Six Flying Dragons: Episode 31

121 January 19, 2016January 24, 2016

by HeadsNo2

Bang-won faces one of his biggest and most important decisions yet, and it’s one he must face alone, even if it pits him against everything he once held dear. It’s hard to watch without wanting to just give him a hug, but it’s another great performance feather for Six Flying Dragons to put in its hat. Though it was hardly wanting for stellar acting before, episodes like this are always a welcome bonus.

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Infinite – “Bad” [ Download ]

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EPISODE 31 RECAP

While Bang-won eavesdrops nearby, Jung Do-jeon emphatically explains his proposed system of governing to Jung Mong-joo, adding that the dying nation of Goryeo wouldn’t be able to sustain such a change. Only by creating a new nation can any of these reforms hope to be achieved.

For his new country to exist, Jung Do-jeon adds, the king must have the power only to appoint a prime minister—and he wants Jung Mong-joo to be it. The success or failure of the country would rest on his shoulders, and not Lee Seong-gye’s.

Though it would be near impossible to expect any king of Goryeo to hand over all his power, Jung Do-jeon claims that Lee Seong-gye is one hundred percent willing to take the job. “Please… please become the first prime minister of this new nation,” he begs.

Then, in a surprise move, Jung Do-jeon rises from his chair to kneel at Jung Mong-joo’s feet. “Please,” he asks again. “Please accept this lacking student’s sincerity.” Now the ball is in Poeun’s court. What will he do with it?

After the two part, they have a telepathic conversation as they come to terms with everything that’s just been said. Jung Mong-joo wonders why it has to be him of all people, which Jung Do-jeon answers by saying that he’s gone too far to be considered a true Confucian scholar, and couldn’t dare to take on the job himself.

Bang-won updates Jung Do-jeon on the Ji Cheon-tae/Cho-young situation, and that she’s been taken in for interrogation by Officer Nam. Jung Do-jeon congratulates him on a job well done and puts him in charge of any operations regarding Nameless from here on out, since there’s nothing Bang-won can’t achieve with his resourcefulness.

And though he asks about his talk with Poeun, he deliberately doesn’t mention that he overheard the entire thing. All Jung Do-jeon says is that he poured his heart out to his old friend, so now, they wait.

Yooksan is enraged to find out they’ve been tricked by Bang-won, and now, he’s taken Cho-young from them. Their first priority is to get her back before she can spill vital information, though Yooksan is reticent to report any of this to the higher-ups, considering it was his mistake that caused it.

Gil Sun-mi recognizes what a bad spot this puts them in, and recommends that they try to find a different weapon to stab at the heart of Jung Do-jeon’s movement. Jung Mong-joo just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Even Cho-young is amazed to find out that Bang-won tricked her into revealing her Nameless affiliation using a made-up term, but she’s not about to let an opportunity to sow discord go to waste. With a shrewd smile, she seems about to tell Officer Nam about Bang-won’s eavesdropping.

After hearing from Officer Nam that Cho-young will only speak to him, Bang-won heads out with an overeager Moo-hyul, who’s all too happy to laud Bang-won’s awesomeness. He’s happy to know he picked the right person to protect, and remembering Moo-hyul’s dream brings Bang-won out of his dark reverie.

He turns to Moo-hyul and says that the day he came up with his dream—to make people smile through politics—was the day Gil Tae-mi died. Specifically, it was the day Moo-hyul promised allegiance to him because he saw all the people smiling because of what Bang-won had done.

Moo-hyul lights up to know that Bang-won’s dream came about because of him, before Bang-won continues, “You said that it was your first time seeing the people smile like that, that you knew I was the one who made it happen. Those words made me so happy that I thought I was going to die. Politics that will make people smile and be glad… that became my dream from that moment on.”

Since he says all this in such a dour tone even though the words are uplifting, poor Moo-hyul can’t understand why he’s so down about it. “You can do it. It will happen if you do it,” he says encouragingly. Aww. Best bodyguard/friend ever.

Thinking about Yooksan’s need for “a new sword” in their fight against Jung Do-jeon, Cho-young goes into her conversation with Bang-won with a very clear plan. She knows Bang-won didn’t tell anyone about the conversation he overheard, and uses the contents of it against him.

“General Lee Seong-gye will be confined in a prison called Being King, and his family will be imprisoned there with him,” she says with a smile. Not only that, but the country would be ruled by a prime minister, and not his father.

Jung Mong-joo flashes back to Jung Do-jeon saying the same thing to him, expounding on the idea that the king and his family would be kept in the most secure prison, aka the palace.

At the same time, Cho-young explains this to Bang-won, who returns that it’s an obvious choice to entrust the country to more than just one man. Enacting a checks and balances system is only right. “Still, you don’t like it, do you?” Cho-young fires right back. No matter how great the country is, she knows he won’t like it if it’s a country where he’s powerless.

Then, her voice lowering, she tells him that Nameless isn’t against establishing a new nation. In fact, they’re thinking of supporting Lee Seong-gye as king, and even tried to stop General Choi’s foolhardy war. “We are on the same side,” she explains. Except for one thing, of course: Land reform.

At this, Bang-won laughs. Here he thought Nameless had a great cause, but in the end, they were just trying to hold onto their land? Cho-young still tried to bait him by telling him that he can learn more about their cause. A new country can still be established without such a powerful prime minister and land reform, after all.

But Bang-won’s had enough, and grabs her by her collar to make his point. Outside, Boon-yi pelts him with questions about what Cho-young might’ve said—about Nameless, about her mother, about everything.

Bang-won just stares at her as her words begin to meld together until they can’t be heard at all, replaced by a high-pitched ringing sound. At last, he just says that he needs to sleep.

He tries his best to do just that, but ends up sweating in a fever dream filled with Minister Hong’s predictions that he would fail, and Jung Do-jeon’s harsh words about how he had no place in the new country. That’s what sticks with him now as he worries, “Do I really have no place in that country? Have I lost my way again?”

Jung Mong-joo does some brooding on his own, and mentally thanks Jung Do-jeon for showing him his resolve, since it means he can give up on trying to convince his old friend. He knows there’s no way Jung Do-jeon will give up the country he’s worked so hard to create, and respects that.

“However, I won’t be that new country’s first prime minister,” he adds to himself. “I will be Goryeo’s last subject. If Heaven hasn’t abandoned Goryeo, then I should be able to protect it from you. Even if this country’s luck has run out, as a Confucian scholar, I will face my end with her. I will die before Goryeo comes to an end.”

And so, he visits King Gongyang late that night to talk to him about the land reform, while the same issue gets a heated discussion from Jung Do-jeon’s camp. Jo Joon doesn’t believe the land reform has any hope to pass as long as Lee Saek still has a spot in the dodang, but they can’t impeach him when that was one of Jung Mong-joo’s explicit conditions.

Gongyang is surprised when Jung Mong-joo tells him that they must pass the land reform in order to protect the country, since they need landowners to pay them taxes. In a more surprising move, he advocates that they need to protect Goryeo not from Lee Seong-gye, but from Jung Do-jeon.

They have no hope against Lee Seong-gye’s military might, Jung Mong-joo explains, so his only hope is to drive a rift between Lee and Jung Do-jeon. Since it’s likely that they’ll impeach Lee Saek, Poeun says it’s a sacrifice that must be made. The king has to gain the people’s trust in order to succeed.

Knowing how important Jung Mong-joo is to his cause, Gongyang charges Sa-kwang with protecting Poeun as if she were protecting him. They’ll be sending all communications through her henceforth as well, since Jung Do-jeon’s camp will undoubtedly be watching.

Jung Mong-joo goes to Lee Seong-gye first to tell him that he’s supporting the land reform as well as Lee Saek’s impeachment, but stays mum about joining their cause. He plays the same game with Jung Do-jeon, who gets too distracted by his support for the land reform that he’s happy to give him all the time he needs to decide on New Joseon.

But at least Jung Mong-joo thinks to himself, “I’m sorry, Sambong. For the sake of this ailing country, I need to deceive the world and you.” They both emerge just in time, since Bang-ji was beginning to sniff the air for the presence he felt nearby—which, unknown to him, was Sa-kwang.

Da-kyung is worried for her husband when she finds him the next morning, grim-faced and tying his hair into a sangtu, or the common topknot. She finds it strange that it’s his first time styling his hair this way, though he remarks that it was stranger he hadn’t done so yet. (Traditionally, noblemen would switch to a topknot once they reached manhood/got married.)

Bang-won pays a visit to Jung Do-jeon after news of Lee Saek’s impeachment reaches him, and the elder notes his new ‘do with a smile. Bang-won lays out a daring scheme he’s come up with to destroy Nameless from within by pretending to be swayed by Cho-young’s attempts to bring him to the dark side.

If he leads Nameless to believe he might side with their cause, then he’ll have better access to them. He’ll “fall” for Cho-young’s offer, and make sure they believe him by gathering his own separate private soldiers to make it seem like he’s planning to revolt against Team Joseon. Jung Do-jeon gives him the green light to do it, even though I have a sneaking suspicion that that’s exactly what Bang-won planned on.

He comments on Bang-won’s topknot before he goes, and Bang-won gives him a forced smile in return. Inside, he thinks, “I’m not a child anymore.” Outside, Moo-hyul congratulates him on his ingenious plan.

Lee Saek and Ha Ryun are impeached and arrested, and Jung Mong-joo surprises his followers by not doing a thing about it. In fact, he instructs them all to lay low until the land reform has passed, and to quietly take up any government positions that have the power to advise the king.

Nameless gets news of the impeachments, and realize that they’ve failed in trying to use Jung Mong-joo. They don’t need to report it to their mysterious leader, since he’s coming to them. Dun dun dun.

Having found where Team Joseon is holding Cho-young, Gil Sun-mi goes to free her, only to be beaten to the punch by two masked men. He follows them to a spot in the forest where Bang-won waits by a fire.

When she asks what he’s doing, he tells her that this is his answer to her offer. He opens up about his use of planting trees to represent foes he wanted to defeat, and of chopping them down when the job was done. The first one he ever planted was for Lee In-gyeom, the second for Minister Hong.

He tells her how Minister Hong wanted to make him powerless so he’d have no choice but to join hands with him, and how he almost fell for it. His life would’ve been much different had he taken that hand, but instead he wandered, which is how Jung Do-jeon came in.

“You found your way,” Cho-young notes. “I did,” Bang-won agrees. “Even just thinking of participating in his great cause made my heart feel like exploding. The idea of ending this rotten Goryeo and establishing a new country where people can enjoy life! But… he said I have no place in that country. Then I realized that there is nothing I can do in that country.”

His expression graver than ever, Bang-won adds, “No, from the very beginning in his great cause, I now know there was no place for me.” Coming back to himself a bit, Bang-won tells her that if they so much as think of using him the way they used Hong Ryun to assassinate King Gongmin, they’ll be very, very sorry for it.

Cho-young agrees to his terms, but is stopped before leaving when he asks her if she knows Yeon-hyang. How about Nameless returning her as proof of their alliance? Cho-young is shocked to find out that Yeon-hyang’s children are looking for her, since she didn’t even know they were alive.

Moo-hyul and Young-kyu (the two masked men who freed Cho-young) are practically giddy from watching Bang-won’s fireside chat with her, convinced that their master is the best liar in the world. What they don’t know is that Bang-won wasn’t lying for all of it.

Gil Sun-mi finds Cho-young afterward, having overheard her entire conversation. He gets after her for talking about Yeon-hyang, only for her to return that he was the one who brought two corpses and said her children were dead.

Shrugging, Gil Sun-mi adds that there are a lot of dead boys and girls in Goryeo, and he just took two bodies when he couldn’t find Yeon-hyang’s real children.

He wants to keep the matter closed in order to prevent an internal war with Nameless (apparently one happened in 1378), but Cho-young’s not sure how long it’ll stay that way when Yeon-hyang’s children are actively looking for her.

While Jung Do-jeon tells Boon-yi and Bang-ji that Cho-young’s rescue was a trap set by them, Cho-young faces the Nameless tribunal to explain not only how she lost Hwasadan to Jung Do-jeon’s side, but why she agreed to bring Bang-won in. She’ll have to face their master’s judgement for both counts.

Bang-won meets with his father to tell him he’ll be moving out (that topknot has magic powers), and wonders internally if his father knows what kind of diminished role he’d play in the new country.

When his father warns him not to work while expecting something in return, Bang-won summons up a smile and replies, “Of course that won’t happen. What else could I possibly want?” How about the world?

Daddy Min is in charge of their new lodgings, having given daughter Da-kyung the family’s Gyeongdeok Manor. Before Bang-won thanks him for the gift, he asks for his support—he wants to have his own private band of soldiers that aren’t already his father’s, which is a daunting prospect.

Master Hong, Grandma, Gab-boon, and Boon-yi get to move in with Bang-won and his wife as household servants, and are all thrilled at their new digs. Master Hong’s jaw drops to the ground when Bang-won refers to him as such and calls for him to follow, along with Moo-hyul.

He’s already recruited a small army of soldiers, and asks Master Hong to take over their training. He wants him to make each of those soldiers into another Moo-hyul, so he can have an army of them. (If only!) Master Hong is humbled and honored by the opportunity.

Da-kyung tells Boon-yi that her family will take over funding for her network of marketplace spies, and that she should take orders directly from Bang-won now instead of Jung Do-jeon while he’s working on his plan to fool Nameless. She also gives her some assigned reading.

Bang-won assembling his own private army has the effect he wanted on Nameless, since they begin to wonder whether he really does have other motives (that could benefit them, of course).

And in a morbidly hilarious break, we find Ha Ryun screaming in the torture chamber, only to find out he hasn’t even been tortured yet. Bang-gwa’s confusion is priceless, but any would-be torture is interrupted when Bang-won asks for some privacy with the prisoner.

The news that he’ll be exiled for enthroning the young King Chang is no news to Ha Ryun, who’s been exiled twice before. But what Bang-won says next catches his interest: “Make sure to come back alive again this time. I will be waiting.”

Ha Ryun asks what he means, and Bang-won says that he’ll take him in. With him, he’ll attack two enemies—the cancer that is Nameless, and someone he’s not sure of yet. But he will be when Ha Ryun returns.

That’s all fine and well, Ha Ryun says, but he doesn’t serve anyone who serves another master. And Bang-won serves Jung Do-jeon, doesn’t he? But something in Bang-won’s face tells him that’s not so, and he laughs maniacally. In that case, he cautions Bang-won to lay low until he returns from exile.

Boon-yi heads toward the New Joseon Cave on Bang-won’s request, only to be pelted with snowballs while en route. She knows it’s Bang-won and playfully warns him to stop, but it is on when he emerges from the trees with freshly packed snow in hand. Snowball fight!

Neither of them can help from giggling helplessly as they lob fresh snow at each other, and even Boon-yi isn’t above a bit of trickery to get a good hit in. Eventually they both dissolve into fits of laughter on the ground next to each other, only Bang-won suddenly stops laughing.

A tear slips out of one eye, before his face melts into a mask of sadness as he cries. Boon-yi sits up, wondering what’s wrong with him. He straightens up as much as he can to turn to her, “Now… Now… I’m done playing. I don’t think I can have fun with you like this anymore.”

COMMENTS

Oof. I was wondering what got into Bang-won for him to break loose and have a bit of fun, but it should figure that no fun is ever free in dramaland—it’s always the last act of unbridled joy a character gets before embarking on a dark journey. It’s the same as the let’s-be-a-couple-for-one-day trope, and in a way, that last scene was a bit of both.

But that doesn’t lessen its impact in any way, since seeing such a drastic change in Bang-won’s expression hit all the right notes and tugged on all the right heartstrings. It was perfectly played too, and so unexpected that I went from smiling along with them to looking confusedly at the screen, thinking I must’ve missed something important. I knew the snowball fight was uncharacteristic of him, but I wouldn’t have guessed at the internal struggle going on until it actually unfolded moment by painstaking moment.

What makes Bang-won’s inner war so poignant is that he’s fighting it alone, with no one he’s willing to take into his confidence. When he had problems before, he was able to talk them out with Jung Do-jeon or even his father directly, but ever since he overheard that fateful conversation he’s receded into himself. There’s no real knowing when it comes to what he’s planning, but where Bang-won excels as a manipulator is his ability to mix genuine truth in with his lies, lending them a believable authenticity that no one so far has been able to see past.

For instance, his meeting with Cho-young was supposed to be all business and his way of infiltrating Nameless for Team Joseon, but he only managed to convince her by telling her his real feelings. Because he is wavering, and presumably is thinking about turning to the dark side, laying out his soul to her served a dual purpose for him. Although his conversation with Ha Ryun leads me to believe that he’d much rather dismantle Nameless than join it, it’s clear that he’s not just doing it for Jung Do-jeon anymore.

If anything, this episode was about Bang-won putting himself first, even though he may be a bit misguided in that notion. I get why he couldn’t go to Jung Do-jeon with what he’d learned, since there was little chance of convincing him otherwise when it came to kingly powers, and since exposing his thoughts on the matter could potentially put him in a precarious spot within the group’s hierarchy. By fooling both sides, Bang-won’s giving himself time to make a decision while making sure his options are advantageous. Except now, it only matters that things are advantageous to him, and not necessarily advantageous to the cause.

121

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1 earthna

January 19, 2016 at 5:30 PM

I've been having Infinite withdrawals, Heads, and you put Bad right there on top. High five!

Sorry, I got distracted. off to read.

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2 June

January 19, 2016 at 5:30 PM

This show is so badass! :)

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3 Dukdam

January 19, 2016 at 5:46 PM

This was an amazing episode. Thanks as ever for the recap, Heads.

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4 earthna

January 19, 2016 at 5:52 PM

Only with this episode that I realized how much I missed Bang Won on the spotlight. Yoo Ah In's acting just pulls me in. Bang Won's conflict is so believable that I also find myself getting confused with my own feelings. That snowball fight scene is so precious. The setting was beautiful, covered with snow as far as the eyes can see. The subtle crunching of the snow beneath their feet, oh gosh. Seeing Bang Won smile like that was so refreshing only to see him so broken at the end of it.

I like the foundation of Bang Won and Ha Ryun's relationship. I can't wait until he returns from exile and be Bang Won's right hand man.

Dragons is still as impressive as ever. Episode 32 still took my heart and ran away with it. With only 18 episodes left and more mysteries to uncover, I can't help but be anxious on how this drama will end. I just want a satisfying sageuk this year. It's not too much to ask, right? Thanks for the recaps, Heads!

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crazyahjummafan

January 19, 2016 at 7:34 PM

Yoo Ah-in really nailed his scenes in this episode! I was with him in all his various emotions. And the last scene, in the snow made me cry, which SFD has not done so till now. My heart just went out to him. Well done!

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I Will Goryeo You

January 21, 2016 at 8:06 AM

Word! Actually, this is the first time I cried watching SFD. The emotions feel so sincere.

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 8:23 PM

I've always find Ha Ryun intriguing. He is an example of someone who knows how to survive during turbulent times. What's the use of being a hero if you are going to end up dead before your time?

I love him in The Great King Sejong but he was pretty old back then. I'm anticipating his earlier political career and if they are not going into detail with it in this drama they might in the unconfirmed installment after SFD (Pachunhwang).

http://asianwiki.com/Pachunhwang

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Commentcomment

January 19, 2016 at 9:33 PM

When and where(which network) will it air??

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 9:52 PM

Don't know. Nothing has been confirmed yet. I won't be surprised if they'll wait for YAI to be done with his militsry duty.

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 9:53 PM

*military*

Commentcomment

January 20, 2016 at 2:00 AM

I read the link you gave, and it says it will be on mbc, i like this era, but sfd just did it, and the kbs one was just recent as well, i like this era and the different ways they portray bangwon but if it is done consecutively, it kinda makes me tired about it, i mean there are other times and eras too, its fine if its some few years apart but its just months and the recent dramas kinda still fresh.. but if they are going to end this with just overthrowing goryeo and king taejo, then continue the story it left of with the start of jdj vs. bangwon and the strifes of the princes, and then end it with the start of the tree, it will be really cool.. like sfd, the next one and then tree.. even with different actors and fictional stuff theyre going to add and then theyre actually all connected.. and then make a drama in a 'newer' era then connect it again, or a drama chronologically in between sfd and queen seondeok.

earthna

January 19, 2016 at 10:45 PM

asianwiki states it's going to be MBC which is odd because I can imagine them doing it with SBS. Wasn't Unprecedented supposed to be in MBC? That didn't turn out well.

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 6:06 AM

They could switch networks anytime so I'll stick with unconfirm.

shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 8:27 PM

thanks for the info..when are they going to stop creating dramas about him?? i hope they would focus on other kings.. stop king taejong again. the end would be the same anyway. and people perceive him as a ruthless king won't change.. It's too painful.. now i have to suffer again.. only 2 ep. for a week, it's a torture..

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5 shirayukihime

January 19, 2016 at 5:59 PM

Thanks for the fast recap.. i'll be back soon to give comments. i am watching Empress of China, I heard Empress Wu is similar to King Taejong, they're both ruthless. She also killed many people to become an empress and ruled with iron fist in a patriarchal society.
I'll be back..:))

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

January 19, 2016 at 11:01 PM

Erm. Empress Wu scares me more than BangWon/ TaeJong.

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shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 3:50 PM

she's amazing.. she's the female version of BW..she claimed herself as the emperor of zhou dynasty, she killed many people to become an empress yet ruled effectively..It's considered the golden age during her reign. During her rule as the emperor of china in zhou dynasty , she killed 34 members of Li clan(royal family of the tang dynasty), 36 courtiers and 24 people from her own clan. just amazing.. when she passed the throne to her son, her son only ruled for 5 years cause her son was poison by her son's wife. after watching this,King taejong is not the only one did the killings, there were so many of them but those people abused his people or he thinks as a threat to his son's rule. For King Taejong,it's just amazing how his son ruled effectively and became one of the greatest king. King Taejong is considered as one of the best, same with Empress Wu Zetian. they ruled ruthlessly, and they did everything for their country to improve. They sacrificed everything esp. their own happiness and how the historians and future generations will perceive them. Empress Wu Zetian was hated by the historians cause her methods of acquiring her power, consolidating her power, killing her own clan and children but now they are starting to accept her cause rise to the power really did good for the country. What's more important is during the chaotic times, you really need a ruthless ruler to tame those beasts. Living during the ancient times was not an easy one, it's survival of the fittest. As long as it did bring prosperity and peaceful times to the commoners, why not...

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shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 3:55 PM

and what's amazing the personality of those two are similar. Empress Wu zetian is like King Taejong is good at judging people. Empress Wu Zetian during her reign hired many people with exceptional talents . It's similar to how King Taejong helped and supported Jang Yeong Sil, a slave who turned into a greatest scientist> He introduced him to his son King Sejong and said that Jang Yeong Sil will become great someday.

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Tich Tran

February 29, 2016 at 7:15 PM

And that would NEVER HAPPEN with JDJ. Since he was a strict confucist(his three social classes were the bureacrats ie yangbang, scholars(of confucianism not science) and artisans(craftman not entertainers)/farmers. Everyone else including woman(yangbang women were forced to stay home during daytime during Joseon) ,merchants(ie businesspeople), buddhists(he PERSECUTED them), and slaves were considered vicious.

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6 Dedicated

January 19, 2016 at 6:14 PM

Call me heartless, but I think Bang-Won is right in his thinking. If we imagine their period of time where there's no democracy or voting, I think it is understandable that people wanted to rely on a king. But of course, the said king should have the safety, prosperity, wealth and education of his folk as his first and foremost priority! People's happiness above all! :) Otherwise, why would you even need a king if he'll be only a decoration? How can you put all your faith in one prime minister? Do not put all your eggs in one basket, right? I don't think, Lee Song-Gye's other children would agree with this plan, even if their father is OK with this nonsense of a plan. What if the trusted and beloved prime minister of Sam Bong is the source of all evil and corruption? It's like creating a king-like prime minister, anyway!

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nomad

January 19, 2016 at 7:29 PM

I'm actually with you. Democracy needs people who are already pretty mature in their way of thinking and making decisions. It needs to be an organic growth from a society, not an abrupt change.

Oh! Almost forgot! Also, thank you heads. This is such a long recap process, so thank you for sticking it out for us.

That last scene tugs me so much. In the beginning, I was just missing these two in a heart-felt scene. But then Bang Won just had to cry his tears like that, like he was so entirely exhausted. He just wanted to be able to bare it all to Boon Yi, the way he'd always been able to do, but even that he couldn't do. He knew how much JDJ's cause meant to her, so he couldn't possibly do that, right? Ugh...just so beautifully acted by YAI!!

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 9:44 PM

You are not heartless for seeing things from Bang-won's point of view. I think it'll be different if you see it from the commoners, nobles and Sambong's point of view.

As a commoner growing up in this kind of system it worked for us only when the king is good (very few of them were, just like Joseon).
Currently from Bang-won's point of view, he would be useless without power and his dream to make the people smile. Considering what really happened in history it sounds like a Disney fairytale dream from a commoner's pov.
Sambong, great idea for some of us in our time but near impossible to implement in his time.
Nobles, they'd benefit from both so I don't see them complaining unless they were part of those rich landowners.

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PeepsLeAwesomePotato

January 19, 2016 at 11:36 PM

To be honest, no matter the system, it is all up to the people.

BangWon's method is great if the King is great and Jung DoJeon's idea is great if the Prime Minister is great and if the people in the cabinet are great (and selfless in service and mature in thoughts!).

Whether a country has the fortune to be led by a great person or not depends on it's luck regarding the quality of the people who stepped up. Democracy may not always lead to a wonderful leader if the candidates to choose from... excuse my language... suck. Either way, it's just choosing the better of the lousiest which may not be any consolation. Any democracy fails when power is skewed in on party's hands (see later Joseon - that was Jung DoJeon's method and it still failed because of the in-law clan... oh wow) and it fails again when the powers-that-be just can't agree and make decisions, keeping the country in limbo.

And just because power may be passed down through the monarchy like BangWon's method doesn't mean that the king is able to do anything he pleases (see YeonSanGun) regardless of the people's thoughts.

In any case, systems are idealistic and people are the ones who fail/succeed. There's no use arguing which system is better without considering the people involved.

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 12:12 AM

I have to disagree here based on my own point of view and experience. It's not always up to the people. If you grew up in an Absolute Monarchy system like I did, we the commoners were pretty powerless.
When the king is good, the country prosper and the people are happy. If the king is not good then it's the opposite effect.

Every system is different. I do appreciate living in a country with democracy. I feel free, I have the right to vote etc.

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Commentcomment

January 20, 2016 at 2:11 AM

Can i ask where you are from? You always mention you came from a place under a government like that, also thanks for the actual historical stuff you gave i always look for your comments to see which of the stuff in the drama is real

PeepsLeAwesomePotato

January 20, 2016 at 7:56 AM

Yeah, I'm not saying that democracy is bad I'm just saying that whatever the system, whether it fails or succeeds is up to the people in power - their ability, their character and their mindset, so the system is not the problem but rather the people and really, at the end of the day, the thing is to use the right system with the right people to address the situations. In these times of relative calm and stability with little roaring invaders, democracy is the better option - diverse ideas can come and talk can happen. But in a world of constant threat from external and internal forces like BangWon's Goryeo, stalling can mean death and so absolute monarchy then would be the right answer.

Anyway, my point is that democracy =/= automatic prosperity. Sure, in democracy, you may have the right to vote, and may feel more free but how do you know that your election isn't rigged, how do you know what the secret service does?

By the way, maybe it came off wrongly but when I said people, I don't mean the general public. I meant men and women - the rich the poor, the wise, the stupid, the ones under the system and the ones running the system. Ideas are just ideas and people are the ones who carry them out - that kind of people.

Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 8:08 AM

I get it :). I thought you meant people in charged but I went with people in general without clarifying it.

Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 8:14 AM

Of course no system is perfect. There is good and bad in all of them. I just prefer the current (Democracy) over the other.

Tich Tran

February 29, 2016 at 7:17 PM

JDJ wanted to improve the lives of ONLY CERTAIN CLASSES. He bellieved in the bureacrats(YANGBANG) in the top, scholars second, and THIRD artisans/farmers. Everyone else he considered VICIOUS. He have no problems with the noble class in general. Yeah I AM NO FAN OF CONFUCIANISM.

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7 magnolia

January 19, 2016 at 6:24 PM

Bang won's internal conflict is just soo..painful to watch. How - wish he could talk to someone,but he couldn.t. Yes I do agree with earthna. Yoo Ah In is sick! Hahaha...
I wonder if Lady Min is ready to embrace Boon Yi not as her rival in fighting over Bang Won's love? She's an ambitious woman after all. Perhaps she realized that it is no use to stop her husband's love affair and make Boon Yi as her partner instead to help her each her ambition.
I felt sorry to LSG after all, he's a nice man

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nara

January 20, 2016 at 12:58 AM

i love BY LM interaction hope more of girl bonding time

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8 vinny

January 19, 2016 at 6:56 PM

ok I've seen episode 32, I'm glad I'm not Lady Min in that era, if I knew my hubby kissed a maid who working in the same house... *insert Darth Vader music* lmao

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 8:01 PM

Same here but I always have a soft spot for her. I thought it was interesting how they showed him moving in with her. In those days the men lived with his wife and her family. One of the things I really like about Goryeo and the 3 kingdom era.

As for Bang-won, he was a man of vitality (29 kids?) far from boring lol.
Bang-won's father Lee Seong Gye currently has 2 wives living in 2 different homes (Bang-won's real mother is not shown).

Sambong was a son of a concubine but he was a one woman man. I hope they'll ignore the Tree connection and leave Yeon Hee and Bang Ji be.
He did not have a concubine in history and they already mentioned his son in earlier episodes. (Hong went to Sambong's home and his son told him that his father was not home).

There is all kinds of different relationships from different backgrounds. It's pretty interesting!

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Commentcomment

January 20, 2016 at 2:13 AM

In the drama they changed stuff and made bangwon's mom dead already, it was mentioned episodes ago

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 5:55 AM

Yes I know :).

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nomad

January 20, 2016 at 6:58 AM

So since Joseon era till now, it's the other way around? After marriage the woman is to move to the man's family's home? Just curious.

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 7:43 AM

I believe that was part of the Joseon's (culture/tradition?) as a Confucian country. The bride lives with her in laws.
http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=2389

Goryeo and Shilla embraced Buddhism as the country's state religion. The marriage arrangement was not as strict. For example in drama, Lady Min is not living with her in laws and Bang-won just moved in. They have their own house in her father's estate.

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Mari

January 19, 2016 at 9:25 PM

I wish wish wish the writers put more layers to her character and bring her to the spotlight not only for once or twice in this drama. She was a brave and intelligent queen.

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 10:03 PM

It's just not her time yet. She was in full force after Joseon was established.

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vinny

January 19, 2016 at 10:03 PM

Yes Kiara & Mari,
I have soft spot on her too, I read that Lady Min was the one who went to battlefield herself to check if her husband is still alive or not when everyone thought he's already dead. She wont believe that rumor until she saw it with her own eyes. What a brave woman she is! They are such a powerful & interesting couple. Like I said before, I wish there will be a movie or drama about them.

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shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 11:07 PM

yeah ,i wish there will be a movie about them but somehow in the movie or drama , she will be portrayed as brave and intelligent queen of BW but died unhappy cause of her husband. I just hope they would make it like even though he killed her brothers, she still love him and accepted him so she could die happily. happy ending.. i know she's not the only one in the world who experienced like that but in the end there are women who choose their husband and children over their own siblings..

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9 fleurvoyeur

January 19, 2016 at 6:58 PM

Gooshhh...that whole snowball fight aka Goryeo winter sonata scene is truly beautiful and yet so so heart breaking I cried a lot! There are a lot of emotions and wide range of feelings in just a few minutes of scene, from joy to vulnerability to fear to sadness to despair to resolution. Yoo Ah In is truly amazing! Welcome back!

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10 thatdoublenine

January 19, 2016 at 7:11 PM

I was heartbroken when I saw Bang-Won's tears flowing right after he played snow fight with Boon-yi. He was so upset but he couldn't let his guards down. I'm thankful that there is at least one last person that Bang-Won can cry comfortably in front of.

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11 crazyahjummafan

January 19, 2016 at 7:13 PM

I find JDJ hypocritical. he doesn't want the king to have absolute power, yet he is the one calling all the shots. And isn't he rather ironic? He told Poeun that the king's only responsibility is to choose the Prime Ministry....annnnd he straightaway tells Poeun that he, JDJ, wants him to be the PM.
So then what other power does the King have then?

I'm losing my respect for him fast because I don't like the way he manipulates people. I really don't think that LSG knows that he's going to be a puppet king. Seriously, if he wanted a puppet king, anyone would do. He could easily have used that little boy, King U's tiny son. Why choose a powerful general? Because LSG knows humiliation, values honour and has the interests of the people? And he is a true Confucian? What a lousy excuse! Then wouldn't LSG make a great king, especially if power is given to him?

I think that JDJ chose LSG cos he has the people's love and admiration - being a great general who has protected the country and not lost a single battle. In overthrowing the current regime, it would be easier to put LSG on the throne than someone less great. But in doing so, he is taking the greatness out of LSG. This is a man used to having absolute authority, not just with his army but also with his family. His sons are so supportive, upright and obedient, yes, even Bangwon. To strip him of authority is so wrong.

To use him to further your cause without telling him the full picture, assuming he'll understand is even worse.

Then there's Bang-won. My heart just goes out for this man. He may desire power - there's nothing wrong with that, if it's used properly. People who are smart and have leadership skills do desire power, but what they do with it, is important. Bang-won's desire is to use his influence to make people smile. To deny him of that is truly sad.

In addition, JDJ knows that Bang-won is super intelligent, resourceful and capable. He had helped him out in so many tricky situations. Initially, it was JDJ who schemed and brought about success, but since he took Bang-won on his team, much of their success can be attributed to BW. So it is very sad for me to see JDJ using BW to achieve his plans, all the while knowing that once the new Joseon is established, BW would be stripped of all power and authority. Deliberately using a capable and ingenious person for one's cause and not telling him that he'll be reduced to nothing, is selfish and manipulative and un-Confucianistic. It's sad that a BW looked up to JDJ and thought that he 'found' his way through him, only to have his dreams shattered. What sickens me is that JDJ even praised BW and acknowledged his talents to his father. Yet, he can think of reducing BW to nothing once he has achieved his goals.

In some ways, I'm glad that BW found out about JDJ's real intentions and is able to find a way to retaliate. If not, I think he'll be too devastated.

When I started watching this drama and...

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Adal

January 19, 2016 at 7:45 PM

Well said! You captured my sentiments exactly! I am simply irate at Jung Do Jeong, and my heart is aching for Bang won. Poor boy! Poor, poor boy! He got his heart broken so much that he fell ill.

The snow fight was the one cheery scene in the whole episode!

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shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 11:17 PM

I agree if BW knows about this 5 rules, there's no way he would offer himself to marry LM and choose LM's clan's influence over BY. But he had to do it cause he thought he's helping his father to become a king and change the rotten goryeo.. who would have thought that he will have no place in the new dynasty? He will be like a bird in the cage. I know LSG and his second wife would agree to be used by JDJ but not BW. Even I no way would agree. It made my mind lose spending my years and grow old with nothing have done for the country. Poor BW.. Nam Eun, YH knows about the 5 rules. BJ and BY doesn't care as long as they get what they want: Change and land reform.. But how about BW? he is not a person who would let himself powerless and his fate be decided by someone..Even I would not like it so the way he lied about nameless to JDJ is justified..I want BW to join the nameless..

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nanachan

January 19, 2016 at 8:00 PM

well said!

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Y

January 19, 2016 at 8:36 PM

MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY!
I see no difference between JDJ and Nameless in that aspect

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Mari

January 19, 2016 at 9:22 PM

THIS.

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crazyahjummafan

January 19, 2016 at 10:34 PM

Just realised that my last paragraph was chopped off.

When I started watching this drama and realised that BW eventually turned to the dark side, I was so sad. But somehow, I'm not now. In fact, I'm rooting for BW to oust JDJ - not because I don't agree with his political views, but because I don't agree with the way he went about doing it. The end does not justify the means.

It's ironic that while JDJ warned BW about the worm eating him up, he didn't heed his own advice.

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12 sparks121

January 19, 2016 at 7:13 PM

I just love how Bang won's transformation is being played out. And ep. 32- omg. SO. GOOD.

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 10:19 PM

At first I thought it was a bit too early but considering what is happening so far in relate to the history I think it's about time.

Yea, he is not a teen-ager any more. He should be around 23/24 years old by now.

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13 crazyahjummafan

January 19, 2016 at 7:17 PM

Moo-hyul's is just like a friendly, loyal and faithful dog guarding his master. I love him! Thank you for believing in BW!

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14 crazyahjummafan

January 19, 2016 at 7:24 PM

BW's plan is so ingenious! Now he gets to suss out Nameless, secretly work to sabotage JDJ's plans regarding a powerless monarchy AND become strong, without any suspicion! No wonder King Sejong is so brainy!

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15 Adal

January 19, 2016 at 7:40 PM

This episode is simply heartbreaking. Now Bang won has moved over to the dark side. His tears broke my heart, as he put away his childish affection for a woman he loves above all others and is embracing the darkness that will soon take over his life. How prophetic JDJ's words proved to be, when he said Bang won had no part in his plans for New Joseon. I noticed they replayed that sentiment multiple times this episode.

JDJ thinks he has placated Bang won by giving him the important job of going after Nameless. He has yet to realize that he is being played by a master. What JDJ did is simply dishonest. But I was left with the impression that Lee Seong Gye had a better understanding of JDJ's plan than his son did, when he cautioned Bangwon not to expect any repayment for his labors.

Even Po Eun wishes to sabotage JDJ's plan. With so many people working against him, how did JDJ's plan for Joseon come to fruition?

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 8:56 PM

Poeun's reason for sabotaging Sambong's plan was out of loyalty for his country. The rest of the Goryeo traitors did not know about his plan for what it seems like a Constitutional Monarchy except for Bang-won.

I don't think he'd make a plan of this magnitude without thinking it through. It's not mentioned in the recaps but Sambong said that there is going to be a growth phase, moderation phase and difficult phase (according to DF's translation). I don't think it made it to the growth phase before he died.

I'm actually giving them all the benefit of the doubt. Their intentions were good but different.

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16 Ema

January 19, 2016 at 7:44 PM

Can some tell me how long last king serve until LSG became a king.

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 8:06 PM

Ema King Gongyang served from 1389–1392.

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17 nanachan

January 19, 2016 at 8:06 PM

its just a topknot, but make bang won having the king auora already. Ahin sii you are amazing!

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18 neener

January 19, 2016 at 8:34 PM

A little bit sad that I'm starting to not like JDJ. I'm all for BW but my heart breaks thinking MH and BJ will have a fight in the near future. ?

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19 Youngmin

January 19, 2016 at 8:42 PM

I was thinking from ep 1-25. You Ah in is being paid a ridiculous money for the amount of screen time he is in (70 million won per episode). But now that we’ve hit past the 30th episode mark and seeing how his character is coming up and really anchoring the drama is so darn satisfying. I can’t heap enough praise on YAI. His acting is so layered and so strong. He blends into team play when the show calls for it and steps into limelight just as easily. In fact I had a cringe moment in ep 32 when I saw SSK literally having an acting lapse trying to keep up with him. My only hope is that he goes to the army soonest and comes back soon. Missing him for 2 years on screen is going to be tough yet again the anticipation of what he’ll bring coming back as a “real man” is also very exciting. (AKA real life top knot moment keke )

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nomad

January 20, 2016 at 7:02 AM

I've really liked SSK through this drama, but yes..in ep 32 I could tell that she was having a hard time to keep up with YAI acting.

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nara

January 20, 2016 at 12:43 PM

SPOILER
i think she was consistent with her character always so calm when he is so emotional
ep 14 her confession was so calm while he was going crazy
she is always calm while ppl go crazy around her
that is her charm and strength
i was crying when she said in such an accepting voice how she was happy for the time they shared and its ok to let go now and the underline of her words that to her there is no looking for a future she knew it was temporary and she was prepared

he was always the more emotional of the 2

i love it so much that she is not so emotional as the rest and as it is so common in kdrama - so emotional all the time

well anyway this is not ep 32 and i was planning to say this later so i will say it also in ep 32

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crazyahjummafan

January 20, 2016 at 6:23 PM

I think her acting is pretty good. At times, there were nuances when she had to be more stoic, eg, when BW asked her how she felt about him. i could see her conflicting emotions.

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I Will Goryeo You

January 21, 2016 at 8:00 AM

I can see the struggles, but maybe it was part of BY's emotion at that time.

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20 magnolia

January 19, 2016 at 8:54 PM

the romantic side of me hoping that bang won and boon yi will be together forever because i do not want bang won to be lonely..being a king is a lonely job. However i suspect that the scriptwriters are not into romantic historic drama..

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 10:53 PM

Marriage relationship was based more on politics, power etc. Some lucky couples like King Gongmin and Queen Noguk loved each other.
The writers are adding romance but it's heavy on politics.

You might want to try a more romantic sageuk by this writer then try Song of the Prince (Ballad of Seodong) aka Seo Dong Yo.

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 10:57 PM

Last paragraph is a mess but hope you know what I'm talking about lol.

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Commentcomment

January 20, 2016 at 2:23 AM

I dont really buy romantic stuff in saeguk dramas especially the royal ones because kings have tons of concubines and children some whose names are not even known..i kind of roll my eyes in the romance part of saeguks.. and enjoy he political stuff alot even though sometimes it hurts my head. But i often brainwash myself into forgetting those kings had tons of concubines to be able to make myself believe the "disney-like" love the kings gives he girl in the drama.

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Kiara

January 21, 2016 at 7:41 AM

I try to ignore it because it always feel out of place at least to me.

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shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 7:54 PM

i agree being a king and queen is a lonely job..

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21 Mari

January 19, 2016 at 9:17 PM

Finally, Yoo Ah In's shining moments. He's (Bang Won) been kept on the background for too long. I recall we saw his sizzling hot acting during the prison/tribunal scenes and with his father, and suddenly withdrawn. It was such a waste of character. I'm glad the writers put him back to the center. Aaah...if only he wore that topknot from the beginning! Love et!

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22 Yeri

January 19, 2016 at 10:00 PM

MY poor Oppa,(B.W) I want to give him a warm hug,the snowball fight give me that feels that something will gonna happen to this lovebirds in the future and episode 32 give me that shake that they might separate,the settings at the final scene where they are burning that books,give me that thought that the siblings will choose JDJ,(will there's more episode left)

I am more interested to JDJ and Poen?i forgot how it write!! The battle of witts!!
Thank heads!

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Kiara

January 19, 2016 at 11:10 PM

Poeun makes me really nervous especially when he was on that bridge. He should be banned from every bridge in Goryeo.

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23 As3beaniebean

January 19, 2016 at 10:17 PM

The scene when Bang-won 'recruit' Ha-ryun gave me goosebumps especially when Ha-ryun asked Bang-won to lay low until he returns.
So glad this drama is still keeping its quality even after 30+ episodes

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24 PeepsLeAwesomePotato

January 19, 2016 at 11:20 PM

I think I snorted in derision when Jung DoJeon mentioned "Heaven's Will". That was such a blatant example of how men will bend and twist anything to fit and justify their "truths".

Now I'm just "Go! BangWon, go!" Because that looks like a nice fight.

K-dramas have made me discover that I'm no angel, seeing how I'm siding with a(n ancient) national traitor, Jung from Cheese in the Trap and even adored Bora from Answer Me 1988 in the earlier episides when she was still only known as Ssangmundong's nutjob. *evil glee* I love it! Show me all your dark sides!

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nomad

January 20, 2016 at 7:03 AM

LOL! :)

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Kiara

January 22, 2016 at 11:33 AM

If you learn more about Sambong and his interpretation of Mencius's teaching you'll understand what he meant by "Heaven's Will"

Under the Administrative Code of Joseon, he explains the reason for why "the people are the Heaven" and not the king.

"On the whole, the ruler relies on the nation and the nation on his people. The people are the foundation of the nation and the Heaven of the ruler. Thus the king would show respect and accept the house registers of his people in (Book of Rites)."

It's easy to misunderstand him in this drama because it's meant for entertainment.

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25 Shinubi Wang

January 20, 2016 at 12:26 AM

My love for Boon Yi deepens. Pity she had to play second fiddle to a woman born of the manor, rich and wield power from her father riches. Some people are lucky to be born into the right family.

There is only 18 episodes left and it is unlikely we will see much of the trio's relationship - Ban Won, Boon Yi and Da Kyung - and Ban Won's ascension to the throne and reign.

I hope there is a sequel and if there is, we do not have to wait long for it. Better still extend the series to 80 episodes.

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Youngmin

January 20, 2016 at 12:52 AM

Im watching Jang Young Shil now and it seems that King Taejong (he has ALOT ALOT of children) had an illegitimate daughter (Princess Go Hyun) - maybe they might make that into the child of Boon Yi and Bang Won?

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nara

January 20, 2016 at 1:08 AM

my love for BY deepens also - she is such an amazing and revolutionary female character in kdrama land that im rooting for her even if i know it wont work

and i feel the weight she carries around on her shoulder holding everyone supporting and guiding
is sometimes too heavy

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26 Marshmallow

January 20, 2016 at 3:22 AM

@Shinubi Wang lmao I hope you're aware that Dakyung was a real person while Boonyi is a wish-fullfillment, self-insert fictional character. Everyone hoping for romance between Bangwon and Boonyi make me laugh. Bangwon and Dakyung are end game, and it pisses me off that the writers wrote a Disney romance between Bangwon and a fictional character.

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Stella

January 20, 2016 at 5:02 AM

Why not? If you check out Lee Bang Won’s genealogy and family history, he had one official wife and 17 concubines and A TON of kids. These are the official women who made it into his courts likely due to their backgrounds of nobility (suitability), we are talking about a king who defies tradition and enjoys hunting which probably means he goes out of the palace often. The love affairs with the commoners cannot be discounted, definitely a casanova in his time.

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Stella

January 20, 2016 at 5:07 AM

Da Kyung though a real life figure is not first love material for sure since its recorded she was only a political marriage partner that was arranged. I think its cool that SFD gave him a pure first love that humanizes him and keep us distracted about the true history of King Taejong and his many women.

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 5:48 AM

I don't think he was defying tradition when he took in that many concubines. As I said before marriage was mostly based on politics so it was a political move on Bang-won's part.
If you look at his concubines, they were from powerful noble families. He did not want his queen's family to be too powerful.

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nara

January 20, 2016 at 8:35 AM

maybe its not defying tradition but it is considered quite excessive even for those times
seems like LBW wanted LM to know her place and to flaunt infront of her
it is said that he immediately took plenty of concubines to undermined her and her family this is probably the most hated think he could have done to his queen
so the assumption that he wasnt in love with her is logical
to try and hurt her so much

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 9:15 AM

This is a man who did not want to share power so his first move was to keep her power and her powerful family under his control. He picked Ha Ryun as prime minister because Ha Ryun knew him well. Ha Ryun just want to survive and live a long life.
Governing with absolute power was his way. That's mean his wife the queen and Prime Minister will have no real power in his court.

From her point of view, he was being cruel and ungrateful. I won't be surprised if she did try to kill him and it wasn't written down in history heh.

nara

January 20, 2016 at 10:05 AM

i would have if i was her and claim self defense
she must have been great and amazing
she also was ahead of her time
and tohave such a great king as Sejong she was a great and smart mother
and GSY does great here and will become more prominent very soon
but i think that even if the kig appreciated her he feared her and i dont think he ever loved her

Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 12:46 PM

I would've poisoned him.
Four brothers and her father also died from shocked after hearing about their exile.

I may not care about the rest of the Min queens but I always thought that Queen Wongyeong paid a heavy price for helping Bang-won sit on the throne.

shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 8:00 PM

i think the min brothers abused King Taejong's power and their influence.. i watch King Sejong the Great and they want the 1st prince to become the king cause he was easy to manipulate.. and king taejong found out that they have so many slaves, hidden lands, and private armies. so that's really dangerous if the first prince become the king.. there will be revolts. and i don't think min brothers is good to be around, they will influence king sejong and have control the politics over him. King taejong said that prince yangnyeong don't know how to distinguish the flattery from loyalty.. min brothers were not really loyals, sooner after king taejong they will have more power than the king and sedo politics will be introduced in the early dynasty. that's very dangerous.. if it would be me, i'll do the same thing.. eradicate the the one who helped you get the throne and consolidate your power.. it is for the better anyway

shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 8:05 PM

i think LM understand what he did. In joseon dynasty, when you got married the daughters have no connections to her family..the center of her world is her family..she must have lover her children so she in the end choose her children instead of her brothers. king sejong wouldn't become great if they are still around. we have seen what happen to goryeo royals... the goryeo king have only few years of reign cause they were killed in the power struggles between the relatives. so that's dangerous...

nara

January 21, 2016 at 1:58 AM

of course she chose her children and she acted that way to protect them

but just as LBW expected that JDJ will count him in his big plan bc he had helped so much

LM brothers had expected that as was LM herself
i know one is fiction and one is true history but the emotions are the same

they helped him ascend the thrown they expected being more influential

but LBW being an absolute ruler would not allow therefor rooting for the other prince

LM wanted to be the most influential women can be and also that her children will ascend the thrown

Kiara

January 21, 2016 at 7:48 AM

Her oldest brothers were charged with disloyal to the king. The other 2 brothers were hanged for protesting against their older brothers punishment. It pisses Bang-won off so he killed them all.

27 Ema

January 20, 2016 at 3:28 AM

Thanks kiara..(i can't use reply)
Big hugs and thank you for head...thank you for your time

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28 nara

January 20, 2016 at 5:15 AM

i wonder why it is ok to judge JDJ negatively for withholding information while judging LBW favorably for doing the same

is it ok to do the same "wrongness" just bc it was done to you? are you allowed to wrong another just bc you were wronged first?
what kind of justice are you looking for in your leaders?

i really dont get the justification i see here

they are doing the same and should be judged the same

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 9:24 AM

I agree with your first paragraph nara.

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drag_on

January 20, 2016 at 4:15 PM

LOL. I feel like you're trying to seek fairness/truth/right in most every aspect related to this drama, including what you called as 'the justification you saw here'.

Well, I might be doing the same, but I decided to stop 'thinking' with the same way like you do, because It would make me lose all the fun I could feel in watching a fictional drama here.

I have to have a character to root for, to look forward to what's coming next, to get better feels. lol. I choose Bang-won because I understand his situation. I've seen how much he has done, and he's still the same 'child' in the first episode who try to achieve his dream, to find the meaning of his existence. He seems capable of anything (he does, tbh) but still is inexperienced in so many ways (considering his age, perhaps).

(For the record, this isn't the attempt to disregard the fact that things in a drama might happen in real life, or the writer was intentionally depicting some realism so viewers should notice the real issue and take a real action. But, It's just me believing that there's nothing pure white or pure black when it comes to human nature, or the world)

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nara

January 20, 2016 at 4:35 PM

well LOL thats just the best compliment ever and if you tried to render me speechless this is the most beautiful way to do it

i agree you have to identify yourself\root for someone and im rooting for BY
for me its a threeway battle monarchy ministry and the ppl
and as i said in this forum bf
since ima women and probably would not have been a noble BY is my only option i see myself in her and im rooting for her

bc there is no black or right or absolute truth or absolute anything is why im also against absolute rulers for them even if the intention is good there is only one way theirs

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I Will Goryeo You

January 21, 2016 at 8:01 AM

THIS

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 4:21 PM

Funny to go back to the last episode and read all the name calling on JDJ lol.

The writers have been twisting the history to throw us off.

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nara

January 20, 2016 at 4:37 PM

what do you mean?

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Kiara

January 20, 2016 at 4:56 PM

Our reactions can change with every episodes. There is twists and turns.

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29 CaroleMcDonnell

January 20, 2016 at 5:45 AM

This sageuk is turning out to be my most favoritest of all. It is simply awe-inspiring in writing, directing, and acting. That snowball scene was just heartbreaking. Thanks for recapping.

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nomad

January 20, 2016 at 7:06 AM

Hear Hear!

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Giegie

January 20, 2016 at 9:42 AM

Mine, too. ^^

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drag_on

January 20, 2016 at 4:19 PM

This is indeed the best sageuk because it has been doing very amazing in so many ways, so far.
Hopefully, the ending won't ruin everything

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crazyahjummafan

January 20, 2016 at 6:30 PM

Agree with you. The snowball scene is also breath-taking! I just love all the beautiful scenery this drama has shown.

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Lisa Purba

January 21, 2016 at 10:10 AM

Agreed! This is my first 50 episodes of Sageuk and so far I'm loving it!

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30 bluefoureyes

January 20, 2016 at 7:32 AM

It's painful to see Bangwon's struggle... At least, I hope Boonyi can eventually look behind that mask and understand what he's going through...

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31 shinmudejuve

January 20, 2016 at 9:00 AM

So, ep 31 was the start of Lee Bangwon turning to the "dark" side. But, deep down in my heart, I could understand his way of thinking and decision. Jeong Dojeon's reformation strategy seems ideal and perfect, but I dislike the process how he build up his plans. He manipulated and lied to his ally (Lee Seonggye) and family.
I know that in the end Lee Seonggye would agree for being a puppet King, because he loves his people so much. But his sons might not agree (especially Bangwon,of course) that's why JDJ didn't tell anything to Lee family about his entire plan. He didn't want his plan to be failed so he deceived his ally, I just.. don't like it.

But then again, if I put myself on neutral side.. what Bangwon is going and planning to do right now has no different with what JDJ did to him. He is now deceiving his teacher and people around him to get what he desires.
It's all about worms that grows in their heart, their personal desires to achieve the so-called new perfect country. Bangwon want to has power in politic while JDJ trust Confusianism in running politic. They have same goal, to make people smile, but the worms lead them to the separate ways.

[WARNING: SPOILER ALLERT!!!]
In a good light, now I have a good understanding about how Lee Bangwon would grow to be King Taejong. Because due to real history, King Taejong is a ruthless king who doesn't dare to kill anyone (even his family) to build his dream, country that make his people smile.
[SPOILER END]

I'm now waiting how the writers tell us moreee about the process of new Joseon dinasty build up. I'm totally an avid fan of their writing style! (Only ONE critic tho: when will they give the 6th Dragon title to Moohyul? LOL)
This drama is seriously EPIC from too many aspects to mention one by one.
And I just want to comment 1 more thing: this drama gives great opportunities to some not-so-good-to-meh actors/actresses to show their "hidden" acting skills.
Yoon Kyunsang, I like him in Pinocchio, not because his acting but he's handsome.. and I found his acting pretty terrible in The Time We're Not in Love. Now he is good and sooo entertaining here as Moohyul!
He still needs to learn alot, but come on.. who doesn't like Moohyul? :P
The other one is Shin Sekyung. I've watched many of her dramas and the only drama that I found her acting is okay was Tree With Deep Roots. I've once said it and will repeat it: SSK is good in sageuk. Because she is really good in here. I surprise myself that her acting got me hooked many times in this drama.

So.. yeah.. YAAAYYY for Six Flying Dragons team. The BEST Kdrama of 2015 and 2016 so far (yes, both years!!)

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32 nara

January 20, 2016 at 10:30 AM

i think LBW got worm juice in his ears when he was watching BY talk
so he couldnt hear her
the problem with the worm is that it can be to late once you finally notice it - it had already taken over

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33 Yeri

January 20, 2016 at 11:52 AM

I share your sentiments about BY en BW!tho the fact is,"happy ending only exist in fairytaleland"not in this era! I dnt have the right to question the writer's point of view,but cant help!! Why they need to make her charcter perfect as a queen when she cant? I feel bad for the real Queen,her chrcter is realy interesting,but got block by BY!! Maybe to blnce the historical en fictional but why she??--they want to make her(BY) a concubine I guess,too bad for her,! I rather want to see her cultivating their land or to go back to their normal life en live peacefuly away from politics than to live in a palace with a messy life!!
One thing that I noticed,Kings of this era are all playboy(almost all of the king I know(^_^) sorry to say this,i know for a purpose but 5 is more than enough!
Good thing that i'm born in this time,!

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34 shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 8:30 PM

Guys, Is BW going to join Nameless?

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Lisa Purba

January 21, 2016 at 10:09 AM

He will join hand with Ha Ryun for sure, to crush the Nameless from the inside, because they are useless.

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shirayukihime

January 21, 2016 at 3:50 PM

thanks.. so excited for that.. but part of me , I don't want nameless to disappear.. it existed fr 700yrs , i don't think that's easy anyway..

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Lisa Purba

January 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM

Yeah it won't be easy, but this Nameless organization existence doesn't do any good for the country. Or they did?

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35 shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 8:34 PM

Man, every time i see BW on screen this last ep. I remember Bidam's transition in GSQD..

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36 shirayukihime

January 20, 2016 at 8:53 PM

some part of me wants him dead.. he should have let himself died.. it's so painful for me to watch him like this. i wanna know if someone said that he should take the throne cause it's his destiny,

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nara

January 21, 2016 at 2:01 AM

no one said it but i think HR insinuated this and if we go back it as if this conversation made start thinking about it

and his father in law also i think - wanting to keep the power of his clan

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37 I Will Goryeo You

January 21, 2016 at 8:05 AM

Yaasssh! Yoo Ah In showed a top notched acting in this episode I love love love et to bits! And finally the conflict is deepen. Feel bad for Bang Won. I want more LBW and Haryun for the next episodes! SFD fighting!

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38 hipployta

January 24, 2016 at 7:10 AM

Such a great show

I totally get Lee Bang Won and can see how he becomes King Taejong

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