that he wasn't. Tsk.Tsk. Then, he fell in love with a girl who doesn't even see him...even if he's always there for her... anytime...anywhere... Poor guy! WAAAAHHH!

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115 jolee

April 5, 2008 at 2:03 AM

Finally got to watching the ending! It was sooo hard trying not to read your reviews when waiting for the subs to come out but I'm glad I stuck it out!

For some reason by the middle of the episode I had this feeling that it seems like someone is gonna die (probably Gil Dong and Enok) judging from some hints that I heard from a "shocking" ending. But I'm happy that they ended up together anyhow. I think this is the first time in a kdrama that the main couple got married in such a low key way!! There wasn't even a wedding scene for them! But that sleeping shot was totally cute. I think I'm going to be one of those in denial who believe that they can dodge a few arrows with all their martial art skills! Feeling kinda blue that one of my favorite dramas ended. (Does anyone else get depressed when a drama ends? It always happens to me....>_

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116 asikg

April 5, 2008 at 1:00 PM

I'm really glad that I endured it and didn't spoil myself... Just watched the final episode and I must admit that I was afraid as I've read some comments that it was disappointing and unexpected (that's how far my curiousity went :) ) but.. I really, really liked the ending. How can you end such series? In other dramas it's usually obvious - in the end our couple will end together and the whole world will exist for them only. But here? Hong Gil Dong is special because it's not usual. It was transforming from comedy to drama, adventure, and after a while it became obvious that Enok's and Gil Dong's love isn't in the center anymore.. I get the feeling that the whole series was about a road of a hero; at the beginning Gil Dong was a funny guy, simple, basically everything BUT hero. Then he met a girl. Then he met a king. Then he started fighting. Then he became a hero. And then it turned out that as a hero he isn't good for his times, that he has to die and we can't enjoy his person anymore. But we can enjoy his legend. And we got to see his road; in many episodes this subject was picked up; 'Enok will you go with me?' 'We will fight together, Prince' 'Why don't you let me stick with you?' 'Can you watch me being captured, and observe from a distance?' 'We'll do this together'. Whoa, I could look for many, many more. But it's great. And we got to hear 'we'll be going together', finally. Can I go, too?
In times like this I ask myself - what kind of ending would be better? In this case I have no idea. Hundreds of possible solutions pop up in my mind, but nothing is enough. I agree; the finale gave something to the whole series. New meaning? Not sure. I guess I'm still a little bit dizzy; my biggest thought is - what I'm going to do now ? My HGD is over, so not cool.
But thank you javabeans for great summary and thoughts, as always.

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117 Nonbirira

April 5, 2008 at 10:11 PM

Oh my...so sad... My routine throughout this drama has been to watch an episode then read the summary - and then try like crazy NOT to read the summary for the next episode! Managed this to the VERY end but did catch on that something big was coming up in the final episode. Well, I tried to think of what kind of ending could bring about all the rumbling and I prepared for the worst. Consequently I wept through most of the final episode as it unfolded since everything pointed to a tragic ending for HGD.

However, having now watched the final episode I strongly agree with Javabeans - it may not be the ending I wanted but it pulls everything together and gives the story weight in a way that no other ending could have. Despite their fate, at least Enok and HGD were together in the end - neither was left to grieve over the loss of the other - and I found the "shooting stars" scene quite moving (although I knew it meant certain doom). I too was SO thankful that the final battle/body count was not shown - it simply would not have had the same impact...

Oh, I'm going to miss this drama SO much. Javabeans, thank you for encouraging us to watch it - I probably wouldn't have otherwise! Thanks also for your entertaining and thoughtful (and occasionally delightfully snarky) recaps!

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118 t

April 5, 2008 at 11:55 PM

stunning...

the greatest drama ever. i could watch that last fight scene over and over again.
that enchanting song helped make everything top notch.

cute how that bum in the subway was hae myung.

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119 Nonbirira

April 6, 2008 at 4:04 AM

(Oops! Didn't mean to imply in #118 that your snarkiness was occasionally delightful - it always is! Was supposed to mean that you weren't snarky ALL the time! Sorry!)

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120 Jane

April 6, 2008 at 5:01 PM

thank you. your review brought clarity. I'm not one to think too deeply when watching k-dramas but your insights help me see things in a new perspective.
btw, the norwegian song is beautiful and the lyrics are awesome!

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121 Haily

April 6, 2008 at 7:53 PM

Well after watching it over and over (and many tears), i came to the conclusion that this was one of the best series that i have watched in a while and it was my first korean history drama too! I was never a big fan of kdrama and never did i thought i would be watching a period drama but as fate would have it i spend the last 3 days of my spring break watching this series! Its truly amazing

The ending was very sad, but for some reason i couldn't help but feel sad for Chang Whe, maybe its because of my liking for him throughout the series (i'll just leave it at that to prevent my endless ranting about how much i adore/pity him) and though i knew inok was going to end up with gil dong i kept on having hope that chang whe and inok would end up together because of what the monk said so that was a huge disappointment for me.

All in all, i was somewhat confused at first when watching the last episode because i expected it to finished off the scene in the beginning but from reading your thorough review and others inputs i completely understand and came to appreciate this episode

Thanks so much and keep up the good work!

*it was defiantly worth it staying up until 11 to finish this series when i have school tomorrow and a paper i need to write; yikes!

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122 Nonbirira

April 6, 2008 at 11:52 PM

Googled Sissel Kyrkyjebo Laer me A Kjenne and the top result was a video of her singing the song on YouTube. She explains a bit about the song (had me weeping right there!) and then sings. Oh my, what a beautiful voice... (I have her Norwegian Christmas CD - Glade Jul - and play in non-stop in December. And no, I do not understand Norwegian! Just can't get enough of her voice!)

Thanks so much, Dramabeans for the song information and download. Certainly enriches the HGD-final-episode experience...

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123 serendipity

April 8, 2008 at 3:34 PM

Full marks to the Hong sisters for daring to go for the hard ending! It's disappointing when a series sets up a conflict and forces us to care, and then disposes glibly with all obstacles in the last ten minutes so that the couple can embrace and live happily ever after. You know, a bit like having people fall off the side of a building, only to find that a safety mattress has miraculously appeared :-) It's pleasing at one level for the viewer to be "rescued" like that, but at another level a contrived happy ending lacks integrity.

So, it is churlish of me to complain. But I feel dissatisfied with a number of things.

I feel the writers dared to go for broke, but then lost their nerve and pulled back. "Right! Let's go for it! Integrity over popularity! But, oh dear, the fans will hate us and we'll never get another writing job. So let's make the ending Beautiful. And vague so that the adamant fairy-tale dreamers can still believe in a happy ending if they must." Not that I'm ungrateful for being spared a scene of carnage. But I thought they over sugar-coated. What with all the bumph about the dawn of democracy and HGD living on in our hearts and minds (sorry, just too glib and sappy for me).

And it's hard to understand how HGD, set up as the smartest, most perceptive and most capable person in the country, could come to a sticky end so quickly. OK, he's too idealistic. OK, he's on a collision course with the king. And I guess he was taken by surprise by the swiftness and ferocity of Chang Whe's attack. And we all know that in real life not much can stand in the way of imperial might. Still, it takes a bit for my head to wrap itself round this. So it feels somewhat contrived.

I have an even harder time with Chang Whe. I think it's a mixture of feeling the script hurtle him along; a plot device for the downfall of HGD. And of the actor being, um, er, "enigmatic" to put it kindly. But I have a hard time figuring out what's up with him. On the one hand he is compromising horribly and heading nicely towards Tyrant Territory - The murder of the deposed king (albeit an understandable move), appointing the winner of the most-corrupt-official-contest his Minister of the Interior (much less forgivable), and his swift and ruthless decision to exterminate (exterminate; not just oppose) HGD. He tries to persuade HGD to back down, but he is still opposed to his populist cause and merely wishes he didn't have to betray a friend. Didn't he promise so earnestly not long ago that he would earn HGD's respect? Didn't he once say he would be a king for his people? What happened to all that? It seems it could have been discovering the Sa Yin sword fake that sent him into a tailspin of insecurity and a need to grab on to the throne. Was that what made him act so swiftly against HGD, taking even HGD (one who understood him better than most) by surprise? At the same time, in his last meeting with HGD he pronounces he will never forget HGD. I wish the script and the acting gave us less conflicting signals.

There's no hint of him going mad (just somewhat power-clingy). Yet all the ingredients are there. He has killed his predecessor, compromised with his ideals, annihilated a key supporter, and in the process been forced to destroy the only person he ever loved (after being spurned by her, too); the one who made him a good man, he said. Surely this would mess with his head majorly?! Or at the very least make him a ruthless king like any other? But I feel I will never know. Instead of the corny scene of HGD watching over modern Korea (sorry; I know many like this scene because it salves wounds and brings hope - but it's just too corny for me), I wish we are told what CW's reign was like. Just feels like a distinct lack of closure on this front.

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124 Haruko

April 8, 2008 at 5:11 PM

I was realy saddened by the ending though it was good, but then kinda weird....i mean the whole time i was like "marry the prince!, MARRY HIM!!!!"
...gawd

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Hottchew721

March 26, 2012 at 5:59 PM

I know!! I was rooting for the prince! They had way better chemistry. I think I'm in love LOL. I wished they had a whole series centered on his character and his progress towards being a great king.

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125 kathy :]

April 8, 2008 at 8:13 PM

Oh gosh. I'm still crying. I read the line "l love you" and man i am bawling. [again!] That was one of the best drama. I think i liked it more than Goong. The ending was really ... touching and deep. I kind of liked it, but still would of liked it if they had a happy ending. Too bad, that's just reality. But I LOVE this drama! :]

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126 jen

April 10, 2008 at 11:45 PM

i was satisfied with the ending though i was expecting it to end in a happier way. i really didnt want them to die so im still hoping that they are alive because of episode 1. i mean that part didnt have to take place in the same country. gil dong did want to change the world not only his own country.
i guess im still living in denial...

oh and i really feel bad for the new king. i guess i always feel bad for the loser of the love triangle, but he suffered so much in this series. i mean he finds out about the fake sa yin sword and he has to kill the girl he loves. its heartbreaking really. i just hope he can live through it and not become a bad king because that would have been a total waste.

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127 pooh

April 11, 2008 at 12:59 AM

though it wasn't a good ending, the happy scenes of gildong and yinok still lingers in the story...it was such a romantic love story till death do them apart...the writers maybe intended not to show how they both die in order to let the audience have a good memory of the drama; of gildong, yinok and the hwalbindang...FIGHTING!!!

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128 Sue

April 12, 2008 at 11:34 AM

Thanks for that song download! When it came on, I was immediately taken aback, because they had never used it before. I couldn't tell what language it was either. It's beautiful though!

But you know, you and my mom have the same take on everything, from beginning to end. :D

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129 defeatedstar

April 12, 2008 at 3:15 PM

I just discovered this drama randomly when I was on mysoju.com, looking for something interesting to watch.

I have to say, this is probably going to end up one of my favorite dramas of all time. It has it's flaws of course, but I don't really care. In disagreement with tealeaf, no offense or anything, I enjoyed the juvenile humor and random villians - without it, the story would have been much too dark. The writers really thought out how the story should turn out because of the two possible endings-

A. everyone lives happily ever after and SOMEHOW CH and HGD manage to find meeting point in between them
B. everyone "dies" but the legacy lives on

I think that the first choice would be by far more popular with fans watching because, come on, as the drama went by we all fell in love with the characters, regardless of their flaws. However, this kind of ending is, realistically, impossible. Back in the olden days, the ending that the drama has as of now is the most realistic situation. Not only this, but it puts the drama on a more serious note, and definitely confronts the main theme of the story, which I'm guessing is that there will always be someone watching society and dreaming for a better one- where everyone is equal. To maintain this kind of bittersweet ending where watchers must assume that everyone dies, they must make the story fun enough so that the watchers who like lighthearted humor and heroics will also be satisfied.
And I think that the writers did an amazing job at this. Yes, I admit the beginning scene threw me off because I assumed that was how the drama was going to end. So I expected them to somehow survive- but when the ending came I realized the reasoning behind this. The fact that the drama ended on such a note makes a much bigger impact on the entertainment industry and hopefully will change in future dramas, making them think out this happily ever after that everyone assumes there will be.

That last scene when the arrows were flying in the air and the goosebump-raising music was playing, I was crying because of how much I really loved that scene.

But hey, maybe I'm just a freak (:

This drama was a true gem- I can't imagine not trying to watch this drama. I agree that the beginning was a bit too childish and over the top but I recommend anyone and everyone to watch it. It's really good D: Not to mention the eye candy! (:

Finally, a thanks to you Javabeans for giving us the best screen shots and an amazing summary for each episode. I visit your site everyday to look at stuff and I have to say your music taste is awesome - I always love your song of the days HAHA I've downloaded most of them ^^

Thank you to everyone who worked on the film for giving us such a great drama!

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130 xymex

April 13, 2008 at 9:10 PM

Chang Whe!! OMGOSH..i thought it would end differently...but. *sigh* ....i guess it's trying to deliver a message...but such a bittersweet ending...more bitter than sweet for me.

I'll always think of them as together...

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131 Toya

April 13, 2008 at 9:54 PM

Finally watched the ending and why is it I want to yell "false advertisement"!!

I seriously think that now, after watching the entire series, they could have done without that misleading intro. I say misleading for a few points beside the hair, one of them being Enok's part in their heist, despite the fact that for everything after the intro Enok was never made part of willingly and yet for the intro her presence is accepted and she is acting as part of the gangs plan.

It just pisses me off thinking that they were going to survive only to see that no one did. Chang Whe gets lead by the balls by his officials to kill the only two people that he seriously could have called friends...

So yea, not happy. Okay ending, but wished they were consistent.

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Hottchew721

March 26, 2012 at 6:04 PM

I'm with you here. They could have done without the intro. Or better yet, make the Prince a better man and not caved under pressure against bullies. I had high hopes for him.

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132 nileey

April 17, 2008 at 9:35 AM

Hi dramabeans, I just finished watching the last episode on KBS World, and I gotta say, luckily i read your summary first. The last scene was just too much for me to bear, but when I think of what you wrote, it is a beautiful scene nevertheless.

Was scouting around Soompi for fan reactions and most of them were furious with the ending! I guess the first episode gave all of us some false sense of security that it will be another happy ending (then again, expectation on the Hong sisters is that they usually write happy endings too). I would have been too, but i can't imagine another ending other than this. If not, what will happen to Changwhe then?

Thanks for covering Hong Gil Dong, I would have not watch it if not for your great synopsis :)

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133 Annie

April 29, 2008 at 3:28 AM

Rereading these summarys made a couple tears come to my eyes. The final 10-15 minutes were so beautifully laid out. Despite the fact that they knew what was coming, they still spent their last couple minutes together happy and smiling. Even as the fire arrows came, they bravely accepted their fate. It might not be the "Happy ending" that everyone wanted but I think this is the most suitable ending. They died together, and they died fighting for what they believed. What more can ya ask for?

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Hottchew721

March 26, 2012 at 6:06 PM

I say delete the intro! Then it would have been profound.

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134 erratic

April 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM

This series reminded me of the reason why I used to love Korean drama... I have to admit I was feeling pretty jaded and was straying toward the Japanese territory... But man, I lingered over this for one whole week (a record for me, since I never susually last more than 4 days in finishing a series), and it was priceless. One of the best Korean series I've ever seen, I have to say... It had its inconsistencies, and to this moment I still can't reconcile the opening scene came in, and of course I thought the prince had enough balls to oust the one who together with the prince's mom and enok's dad orchestrated the entire thing, and of course gil dong's father was in the right all along but never got any vindication, but I liked it... and count me in the minority who loves the ending (haha, reminiscent of the question about Soulmate having a sequel or not...).

Stellar acting for Kang Ji Hwan, as usual... I've always admired his skill, ever since I saw him in Exhibition of Fireworks (the series might have tanked, but you'd agree he acted his part impressively) 90 Days, Time for Love (sob!sob!) and again in Seoul Scandal (that's another series I liked... have you seen it?)... and This time he didn't disappoint. He was brilliant. Sung YUri's acting reminded me of Joo Yoo Rin in My Girl (I don't know if it was deliberate, probably is, throwing in the hairstyles and all...), but at least she got to show that she could do more than be really pretty while crying. I was surprised at the king... Jang Geun Seok... I knew he had such short airtime in Hwang Jin Yi, not that I felt the loss anyway, but here, he was a presence... I have to say I was rooting for him only slightly less than Gil dong... hahah... But I liked the way he showed how the king could be vulnerable even though the time called for him to be iron-willed... Definitely worth the air-time given to him.

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Hottchew721

March 26, 2012 at 6:33 PM

I saw "You're Beautiful" before this one. He's definitely a superb actor. I love his voice LOL. So manly.

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135 erratic

April 29, 2008 at 12:01 PM

I'll never forget the falling stars.

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136 faye

April 30, 2008 at 12:03 AM

WHHAAAAATTTTT!!!!! What happened????The ending was SO UNEXPECTED!!! We're thinking that Chang Whe will die and Enok with Hong Gil Dong will continue their dreams towards the world they wanted! The very end part where a person appears as Hong Gil Dong is very dramatic!!! I only have one question and I hope HONG SISTERS will reply.... Does the very beginning part of the episode 1 really happened? Why there is no traces of deaths in the Hwal Bin Dang Hideout? Where did they go? Did they escape or died??? PLEASE REPLY!!! I whole-heartedly thanks to JAVABEANS for reviewing this episode... My cousin and I don't have the courage to watch the ending because we're so afraid, but now we already knew it....We are bit DISAPPOINTED because there is no exact information or scene why there is no dead people in Hwal Bin Dang Hideout....PLEASE WE ARE BOTH CURIOUS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REBELS AND HONG GIL DONG AND ENOK......Please answer....I 'm Claudette Faye R. Cartabio from Philippines!!!Thanks HONG GIL DONG!!!

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137 faye

April 30, 2008 at 12:44 AM

pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
pleasepleaseplease

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138 chang hweeeeee

April 30, 2008 at 2:36 PM

when chang hwe met yi nok for the last time was really sad. i hate the fact that yi nok make it as if chang hwi is guilty over the whole thing. shes so selfish. the guy did so much things to protect her, and even love her but all she did is run to the heroic hong gil dong. since the beginning i think shes too stupid to realise how much the prince cared for her. and the tears he got for her, esp on the last moment, i feel like she didnt deserve it at all. i think he should've kill her last time so he wont get hurt that much haha but then there wont be hong gil dong drama anymore. i really think the prince should get his own story! i like jang geun seok's looks in this drama. next time i want to see more of this look of his ^^ he looked so diff ^^

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139 chang hweeeeee

April 30, 2008 at 2:44 PM

well ive kind of expected the ending to have someone die in the drama. i expected gil dong but i didnt expect yi nok would die with him.

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140 vieny

May 4, 2008 at 2:13 AM

truly i am a happy ending lover...i agree with you its not sad or happy, the ending got both...and the hong sister bring something that we could think deeply.
any way, i just re-watch first episode and still hope they still live anyhow coz in first episode after gil dong and friends robbed the rich poeple, it's tittle years before..and then we watch the meeting of gil dong and yi nok start..
hope its not over.
im not quite satisfaction with the ending but still i agree with that one..
whoaaaa what a show...!

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141 faye

May 7, 2008 at 6:56 PM

so disappointed!!!

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142 Doreen

June 6, 2008 at 7:42 AM

gosh, i was damn disappointed with the last episode
the firsts i uttered when i finished watching the drama is 'I CAN BELIEVE I JUST WASTED SO MUCH TIME ON THIS DRAMA?! I CANT BELIEVE I WATCHED IT!'
okay, though i really like the show and plot and all through out, (from the beginning all the way till chang hwi found out that the sa yin sword was fake) but the ending was just BAD. i dont know, to me, the show started to get worst when the sa yin sword was found out to be fake. like WHAT?!

oh, i was sort of expecting a happy ending for gil dong and yinok cos their lives have been so sad, i mean the show (though comedy here and there) everyone's life is kinda sad, so i was expecting a great ending with some happy faces.
but oh wells, everyone was dead in the show, including the living chang hwi.

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143 faye

June 8, 2008 at 7:19 AM

you're right Doreen.... We realized the same way too... My cousin and I watched this drama until 2o'clock in the morning and we finished the whole drama within 3 days.... We're so disappointed in the ending!!!! We are hoping that Chang Whe will go down the thrown and let the people decide whom they want to be their king, Hong Gil Dong or Chang Whe......

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144 sinta

June 10, 2008 at 7:59 AM

I like this drama much... I hope there will be 2nd Hong gil dong.. Kang ji hwan showed his great acting here.. Cant wait his next drama!!!

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145 waitingformyprince

June 11, 2008 at 5:02 PM

this is soooo depressing!!!!

omgomgomg...

atleast i was abit ready for it cause i read ur summary!!!!

WHAT A SAAAAAAAAAAD ENDING!!!

my heart was crushed every minute..

but come to think of it..i think this was the best way they could end it if they wanted it to end realistically..

and well atleast they had theyre happy moments whilst the prince was left alone..in the throne hell die protecting..

and GOMI lived!!!hes one of my fave characters!!!yeeeeey..
..

it dint even hav the continuation of the first epii..but like wat others suggested..it mustve became the legends that became of the past..

(was chan hui with them in the first epi??or was it just my imagination??better go nd check it out!!)

..
TWAS A GREAT WATCH!!

although i might have to think it over next time of id want to rewatch it.i think getting over the sad ending is bad enough..and will take long for me to get over...

BTW...wat was the role of the master in the drama??
..

PS...I LOVE THE WHOLE after 500 yrs thing..lol

it was more of a lecture-y themed but oh well..my prince was still cute!!!