Six Flying Dragons: Episode 36

216 February 3, 2016February 3, 2016

by HeadsNo2

And so it falls to Bang-won to do the utterly unthinkable, if not for the fact that everyone else likely thought about it and just didn’t want to admit it to themselves. While people like his own father would rather choose to live in denial, our most ruthless young dragon chooses to make his own dreams a reality, even at great cost to himself and others. Especially others. No one ever thanks the garbage man.

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EPISODE 36 RECAP

We backtrack a bit to Bang-won’s decision to kill Jung Mong-joo, which he explains as his own decision and not his father’s to Young-kyu and Bang-ji. Even the greatest swordsman in the Three Kingdoms seems hesitant to face off against Sa-kwang, but Bang-won tells him to have faith.

Later that night, as Sa-kwang walks with Poeun back to the palace, she asks if the fighting will end tomorrow when Jung Do-jeon and the others are set to be executed. He wants it to end as quickly as she does since neither of them like conflict, though both are gritting their teeth and doing what they feel they must.

Sensing murderous intent in the air, Sa-kwang sends Jung Mong-joo ahead while she hangs back to deal with the threat. Meanwhile, Moo-hyul has to find out from Boon-yi that everyone left without him, since no one thought to tell him why or what for.

Sa-kwang easily dispenses with the contingent of men traveling with Bang-ji, using the sharp end of her sword this time. It’s just her and Bang-ji now, and he tells her that he’s here to fulfill a dream long since buried in his heart: “It’s to end Goryeo.”

Though normally slow on the uptake, Moo-hyul quickly figures out that Bang-won & Co. went to kill Jung Mong-joo. “They’re all going to die,” he says worriedly, before explaining that none of them will be able to win against Sa-kwang. He finds out their location from Boon-yi and runs as fast as his feet will take him.

Bang-ji and Sa-kwang draw their swords to do battle, and at first, he seems to be holding his own—but a simultaneous flying leap and clash of blades sends him hurling into a nearby tree.

He recovers fast enough, though in the second it takes him to raise his sword, Sa-kwang dives in to make a clean slash across his abdomen. That’s when he has a flashback to when Master Jang Sam-bong read his palm, proclaiming that he’d have a very long life indeed… unless he met the reaper. Translation: “You’re going to live until you die.”

Since Jang Sam-bong had warned that Bang-ji’s reaper could come in the form of a master swordsman, Present Bang-ji thinks to himself that he might be facing said reaper now. He’s not afraid of dying—his only fear is that everything will be for naught if Bang-won can’t catch Jung Mong-joo.

Resigning himself to just buying time, Bang-ji fights for all he’s worth, and holds off against Sa-kwang for longer than even she anticipated. He’s able to block one of the two swords she hurls at him with great speed, but not the second, which pierces through his abdomen.

Though unhurt, the fighting is enough to make Sa-kwang break a sweat. She knows Bang-ji is no easy foe, which is why she has to end it, and soon. Bang-ji seems to pick up on the fact that she’s tiring quickly all while mentally breaking down her techniques, which are deceptively simple.

She’s also scrutinizing his technique, recognizing Jang Sam-bong’s hand in his training. “Our ill-fated relationship goes deeper than I thought,” she murmurs. Her goal is to get Bang-ji running so he bleeds out, while his is to keep her fighting and (hopefully) tire her out.

Moo-hyul races toward the sound of swords clashing, just as Bang-ji lands his first real hit on Sa-kwang’s leg. Her startled and hurt reaction actually earns a small chuckle from Bang-ji, who rightly guesses, “This is your first time getting cut by a sword, isn’t it?”

While she’s otherwise occupied, Jung Mong-joo reaches the infamous Sonjukkyo Bridge (infamous, of course, for what happens next), where Bang-won waits for him.

Relieved that he made it before Bang-ji could be killed, Moo-hyul recognizes the stance Sa-kwang takes as the one she took before she cut the palanquin in half—the same move her ancestor coined to cut both horse and rider in half.

All Moo-hyul can do is yell “Don’t block! MOVE!” as Sa-kwang launches into the air, and thankfully, Bang-ji dives to avoid being killed. That’s when Moo-hyul joins in the fight, but even with the two-to-one odds in their favor, he knows they still won’t be able to defeat her.

Recalling Master Hong’s advice that he should look to the person and not the technique itself for a weakness to exploit, Moo-hyul also recalls how Sa-kwang had confessed she had little experience in real battles. If that was the case, Master Hong had guessed, then she wouldn’t have the capability to react timely to unexpected situations.

It’s this, and her unwillingness to kill, that Moo-hyul banks everything on as he drops his sword to the ground and runs straight for her. Using her split-second moment of hesitation and confusion, he locks a hand around her throat with all the forward momentum he can muster, sending the two of them down the nearest slope in a blur of speed and brute force.

On the bridge, Bang-won gives Jung Mong-joo one more chance to give up on Goryeo, which the scholar vows he will never do for as long as he’s a Confucian scholar.

He thinks Bang-won is going to use “the people” as reasoning against him, only for Bang-won to surprise him by replying that the people don’t care what happens to the nation. “What would it matter to the people whether it happens this way or that? Whether you lose the land or Sambong establishes a new country, it does not matter to them at all.”

As long as they have food and joy in their lives, he claims, that’s enough for them. Which is when he recites an extremely (historically) significant portion of what’s since become a sijo, or traditional three-verse Korean poem: “Who would blame the arrowroots of Mount Mansu for being tangled together?”

His meaning being that no one would blame him if he joined hands with Jung Do-jeon for the greater good of the people, which isn’t a concern for Poeun the way it is for them. A country and system are needed to guide the people and earn their devotion, he claims, which is definitely not a concern for Bang-won. Remember, he’s the one who said “new people are born every day.”

Eyes glistening, Bang-won gives him one last chance to change his mind, as the slow clanking sound of Young-kyu’s mace draws ever closer. That’s when Jung Mong-joo recites a version of his part in the sijo: “Kill me and kill me again. Try to kill me a hundred times! Until all of my bones rot and my body returns to the earth and becomes dust, you shall not gain a piece of my fiercely loyal heart.”

Bang-won can’t help but admire his resolve as tears stream down his cheeks. But Jung Mong-joo has one final warning for him, in that history will never forget this moment (and not in the good way). Bang-won’s name will always be entwined with his from this moment forward, which he seems to take some pleasure in predicting.

“So be it!” Bang-won proclaims. “If my name cannot be tied with yours in this life, then let it go down with yours in history!” He calls Young-kyu forward, and Jung Mong-joo uses his last moments to think of the absurdity of it all. He’d hoped to use his life to sustain Goryeo for a thousand years, but now, his beloved country will die while he’ll live on forever.

With that, Young-kyu swings the mace down on Jung Mong-joo’s head in a splatter of blood, and keeps bludgeoning him even after he falls in an increasingly sickening sequence. Bang-won doesn’t stop him, nor does he avert his eyes.

Having just watched the forest fight scene between Sa-kwang and the boys (this being the second time someone’s disappeared over a cliff only for him to go, “Welp, there’s no way of knowing how that turned out,”) Gil Sun-mi reaches the small crowd gathered around the pool of blood and flesh that was Jung Mong-joo.

Much to his surprise, Jung Do-jeon is released from prison that very same night. He’s greeted by Bang-won, who tells him the news, bows respectfully, and departs. Jung Do-jeon instantly loses his ability to stay upright.

Bang-won turns to comfort Young-kyu, still spattered with blood and shaking from the shock of it all. “You’ve done a great thing. A great thing,” he stresses. And because of that, everything will change.

It’s only when Bang-won returns to Boon-yi that he allows himself to show any sign of weakness by falling to his knees in front of her. She puts a hand on his back for comfort, but says nothing.

Tears are shed within the palace and without over the murder of Jung Mong-joo, but it’s not until Jung Do-jeon goes to the crime scene himself that it really sets in. There, the body of his once best friend and sworn brother lies covered in a straw mat, and the sight of it seems to fill him not with sadness, but with fury.

Before they can send out a search party for him, Bang-ji returns, holding his bleeding gut with one hand. Poor Grandma is sent into fits when he reveals that Moo-hyul and Sa-kwang fell off a cliff together, and that he knows no more than that. Because cliffs in this show’s universe are bottomless black holes.

Moo-hyul awakens at the bottom of that black hole, and wonders if Sa-kwang used the falling technique Bang-ji described to slow their descent downward and save their lives.

Feeling for her breath, Moo-hyul quickly discovers that she’s alive. His first instinct is to grab a nearby sword as if to stab her prone form, but he just can’t bring himself to do it.

While Boon-yi uses her people to comb the mountainside for him, Sa-kwang awakens in a cave, with her wounds bandaged and a fire lit nearby. Aww, Moo-hyul, you big ol’ teddy bear.

Jung Do-jeon copes with his friend’s death by raging against Confucianism, and takes to tearing up all the books that led him to this point and the written papers detailing his great cause. What does it matter when their cause is as good as dead now anyway? What does it matter when nothing in those books could be used to convince Jung Mong-joo?

Da-kyung is the one to tell Bang-won that his father wants to see him, and reassures him that it’s not because he wants to kill him. In a surprisingly tender moment, she adds, “I’m sure no one has told you this yet: You did well.”

Indeed, Lee Seong-gye doesn’t want to kill his son, and instead tosses him a dagger with the instruction to kill himself for his crimes. Bang-won takes it wordlessly, bringing the blade up to his neck…

But his father knocks it out of his hand with an ink stone, demanding to know why his son disobeyed his order to stay away from Poeun, only to be all too willing to follow his order for suicide. His voice at a roar, he rails against his son for that temper of his, which he uses to do whatever he wants.

This is what finally breaks Bang-won’s silence as he yells in return, “Even when your path is clearly laid out for you, you still look elsewhere. Why do you have to make this so complicated?” More importantly, what was he supposed to do? Let Jung Do-jeon, Jo Joon, and Officer Nam be executed?

His father doesn’t have much of an answer for that, since he’s more upset over the fact that Bang-won killed what little remained of the people’s sentiment and respect toward them.

With a frustrated sigh, Bang-won returns, “Do we truly need those things to achieve our great cause?” When his father roars that he will not be king, Bang-won tells him to go ahead and quit if he’s so afraid.

Leaving his father shaking with rage, Bang-won is met with his eldest brother’s fist, and his equally unflinching wrath. It’s only because of Bang-gwa interceding that Bang-woo doesn’t kill him where he stands.

Scholars left and right revolt, ready to do everything in their power to ensure that Bang-won receives justice for what he did. They paper the capital with his crimes and call for his execution, in order to rile the people up against him.

Moo-hyul returns home to his very happy Grandma, and lies when he claims that Sa-kwang was gone when he woke up. He makes sure to change the subject away from her and the fact that he was fully intending to sacrifice himself when he went off the edge of that cliff. How about that Jung Mong-joo, huh?

Yeon-hee finds Jung Do-jeon poring over his torn papers, though it’s with a level voice that he says, “In the end, I am the one who killed Poeun. He died because of me.” When asked what he plans to do, it’s revealed that he’s laboriously pieced together all the ripped shreds of his various manifestos.

Folding the last one into a box, he claims to have two options: live mercilessly, or die mercilessly. Now, the only way to redeem their great cause is by following through with the creation of their ideal nation.

There’s nowhere Bang-won can go to escape recognition, which is when Minister Hong’s hallucination comes back to him: “Are you not hesitating out of fear that you will become lonely after the world turns away from you?” Turn away it has, and he looks awfully lonely from here.

The only person to approach him with a friendly face from the crowd is Ha Ryun, even though he wishes Bang-won would have lied low like he told him to. When asked what he would’ve done differently, Ha Ryun says he would’ve had Jung Mong-joo assassinated—sure, the people might wonder, but it would pass like any other rumor.

Bang-won stands at this, defending his choice to murder Jung Mong-joo openly as a justified one. He killed a man about to kill his father and one who was preventing history from moving forward, why should he hide from that?

When Jung Do-jeon goes to visit Lee Seong-gye, the general laments the current state of affairs and knows how the people must think of him. All this means he’s completely unprepared for what Jung Do-jeon tells him to do next: “We must denounce Poeun as a criminal and hang his decapitated head in the marketplace. We must denounce him as a traitor!”

In shock, Lee Seong-gye asks him if he’s out of his goddamned mind—Jung Mong-joo was bludgeoned to death with a mace for coming to visit his sickbed, and he wants to hang his head for all to see? He didn’t even do that to his worst enemies on the battlefield.

Calm and collected, Jung Do-jeon asks if he’d rather build a monument commending Poeun for his loyalty, or maybe even a commemorative shrine while he’s at it. “We must assume responsibility,” he says. That’s what politics is, and that’s what politicians do. Poeun made his choice to oppose them as a politician, and took responsibility by dying for it.

And the only way they can take responsibility now is to achieve their great cause no matter what. If not, they should all die. “If Poeun had not died, then I would have.” Plus, people like Jo Joon, Officer Nam, and the perpetually missing Shin-jeok—people they can put to great use in their cause—would have died.

Jung Do-jeon: “It is my burden to bear. My first mistake was when I thought that Poeun would easily agree with my thinking, which I believed was right. My second mistake was that even though I knew striking down close friends would be much harder than striking down my enemies, I wished to ignore it.

And at least, to Poeun… my desire to be acknowledged by him… that was my third mistake. I fully accept my responsibility. However, as long as we are alive, as long as we cannot die, we must assume responsibility.”

Bang-won, who’s been eavesdropping on their conversation, doesn’t look very pleased.

Moo-hyul returns to the cave he left Sa-kwang in with food, only to find it empty. Before he can turn around, he finds a sword held to his neck—and a bloodied and bruised Sa-kwang on the other end of it. “What happened?” she asks.

Jung Do-jeon seems unsurprised to find Bang-won outside, and reacts levelly to Bang-won’s defense that there was nothing else he could’ve done by agreeing.

But when Bang-won says that he was fully prepared to face the consequences for his actions, he doesn’t seem prepared for what Jung Do-jeon says next: “There is no longer a place for you in this great cause. I’m sure you were prepared for that much, at least.”

Mustering up his courage, Bang-won fires back, “Is it not true that there was no place for me in this great cause to begin with?” Jung Do-jeon turns around then, and meets Bang-won’s challenging gaze head-on.

COMMENTS

I know Bang-won wishes he didn’t have to seek Jung Do-jeon’s approval with every fiber of his being, but there’s still that part of him that just wants to belong to something, isn’t there? Which is why it hurts to see him kicked while he’s already down (so to speak), enough to make one wonder whether a bit of kindness and understanding on Jung Do-jeon’s part might’ve made enough of a difference to change the course of history.

On second thought: Nah. Bang-won is perhaps the greediest out of everyone, and likely wouldn’t change his course even if Jung Do-jeon showered him with gold stars and constant praise. Because at the end of the day, what he wants is power, and he wouldn’t get an iota of it if Jung Do-jeon gets to create the exact nation he wants. What makes Bang-won an untrustworthy player in the greater scheme of things is that he wants to cherry pick the pieces of Jung Do-jeon’s life’s work that work best for him, and to exorcise the pieces that don’t.

Still, it’s hard not to feel even a little sorry for him, since he was the only one who was willing to do what was necessary for the creation of their new nation. That Jung Do-jeon recognizes how important his contribution was while at the same time ostracizing him for it speaks to a double standard within him, since without Bang-won, he and his dream would be dead. And yet there he was, ready to do absolutely nothing about it. What did everyone think was going to happen?

Props definitely go to Boon-yi for being as rationally ruthless as Bang-won, even though she’ll take none of the heat from his actions. And in a way, Jung Do-jeon surprised me by turning the brutal murder of his friend into a boon for their cause, especially since it was his idea to desecrate the corpse and display Jung Mong-joo’s severed head for all to see. If ever there was a character who could turn lemons into lemonade, Jung Do-jeon would be it.

But while we’re on the subject, if—and I’m just saying if—there was ever a show that could make a pairing out of the deadliest warrior to have ever existed and the derpiest, it’d be Six Flying Dragons. (Hint, hint.)

216

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1 crazyahjummafan

February 3, 2016 at 8:16 PM

I really think that the writer favours Lee Bang-won. She/he has written him in such a way that most of us can't fault him for killing Po-eun. And has twisted things in such a way that despite Po-eun (deservedly) died, he still received the accolate of being Goryeo last loyalist.

The pen is indeed mightier than the sword!

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little-muffin

February 3, 2016 at 9:26 PM

Totally. All along we've always thought Lee Bang-won as the ruthless evil one (historically or portrayal in other dramas). This is the first time that we can actually sympathize and even side with him. His struggle is so real thanks to Yoo Ah-in awesome act.

At this point, I'm actually unhappy with Lee Seong-gye and Jung Do-jeon.

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Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 3:57 PM

What drama is he portrayed at as ruthless evil?

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lia

February 9, 2016 at 4:24 AM

"deep rooted tree" (the loose sequel for this drama) is one where lee bang won is portrayed as really ruthless

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Kiara

February 9, 2016 at 9:00 AM

SFD is the official prequel to Tree. That Lee Bang-won is the same Lee Bang-won that we are watching here. This show is not over yet Maybe we'll get to see his ruthless side at the end.

Commentcomment

February 3, 2016 at 10:50 PM

He is the main character here, he has to be somewhat favourable and reasonable with his actions even its bad.. but even though he's the main character, unlike other dramas where its black and white or only good and bad, they made the characters layered, they made it seem that none of the characters whether its the main ones or the villains are just good or bad, all of them has both good and bad points, somewhat except probably for(imo) hong in bang and lee ingyeom, though both had some back stories of where they come from, imo, they didnt show much good side for the 2.. but aside from them, everyone seems to be layered.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 6:30 AM

This Bang-won is the Bidam of SFD. I'm not surprise that the writers are twisting the heck out of the history in his favor. I prefer the more authentic, more traditional and period awareness Bang-won from Tears of the Dragon and Jeong Do Jeon. There are so very few of them these days it's kind of sad at least to me.

I'm on fan-girl mode when I'm watching this because it's meant for entertainment just like QSD. History is the total bait and I tend to ignore the inaccuracies or occasionally whine about it lol.

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wonhwa

February 4, 2016 at 4:54 PM

Does Tears of the Dragon have English subs anywhere? Or Jeong Do Jeon for that matter? I'd love to watch both of them, but it's frustrating that they're generally unavailable to non-Korean speakers.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 7:27 PM

The site that used to sub ToTD is no longer available. You can find a few clips with subs on YouTube but not the whole episodes. Jeong Do Jeon was broadcast on KBS with subs. I think you can find it online.

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wonhwa

February 5, 2016 at 6:43 AM

I'll look around. I wish KBS was more willing to license its long traditional sageuks (or that legal streaming sites were more willing to pick them up - there's nothing worse than starting a 100 episode long show only to have it disappear part way through).

Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 3:05 PM

I basically dl it and wait for my poor Korean to be decent enough. My problem with sageuks is the language. It's not the typical modern everyday Korean. It's much harder to understand especially for a foreigner struggling with 3 other languages.

nomad

February 4, 2016 at 5:34 PM

I'm not saying that Bang Won is definitely not ruthless, or that I can justify the reasonings behind his killings, but I've learned that what ever "authentic" is, is always relative. History after all, is HIS story...it's written by the winners. There are always two sides of every story, so despite that SFD seems to paint someone who definitely had blood on his hands as someone we could all root for, I like that it represents that other side of the coin.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 7:19 PM

Authentic doesn't mean it's 100% history. The writers still insert their own interpretations here and there but the main focus is on the history. If you are a fan of history then that is what you'd prefer.

This is a trendy fusion half and half sageuk and it's very entertaining. The writers have more freedom to interpret the history however they want.

The history of Goryeo was written by the winners. Who do you think were the winners? The National History of Goryeo was revised by Ha Ryun per Bang-won's order. The original was written by Jeong Do Jeon.

I am very much capable of looking at a story from both sides. I have been mostly neutral because I have no relation with these dead people. What I give is mostly my own opinion.

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lia

February 9, 2016 at 4:46 AM

can't there be room for both types of historical drama? one that gives a more "accurate" or accepted version of events and people, and one that tries to reinterpret the events and people in a new way? in my opinion dramas like six flying dragons are good because they introduce history to a wider audience, they get people interested in the historical events, people, and eras.

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Kiara

February 9, 2016 at 10:50 AM

There are different types of sageuks of this era already covering part or most of Bang-won's life.

Tears of the Dragon (1996) authentic: ratings 49.6%
The Great King Sejong (2008) authentic: ratings 22.4%
Tree with Deep Roots:(2011) historical/mystery: ratings 24.6%
The Great Seer (2013) historical/political:ratings 9.8%
Jeong Do Jeon (2014) authentic: ratings 19.8%
Maids:(2015) historical thriller/romance:ratings 4.7.3% cable.
Six Flying Dragons: (2016) - currently airing) highest rating so far (eps 36) 16.8%
Jang Yeong-sil:(2016)-currently airing) highest rating so far (eps 7,8) 14.1%

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aumzyt

February 4, 2016 at 11:19 AM

Agree ! i did study history a bit years ago and used to hate LBW so so so much! he was mental! then i watch this drama i wonder myself how could i gonna hate Yoo Ah In...its gonna be hard ! haha ....must admit that the writer is so good really...bringing out all those justifications to make him RIGHT ! and actually i'd do the same thing if someone did that to my family ...Go on Bang Won !!

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Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 10:35 AM

That's kind of a one sided history if you hated Bang-won that much. King Taejong's will always be controversial and easily misunderstood because of the blood path to the throne. King Sejo is also another one but they were great rulers.

If the focus is on his achievements than you can't help but admire him but if the focus is on the people that he killed then he can easily be seen as evil or tyrant.

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2 crazyahjummafan

February 3, 2016 at 8:30 PM

"No one ever thanks the garbage man." Lol.
But so true! This Chinese New Year, I must remember to thank the men who clear my rubbish and give them an 'ang pow' as an expression of my gratitude!

“You’re going to live until you die.”
Precisely what I thought too! I can tell that fortune too!
But I'm so glad to know while watching this episode and all the other episodes that Bang-ji gets sliced up and poked at, that he'll only meet his Angel of Death much later (TWDR).
Even then, each time he gets cut up, I can't help but gasp in pain and horror. No! NO! Don't slice up my Bang-ji! NOOOOOO!!!! Don't poke him with your sword like that!

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Kaylie

February 3, 2016 at 8:38 PM

Oh, ang pow? I think I've spotted a fellow Singaporean here! *waves*

I was gasping in horror when Bang-ji got slashed by Sa-kwang's sword too. I'm not sure if I'm the only one, but I don't like it when the show inflicts wounds that are ridiculously serious on its heroes and allows them to survive, just because they're the main leads. I mean, can't they inflict more realistic wounds that our dragons can reasonably heal from?

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aumzyt

February 4, 2016 at 11:22 AM

I'm from Thailand and we called it Ang-Pow too ^^
Thai-Chinese are mixed well here,When I was a kid, most of my friends back to school with those red envelopes and bragged about how much they got...i was so jealous cos I'm from a proper that family so never had ang pow like others ! haha

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3 Kaylie

February 3, 2016 at 8:32 PM

What an episode! I've been waiting for your recaps since I finished watching it because I'm just overwhelmed with thoughts.

I really feel bad for Bang-won. It was a difficult choice for him too, but he did what was necessary to save the entire Yi family, Jung Do-jeon and loyal followers like Jo Joon. What was Yi Seong-gye hoping for otherwise? Heaven's will? Jung Mong-joo to miraculously let him off? I'd say that Bang-won was fully justified in doing what he did.

I'm glad that Bang-won at least got Boon Yi's acknowledgement for his actions. I'm glad that Boon Yi also shares a little of that 'ruthlessness' in her, even though I think that ruthlessness and decisiveness is necessary when their entire revolution and lives were at stake. It's such a refreshing deviation from the typical morally upright female lead who would probably be taking the moral high ground and chastising Bang-won for the murder.

On a separate note, I hate to see the Yi family being torn apart by the death of Jung Mong-joo. My favourite moments of Six Flying Dragons were of the Yi family fighting for a common cause, whether it be rescuing their family from Choi Young's house arrest or fighting their way through Jo Min-soo's assassination trap. I loved their loyalty and love to each other, and it's dreadful to see it fall apart like this. I hate to see Bang-won eventually killing his own brothers. Ahh.

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crazyahjummafan

February 3, 2016 at 9:02 PM

Glad to meet another countryman here!

I feel bad for Bang-won too. He takes out the trash but doesn't get the recognition and praise. Some people just hope that garbage will miraculously disappear without doing anything!

I too am glad the Boon-yi is standing by his side - they'll really make a great pair. But I'm also glad that Da-kyung praised him. Bang-won has at least chosen his women well. Hee hee.

I too loved how the Yi family were so close and loyal to each other. The older boys even showed care and affection for the second wife's little sons. So sweet. So I know I'm going to be crying about the family's split. Sometimes, I wished that LSG didn't agree to be king.

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deebs

February 4, 2016 at 2:17 AM

Bang Won has surrounded himself with good supportive ladies indeed :")

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Mohammed

February 6, 2016 at 11:59 AM

Bang Won never killed his own full brothers. Bang Woo died before he was king, during his father reign. Bang Gwa was the second king, gave the throne to Bang Won his who had the real power. They were never killed.

He killed or exiled his half brothers, different brothers are different branches of family when its about Royalty.

Royalty fighting in the same big family of many children,wives by the same king has happened a millon times during history from Ancient Egypt, China to modern era of 1800s. Its hardly specially for Bang Won, his family. You can make a drama of princes fighting for the throne in every kingdom ever....

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4 crazyahjummafan

February 3, 2016 at 9:21 PM

I have ssoooo much to write about!!! So please excuse me if it seems like I'm hogging.

I really don't understand Po-eun. It is so clear that Goryeo can't be changed, yet he subbornly clings on to it. LSYH was at his most convincing when he tried to change Po-eun's mind, but he still was undeterred. I also don't get why it is not about the people's needs. If Confucianism puts it's ideology and philosophy before the people's needs, then there's definitely something not right. Isn't a country about it's people???

And Bang-won is right to say that the people won't eventually care for politics and whether it is Goryeo or Joseon or Silla. What is of most important to them is survival, food and happiness. Throughout history, the masses are often seen as fickle and easily swayed (this drama shows this too) - they will basically support those who can put food on their table. So it will only really matter to Po-eun if he betrays Goryeo by holding hands with JDJ, but together, they will make an awesome team and do good for the nation.

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KompaktneHaare

February 4, 2016 at 4:27 AM

I have had the same thoughts as you while watching them trying to change Po Eun's mind. I just don't get it.

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I Will Goryeo You

February 4, 2016 at 5:29 AM

Can you imagine a corrupt country in modern days, and a nationalist is told to change the country, from regime, rules to main religion and even name? I can't imagine if anyone wants to accept this idea even today, no matter how corrupt the country is.

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modestgoddess

February 4, 2016 at 9:46 AM

good analogy, basically it is blind faith and attachment

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 7:20 AM

The Poeun of the history is easier to understand. These writers are good at making historical characters complicated on purpose. Exaggerating historical figures and events is nothing new in fusion sageuks.

Poeun is loyal and upright but that's not dramatic enough for a drama. He needs to be misunderstood, sneaky, backstabbing, borderline evil, heartless etc.

So what do we expect from a Confucian Scholar in those days? Loyalty to the king and country first. That's the norm back then.

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aumzyt

February 4, 2016 at 11:29 AM

I get your point ! People make the Country !
But i think cos those days their classes were so strong...all people were not equal at ll,Slave worth less than a cow So it might be hard for everyone to understand what LBW said.

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5 hipployta

February 3, 2016 at 9:24 PM

Okay I love how this show has made me completely understand Lee Bang Won's side and understand how King Taejong comes to be and just revel in it. No one else stood up to do what was necessary and the rsst of Team Joseon agreed with him.

Bang Won, and the younger generation, did what was necessary while everyone else lamented about fate even as they waited to be killed or had just survived an assassination attempt because that SAME SON rescued them (or going to Ming for him...why did they skip that?)

They couldn't have really expected Lee Bang Won to let his family and friends be killed...and yet they are ungrateful even as they acknowledge the need.

Poeun was going to KILL them yet they blame Bang Won. That was survival

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crazyahjummafan

February 3, 2016 at 9:32 PM

What impressed me was that Bang-won knew that his actions would receive a lot of hate and reprisals. He knew that he might end up alone and powerless. He knew that his father would be very angry, to the point that he might kill him. He knew that even JDJ might not approve of it, despite being alive. He knew that he would still not have a place in JDJ's grand plans...yet he did it.

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 12:54 AM

yes, really gives us a brand new appreciation for his words in TWDR:

"That man did nothing! Even if there were many who wanted to kill Jung Mong-Joo, they couldn't do it due to their excuses of moral duty. They wouldn't dare to dirty their own hands. Joseon has been resurrected by me. I have done it by dirtying my own two hands.

That is my Joseon and my, Yi Bang-Won's, great cause!"

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lia

February 4, 2016 at 3:16 AM

when i rewatched the first 4 episodes of "deep rooted tree" i now feel a lot more sympathy for bangwon then i had when i first watched the show. like he's ruthless and not very likeable but his son downplaying bangwons instrumental role in the creation of joseon makes me a bit sad, also its a bit sad to see what bangwon became, his own son is terrified of him and hates him. ;-;

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 3:39 AM

I know! When I first watched TWDR I thought Taejong was just another tyrant justifying his actions for power.. but this show really gives me such new appreciation and respect for him, so much so that I can really nod and relate when he calls Joseon "his Joseon"

crazyahjummafan

February 4, 2016 at 6:01 AM

This may not actually be true in history...King Sejong's feelings for his father are from the writer's POV. But it's like they felt bad that they had portrayed Bang-won so unfavourably, that they decided to change that view in this drama!

Hipployta

February 4, 2016 at 12:55 AM

Right! Is greatest fear is to be alone and have no power and yet he still made that choice for Joseon...which is also why I can see him becoming even more ruthless and doing what he thinks necessary to protect it.

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hibeautiful

February 4, 2016 at 2:14 AM

That's why at the previous episode, he was so conflicted.
With his capability, he was able to predict all of those thing that would happen. Thus, it's understandable seeing him seeking a support, even if it comes from one person only.

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6 crazyahjummafan

February 3, 2016 at 9:28 PM

I have some questions:
1) How is ti that in the previous episode, Bang-ji was able to speak to JDJ so openly? He even escorted JDJ back to Gaegyeong.

2) Why weren't LSG, his sons and their servants, including Bang-yi and Moo-hyul arrested? They too were part of the treasonous plans to overthrow Goryeo, although some, like Bang-woo did it unknowingly.

3) How did JDJ get released so easily after Po-eun's death? Technically, shouldn't the executions still be carried out? Maybe delayed, but if I were the king, I would carry them out as soon as possible, to avoid any possible reaction from JDJ's group.

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 12:56 AM

also 4) Why did no one think to include moohyul in the mission to kill JMJ???? I would have thought moohyul was a more obvious choice than Young-Gyu despite history

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I Will Goryeo You

February 4, 2016 at 5:26 AM

Because Moohyul was busy being the private army's instructor? I guess Bang Won didn't tell Moohyul for some reasons. Just in case things turned bad on BW's plan and they were attacked by the King's people, Moohyul would be ready to move the private army to protect the Lee family.

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Sun

February 4, 2016 at 6:49 AM

Or because Moo-hyul was not around at the time? Not sure where was Moo-hyul but the assassination was urgent. So maybe Bang-won just took whoever was with him.

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crazyahjummafan

February 4, 2016 at 7:23 AM

I think that BW knows that MH is too innocent to kill Po-eun. He's too soft-hearted to bludgeon a man to death in the open, and that it would 'kill' MH if he did to it. One needs a heart of steel to do a task like that and still be able to sleep - which YK did. On the other hand, Young kyu, as he himself admitted, has done many terrible things before.

Also, BW is probably afraid that asking MH to do a task like that may cause MH to look at him less admirably. Remember, MH told BW that he would follow him cos he makes the people smile and becos he thinks that BW is awesome.

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lia

February 4, 2016 at 3:17 AM

2) i'm guessing it's because LSG still had his loyal army and had a more powerful military so if they'd arrested the yi family for treason his men would probably attack to save LSG and the rest of the yi family

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Sun

February 4, 2016 at 6:45 AM

1. JDJ was in exile during that time, not in prison, so maybe there was more freedom for visitors. And he was back to Gaegyeong due to king's command.

2. They wanted to remove JDJ since he was the mastermind, at the same time retain the military support from LSG since Goryeo needed him for defense (they are afraid of his military force also). So they only arrested JDJ side people.

3. I think JDJ got released so fast was for the effect of the show. In real history, he only got released 2 months after Po-eun's death. The king would not dare to kill JDJ by that time cause his only powerful supporter (Po-eun) was gone.

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7 Sylvia

February 3, 2016 at 9:33 PM

The writer paints Bang Won as the only dependable, decisive one. Sambong, Lee Seong-gye etc are dependant on someone else to fulfil their great plan. I was a bit irked by the way Sam Bong would have happily gone to his grave & Lee Seong Gye would have let him because they weren't able to win over Poeun.

It makes it hard for the viewer not to sympathise with Bang Won. He makes the hard calls, does the dirty work and is the only one who appears to realise the sacrifices that need to be made.

As a viewer, I'm not sure how to feel about the overly idealistic portrayals of Sam Bong and Lee Seong Gye VS the slippery slope that is Bang Won. Perhaps the fact that Sam Bong is willing to use his friend's demise to their advantage marks a return to the harsh cold world of reality. In that the winner writes history.

I do appreciate that we are given insight into the "worm" that lives within Bang Won though. Yoo Ah In does a marvellous job of bringing his complicated character to life.

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Commentcomment

February 3, 2016 at 11:10 PM

In the drama,JDJ actually made tons of decision and bangwon only put it into actions, bangwon startedmade independent decisions when JDJ assigned him to investigate about the moomyung/nameless. Before that majority of the planning are made by JDJ, at first LBW interferred with it, but when LBW joined the team joseon crew, they work together. Most planning and decision making are made by JDJ while LBW put his plans and decisions into action, JDJ sometimes asks LBW for advises.. and for LSG though he is always reliant on JDJ, there are times JDJ makes him do stuff and decide/effort himself.. when he convince jo joon/woo jae to be part of the crew, the liaodong expedition(?). He tells bangwon that he should be the one to decide himself..

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crazyahjummafan

February 4, 2016 at 6:09 AM

This is not true all the time. The decision to stamp the border stabilisation plan was Bang-won's own decision...of course this was before he actually joined Sambong. Then there was the decision to marry Da-kyung. That was Bang-won's idea and decision too. And then later, the decision to play poker with the Hapdong group using gunpowder, was his idea too. Sambong was stumped on these occasions and couldn't come up with a solution. Without Bang-won's gutsiness and brains, they'll still be arguing in the Dodang, and the evil trio will still be in power.

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 2:42 PM

The border stabilisation plan was jdj's plan, he wanted lsg to decide on it on his own, it was just lbw that interferred(i did mention he imterferred with jdj's plans before joining, the other were his ideas to execute jdj's overall plan.. stuff which would help jdj's plan, and like i said jdj at times asks for lbw's 'advices 'on what they should do. Yeah, alot of the plans wouldnt have been made if not for bangwon but it was all jdj's plans, and ofcourse we would see much more of lbw doing stuff because he is the primary character and we see stuff happnening roughly in his pov, we spend more time with him, thats why we sympathize him and like him than the others. But what im saying is that in the drama, he isnt the only one who plans out, makes decisions and is reliable.. in this episode, evsn though jdj is clearly sad about jmj's death he made decisions, and is aware that it resulted because they waited for jmj even though they know he wouldnt join them

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8 Kaylie

February 3, 2016 at 9:37 PM

One thing I need to rant about Six Flying Dragons: what's the whole point of Nameless? I don't buy the stability argument because all the things they're doing are causing the instability in Goryeo. They killed King Gongmin who was attempting to reform the corrupt and failing Goryeo, put corrupt Yi In-gyeom in power, allowing the Dodang Trio to commit atrocities against the Goryeo people. People were losing lands and paying excessive taxes to the government so they were STARVING. At the same time Goryeo was at the risk of entangling in Yuan and Ming's war, and also facing threats from pirates. Now they are opposing the land reforms, which prevents the commoners from gaining their rightful land to maintain subsistence. I don't get it, I just don't. If Nameless was an organization made up of noble families I would've been more understanding, but nooo.

It just seems to me that the writer's trying to force some kind of plot continuity between Queen Seondeok and SFD which I find completely unnecessary.

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Sun

February 3, 2016 at 10:12 PM

At first Nameless sounds very mysterious and powerful and has a hand in controlling a lot of important figures in politics. But now it seems they really are just sitting around and observing what will happen.

The "stability" they want to achieve is certainly not the kind of stability the people would want (stability in daily life) but is stability in power. During Lee In-gyeom time he controlled the Dodang, unlike now you just don't know who will get the power. But still I dont understand what's good for them to influence those politics figures. It's not like they get paid or something. Power for what? They still have to sit in a dark cave for every discussion.

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Reba Wechoki

February 4, 2016 at 1:05 AM

your comment about the had me laughing so much but you are right shouldn't power afford them slightly more comfortable surroundings!

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 3:09 AM

haha I saw the run down room as an old buddhist temple since Nameless seems to have some Buddhist theme what with the temples and the fact that they decided Joseon was a bad idea after they realized it was anti-Buddhist

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Kaylie

February 4, 2016 at 3:26 AM

But they seem to be holding a grudge against Yi Seong-gye since the first episode, before he even had any idea of starting the Joseon revolution. Remember Nameless sent a secret letter to Yi In-gyeom informing him of Yi Seong-gye's greatest secret which allowed Yi In-gyeom to threaten Yi Seong-gye with?

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 3:43 AM

hmm I interpreted the episode 1 incident as Nameless thinking Lee In-Gyeom = "stability" (according to them) so if Lee Seong-Gye succeeded in stopping the war then and entered parliament it might have caused less power for Lee In-Gyeom?

Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 7:30 PM

And In-gyeom was stabilizing the country by putting a puppet king on the throne? They were aiding the root of corruption lol.

Kaylie

February 4, 2016 at 3:24 AM

But in the context of Goryeo then, instability for the common people would mean the eventual collapse of power for Goryeo as well, seeing that Goryeo was facing severe external threats. If your people are starving and killing each other out of desperation, how could your country defend itself against other countries?

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 3:44 AM

I agree with this though I've never understood what Nameless' idea of stability is.. it seems pretty weird and counterintuitive

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Sun

February 4, 2016 at 4:16 AM

Yooksan once said to the Gongyang King (before he reign, when they try to convince him to take the throne) that it doesn't really matter to Nameless if he decides not to become a king of Goryeo. Goryeo will just collapse and Nameless can just go off to find some other country. So I guess it doesn't have to be Goryeo - any land would be good for them as long as they can have the power.

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 4:25 AM

hmm or maybe they'll become the foundations of Hidden Root in TWDR? Since "stability" in Joseon can kind of be interpreted as Jung Do-Jeon's plan to have the Prime Minister in power and the king as a flower

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Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 7:37 PM

King Sejong was doing a fine job running the country thank you very much. Milbon were Sambong's supporters and he is the root.

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Lisa Purba

February 3, 2016 at 11:18 PM

Nameless to me looks like the gossip girls. But maybe I'm wrong *stares at the writers*

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aumzyt

February 4, 2016 at 11:36 AM

when I watched Time Slip Doctor Jin which was the last bit of Joseon before collapsed ...Nameless was still there that time then! (the female lead's brother is the head of Nameless)

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Lisa Purba

February 7, 2016 at 8:45 AM

Nameless has been there since Silla period. That's like a thousand year?

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 3:07 AM

Yeah I thought they would finally be more involved when Bang-Ji's life was at stake during his battle with Sa-Kwang, but Gil Sun Mi just ended up watching the battle and doing nothing before disappearing again which was so disappointing..

I guess they'll have a larger role after Joseon is established...?

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 1:57 PM

I've been ranting about this for couple episodes and I'm still waiting for some kind of explanation.

They totally fail to make Nameless relevant like Milbon in TWDR. That was a poor attempt to connect QSD to this drama.

Nameless were Bidam's followers created by the writers in QSD. They had no clear political stand back then if I remember correctly.

The Bidam of the history was almost the opposite of the lovey dovey Bidam in the drama but they seems to bring up the nation stability based on the historical Bidam. (hard to explain).

Anyway, I wish they left it alone and concentrate on Milbon since they created it here already.

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nomad

February 4, 2016 at 5:48 PM

Agreed! I never understood this nameless useless either. I mean the people who ran the thing aren't even powerful people. They seem to consist of everyday people, shouldn't they want everyone to have rights over land? I also agree I think they should've had Milbon instead.

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Kaylie

February 4, 2016 at 9:11 PM

Exactly. Plus Nameless followers have this cult-like loyalty which doesn't make sense since Nameless' doing in putting Lee In-gyeom in power does not benefit the commoners at all. I can't see how this crazy people would be willing to commit suicide the moment they're caught for an organization like that.

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Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 5:46 AM

They've killed a lot of people but for what? What does killing Queen Noguk has to do with stabilizing the country? I can understand if they claim responsibilities for killing Gongmin because he went crazy after Noguk died but everything else does not make any sense.
The blood pack with Taejo, what was that for? Ahhhh annoying.

9 Ginny

February 3, 2016 at 9:43 PM

Will there be a Muhyul-Sakwang romance?

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blo

February 3, 2016 at 10:56 PM

You know... I won't lie. I thought the same thing. hehe

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Commentcomment

February 3, 2016 at 11:13 PM

I actually wish there would be, but sagwang dears and loves the king, and tue king is so far still alive, she might die protecting him..

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 12:58 AM

really? i was really hoping they wouldn't go there since a sudden injection of romance seems weird and unnecessary heh. plus i find moohyul's crush on boon yi super cute and like it much more than a romance between him and sakwang

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 1:57 AM

I also dont like unnecessary romances, but if theres a romance id like to see in sfd, its cute lil puppy moohyul.. i think he kinda easily falls for girls, first for gapboon(it was just short, in the first episode they appeared as "adults"), then shortly after that episode itself boonyi.. he seemed to have a crush for her for somewhile then sagwang, but his crushes doesnt seem that serious and that deep considering how he's fine with boonyi and bangwon.. i jypust personally like the sagwang actress and want her to stay longer in the drama, thats partly why. But mainly because id like moohyul to have a side cute love pairing.. but itll be unecessary for the political focused drama

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Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 5:50 AM

I agree about unnecessary romance and I usually avoid it because it's usually out of place.

I'm too much of a Moo-hyul fan-girl so I'm just in it for the fun really. Their last few scenes together were so good I just want to ship them lol.

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10 Chocosundae

February 3, 2016 at 9:47 PM

Its really sad that all the fault and criticism fall to bang won, while he just want to protect his family and friends! In fact, jung mung joo started all of this, its just survival of the fittest! Well now i know why, bang won and do jeon will eventually become enemies.. But im team bang won all the way! Love the comfort and support given by boon yi and da kyung! Thanks again for the recap! Fighting SFDs!

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Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 5:52 AM

This whole revolution thing started with Sambong. He should be the one to blame for the good and bad that comes out of it lol.

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11 lawren

February 3, 2016 at 9:56 PM

I really wish Bang Won can spend his time more with Boon Yi, after killing JMJ, must be more difficult for Bang Won to handle it alone. The silence moment when Bang Won first run to Boon Yi, it really defines that Boon Yi is the most important person in his life and she understands it, I cried that is such a heartwarming moment. In this case I really don't understand why the writers have to put Min Da Kyung in the same story with Boon Yi? Min Da Kyung almost did nothing emotionally to Bang Won. she barely appears in each episode. so what's her role in Bang Won's life actually at this point? all I can see of her is doing small thing like telling the maids to call a doctor, or just standing there behind the Yi family. Can they just focus on Boon Yi who is an important dragon and the dearest love of Bang Won? and let them be together? if the writer follows history then why make Boon Yi as female lead? Bang Won and Boon Yi are true soulmate.

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Commentcomment

February 3, 2016 at 11:21 PM

Because the drama isnt about love affairs. Boonyi isnt a main character so that bangwon would have a love interest.. min dakyung and lee bangwon have a business relationship, even their martrkage itself is for political stuff. She isnt a main character, but she is still bangwon's wife, future queen, mother of one the most beloved kings of korea, one of the most liked queen of korea. She's a very influential part of both bangwon and lee do(king sejong)'s life and did a big part in making bangwon king..

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 12:48 AM

Dakyung's lines and parts might be small, but she clearly influences and helps bangwon make his decisions..

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lawren

February 4, 2016 at 1:20 AM

"Because the drama isnt about love affairs. Boonyi isnt a main character so that bangwon would have a love interest.. "
@commentcomment how come Boon Yi is not a main character? she's one of 6 dragons and her dragon title is Bang Won's dearest lover, so it's clear that Boon Yi is Bang Won's love interest. I know Min Da Kyung is historical person written on paper but in this drama, her role is not really important though, her role can be done by Boon Yi, Boon Yi outshone her in every aspect. Like I said before, Bang Won-Boon Yi are the true soulmate in this drama.

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 1:51 AM

Im not saying shes not a main character.. im sayin the purpose of her being a main character isnt for love interests.. yeah, its her sfd title, but the drama's focus clearly isnt for it.. of course boonyi outshine's min dakyung, lady min isnt a main character and she doesnt have much screentime.. but my point is that the dramas focus is not being lovey dovey, its about political stuff, and a revolution that led to a dynastic change.. its unnecessary at this point to be lovey dovey, but thats only my opinion. While others liked the snow scene last(?) week, i didnt like it that much, not that i hated it or irritated by it, i didnt even skipped it, just found it unnecessary.. but again it is only opinion, on the other hand, if theres pairing id be fine with it will be the fictional characters together..

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crazyahjummafan

February 4, 2016 at 6:22 AM

I thought that the snow scene was definitely necessary for the following reasons:

1) It was BW's last time when he could be carefree.

2) It was his turning point - not just as a man but also in character and especially with his relationship with BY. He told her not to speak to him informally any more, when in ep 20 (I think), he told her that he needed her to speak to him infomally cos nobody else does. BY agreed to do so only when they were in private. This is a VERY significant turn in his life.

3) The scenery was I think deliberately beautiful - to show a contrast to Bang-won's conflict and the ugly decision to kill Po-eun. It was also like the end of what was beautiful in BW.

Sun

February 4, 2016 at 7:11 AM

Agreed with crazyahjummafan's comment. The snow scene was definitely necessary. I think SFD doesn't show meaningless romantic scenes. Even for those between King Gongyang and Cheok Sa-gwang, which seems awkward and out of place at first, now occurs to me as an explanation of why Sa-gwang would be so devoted to the king.

deebs

February 4, 2016 at 2:28 AM

Agreed. She has provided with nothing short of good. She gave him extra power and has been fully supportive of him from the beginning. Her lines like saying she's always on his side and telling him he did a good job affects him a lot. This is why I like watching them, and am so glad that while BY is still there to comfort BW, they don't have to go the romantic road. Even from the small and short scenes between BW & MDK; I can understand how they evolved into such a power couple and were the parents of such a great King.

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M

February 4, 2016 at 10:36 AM

Everyone has their own opinions on what would make this show better. But this is a historical drama, after all. How could they just completely remove Da-gyung, the future queen, and replace her with Boon-yi? Historical dramas aren't always 100% accurate but in this case I think it'd be a really bad idea. Pretend one of the greatest women/queens in Korean history just doesn't exist in order to portray some love story?! Da-gyung isn't the same person as Boon-yi. While she supports Bang-won like Boon-yi, I really think she does it for different reasons. Boon-yi may love Bang-won, but Da-kgung wants to see Bang-won get power. Boon-yi as of right now supports Jeong Do-Jeon while it feels like Da-gyung completely supports Bang-won's decisions, even the ones he's kept from everyone else. She's someone he doesn't have to worry he's going to "disappoint" with his greed for power. I do recall him telling Da-gyung that he really isn't just tricking Nameless for Jeong Do-Jeon, but that he actually has his own ideas and isn't completely with Jeong do jeon. Anyway, it's been a ramble, but Da-gyung isn't insignificant like you're making her out to be.

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Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 6:02 AM

Lady Min is a well known historical figure. She is well educated, politically savvy for a woman in her time. She is one of the main reason why Bang-won was able to sit on the throne but most of all, she is the mother of the best king Joseon ever had, King Sejong the Great.

Just because she is not doing much right now doesn't mean she is irelevant. She is more important than the rest of the women in this show beside Lady Kang.

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12 dukdam

February 3, 2016 at 10:05 PM

That scene on the bridge was so beautifully horrific and horrifically beautiful. And the way they incorporated those two famous poems into the dialogue was really masterful.

YAI’s acting was superb (always) but in this episode, when he first called out “Youngkyu-ya”, and then later, when he said “Hyeong”… Gah. That’s when the tears started flowing for me.

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 1:01 AM

the reprise of the historic poems between them really did it for me. this is the joy of watching historical dramas where history is brought to life by wonderful writing and amazing actors!

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magnolia

February 4, 2016 at 4:57 AM

darn..if only i understand korean language.. the subtitles was sometimes make me lost..

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crazyahjummafan

February 4, 2016 at 6:24 AM

Like the oxymorons you have used!

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13 magnolia

February 3, 2016 at 10:35 PM

i wish Boon Yi would give BW more than a tap on his back but i guess that was as far as i can get for a little romance in SFD. LSG is pretty much like my father. He put honor first, then family. That kind of people doesn’t fittin in the ruthless world of politics. But i’m all about Bang Won now. I think SFD gives Lee Bang Won a justice after all those movies,dramas n historians. If there would be a sequel..(with Yoo Ah In in it) let it be a show of how BW really cared about his people plus palace’s conflictd. amen

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Lisa Purba

February 3, 2016 at 11:13 PM

Agreed.

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lawren

February 4, 2016 at 1:23 AM

Agreed. I wish Bang Won and Boon Yi have more scenes ~not just tap on his back indeed~ not romantically but he can ask her smart advice specially in this difficult time Bang Won really needs her.

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modestgoddess

February 4, 2016 at 11:30 AM

My problem with the tap on the back seen was that Boonyi was so stiff. I get that he is married but it seemed cold to me, maybe a criticism of the actress in that seen.

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crazyahjummafan

February 5, 2016 at 1:05 AM

I don't think that it's because the actress is stiff...I think it was deliberate. Bang won made it quite clear in the snow scene that he wants a distance from Boon yi. So she probably didn't know how to react when he knelt before her. Moreover, they were in his home, where his wife could enter at any time.

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14 redfox

February 3, 2016 at 10:53 PM

I haven´t gotten very far with the episodes because I keep replaying all the Chuk Sa Kwang moments from the last 3 episodes.

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blo

February 3, 2016 at 10:55 PM

Yes I love her so much! I won't say any more than that since you haven't watched it yet but I plan on making a video of just her scenes.

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earthna

February 4, 2016 at 1:03 AM

Here's a bts of her with BYH: http://tvcast.naver.com/v/726656

She's so adorable and she seemed to be the one doing her own stunts!

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I Will Goryeo You

February 4, 2016 at 5:17 AM

Her name is Han Ye Ri and she graduated from Korean Traditional Dance Performance at Korea National University of Arts. I think that's why she did her own stunts because the fighting is similar with dancing.

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redfox

February 4, 2016 at 6:29 AM

I thought so, seemed like she was doing them herself
Is she not the same one that was in Sea Fog? Yeah, she is! her character in that movie was kind of cold in the end.

I am so torn in that I want to see the spectacular fight between her and Moo Hyul, yet on the other hand I don´t want neither to kill the other. I am more iffy about a romantic line between them, cause she was so lovey-dovey with the king, right. so would she jump right into another romance? ah, but then it seems it is all on Moo hyuls´ side, some seeds of feelings.

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aumzyt

February 4, 2016 at 11:42 AM

I saw a bit of behind the scene when she was fighting with LBJ...she failed right over on the ground....poor thing really...and LBG threw away his sword and rush to pull her up....so sweet ! (saw it on instagram)

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 10:15 AM

Han Ye-ri is fantastic. She is my favorite!

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aumzyt

February 4, 2016 at 11:39 AM

Ha Yes! Did anyone try to twist the long ruler(aka my sword) like me ? I love her skills so much...did try many times with the ruler ! haha

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15 blo

February 3, 2016 at 10:53 PM

That silent scene where Bang-won sees Jung Do-jeon for the first time after killing Po-eun... Harrowing. Thought my lungs had been punched and the absolute silence only added to the discomfort I felt. I could marvel about a number of scenes but that one struck out for being so simple yet not.

I think my love for Yoo Ah-grew exponentially, even though right now, he's already extremely close to my biased love for Joo Won. But I swore my love for Joo Won. ?

So are we getting episodes next week? I know Cheese in the Trap will skip a week. Cause I just can't... They should just postpone the new year til after this show ends.

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Lisa Purba

February 3, 2016 at 11:16 PM

"That silent scene where Bang-won sees Jung Do-jeon for the first time after killing Po-eun… Harrowing." True! Sambong crouched crying and I cried too.

I gotta say that Yoo Ah In is doing a really really great job in carrying LBW's character :)

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kathy

February 4, 2016 at 11:08 AM

"I think my love for Yoo Ah-grew exponentially, even though right now, he’s already extremely close to my biased love for Joo Won. But I swore my love for Joo Won"

i feel you there.

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16 Yeri

February 3, 2016 at 11:05 PM

Am I the only one who scream & cry while watching the death scene?The traitors of Goryeo kill the honorable JMJ:-(:-(Apa-ssi:-(:-(I shed a bucket of tears,I love him more than JDJ not only in this drama but even in history,this man did nothing, their is no wrong about him,(doing)the only mistake is he was so loyal to the corupt gvrmnt of Goryeo!his dedication and love for his country brought him to death,!Arrghh,,I need to cover my screen bcs I cnt handle to watch him die,his breathless but YK chopping him again and again.

killing/death was realy painful for both side,YK was still in shock! poor man he dnt wnt to kill but it was needed and BW cant stop crying,he made me cry too,good thing that BY is always there to comfort him,she is always there to cry on,to support him wether good or bad and BW's adviser!poor BW he save his fellows but got blame at the end!:-(:-( JMJ's fate was end here next is JDJ vs LBW The Ultimate showdown (^_^) "Kill bangwon kill"

*for sure JDJ will kick BY if he find out that she influenced BW in murdering Po Eun! Among all of those ppl only BY could understnd BW's situation/feelings!! I agree,, writter should give them more time to chat so that BY could give him more ruthless advice in the future!!hehe love this couple<3<3

Thanks heads^_^

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 12:46 AM

I dont think jdj will kick out BY because of it.. he himself says he doesnt blame banbwon for killing jmj.. he also told lsg, that if lbw didnt do that they are probably already dead.. also we know in twdr, **spoiler- lbj is still jdj's body guard and died protecting yeonhee. LBJ's only reason why he is with jdj is because of his sister (ofcourse yeonhee too). So that means, BY will staybwith jdj for LBJ to continue being jdj's body guard.

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Shinubi Wang

February 4, 2016 at 1:20 AM

Why are you crying for JMJ? He should have been dispatched earlier, though not in a gruesome way. That retard was against land and tax reform, aiding the upperclass to monopolize land ownership, increase taxes at will, enslaving and starving the rest of the population.

It was pointless debating him as he was set in his ways and moreover, he was willing to resort to killing to preserve the status quo. If you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 2:00 AM

He wasnt against the land and tax reform in the drama(idk much about the history) but he somewhat even helped in betting it approved, there was a scene he told the king to just approve it.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 10:12 AM

That retard was the reason why the tax reform was passed in this drama and in history.

You seems to know very little about Poeun.

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Yeri

February 4, 2016 at 1:51 PM

I guess u missed some episodes @shinubi Wang!!he was against JDJ's plan but not in tax and land reforms..yeah in this drama I do remember that he ask the king to pass the tax & land reform!

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Yeri

February 4, 2016 at 2:07 PM

The word "retard" sucks me!!:-[

17 gambitfan

February 3, 2016 at 11:06 PM

Again, I find myself at odds with the majority.

Where, oh where, does Bang-Won get off on telling his father, "Why do YOU pick the hard path?!" and other whining about how he's the one making the hard decisions, his father is EXACTLY what Lee Syeong Gee promised Bang-Won; he is the father that Bang-Won can be proud of, a beacon of moral integrity. You don't get to be a moral man and then order someone's assassination in the middle of the night. But Bang-Won wanted him to do just that, and had the gal to tell his father that he was wrong.

Bang-Won wants to be part of a moral cause with moral justification, and then do dirty deeds to get it done quickly. Pragmatically, perhaps he was right. I could argue that he could have imprisoned PoEun instead of killing him, but that's apples-oranges-coulda-woulda-shoulda; we all know this will end successfully. However, this was done for his own self-satisfaction. The appearance of Minister Hong was proof of that. "I want to protect the commoner's smile, so I will kill the only man that has been on their side the entire time."

And if that wasn't evidence enough, when Ha Ryun pointed out that, if he was going to do this, he should have done it QUIETLY so that it would cause the least amount of damage possible, Bang-Won stuck his foot down like a petulant child, acting like he did nothing wrong. He needed everyone to know that HE was capable of making the hard choices...despite the fact that people KNOWING about it was precisely what hurt the 'Great Cause' and necessitated JDJ going into damage control.

At the end of the day, he just wants compliments and praises for misdeeds well done; he's no different then when JDJ read him the riot act the first time they met....and THAT'S why I love his character so. It is a brilliant work into the mind of a villain, and how circumstances, survival instincts, and self-justification thereof can turn even the brightest and best of us into a heartless villains without a shred of morals.

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 1:10 AM

I feel like Bang-Won looked up to his father as a child because in his eyes, his "Zantgaru" was defined by his father and that was his definition of what a "strong man" should be. However as time passed and things happened and Bang-Won grew up, his definition of what is "strong" likely changed.

Also in episode 3 (?) when kid Bang-Won was talking to Hong In-Bang, he said that rather than being "good" (as defined to him as someone who listens well and is obedient by Lee In-Gyeom), he will be someone who is "just", swearing to go against all things he deems as "evil". Which is likely what happened with Jung Mong-Joo as evidenced from his words in ep 36 to Ha-Ryun: "Why should I have had to quietly kill him? I killed a man who was planning to kill my father, the same man who was trying to prevent history from moving forward. What's wrong with that?"

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crazyahjummafan

February 4, 2016 at 7:08 AM

@Hipployta @mango @gambitfan

Cheok Sa-kwang put it in a nutshell when she said that it's not about who is right and who is wrong...but what is just and unjust. Bang-won said pretty much the same thing when he was a child, as pointed out by mango.

Even Moo-hyul noticed that not all the people on the other side are bad. It boils down to our choices and what motivates us. But what is also important is to be responsible for those choices.

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 7:42 AM

yes i totally agree with you. Recent episodes have been lovely because our dragons (from Lee Seong-Gye to Moohyul) have been learning a lesson in how right and wrong don't matter, what matters is taking responsibility for one's actions.

It's not an easy lesson to learn which makes me not only proud of the characters on screen for learning it, but also glad the writers put it in as it serves as a lesson and reminder to us, the audience, as well.

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Hipployta

February 4, 2016 at 1:22 AM

See I disagree with you because he knows this action will alienate him from the figures he looks up to and cause him to lose access to the power he so desires (though he already knew he wouldn't have it with them anyway).

His greatest fears solidified by this action and taking him back to his childhood of isolation when Hong In Bang deliberately made him a pariah except now it's on a MUCH larger scale.

However he could have imprisoned him...I also find it interesting you find Yi Seong Gye a character of moral integrity when Lee Bang Woo finds him the exact opposite because of their intentions. I mean technically they are all traitors.

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gambitfan

February 4, 2016 at 11:35 AM

You yourself said that Bang Won already knew that he would not have power regardless of this decision. JDJ confirmed that when he told PoEun (and our intrepid eavesdropping "hero") that royal family members could not get into politics, and even the king is only slightly more than a figurehead. That was the whole point of him separating himself from his father's and JDJ's camp, getting his own soldiers, and start building his own people.

He's planning on doing the exact same thing as PoEun; the only difference was when. That's why I don't buy 'he knows his actions will alienate him'. Of COURSE he knows...it's just not time to be alienated.

Again, he wants to be the pragmatic behind-the-scenes-dirty-deeds guy, but he wants to be praised and loved for it. He accepts and anticipates the scorn of others, but he thinks they are wrong for giving it, and should be throwing him a parade instead.

Here's why I believe LSG is a man of moral integrity (or at least what passed for it at the time) and Bang-Won is not. LSG is motivated for the sake of others. From his perspective, he has given Goreyo chance after chance after chance, and it has failed everyone time and time again. Now he thinks the new country is the best way to help everyone both high and low, and is going forward with that goal in mind. His desire to behave honorably at all times, even when it might behoove him not to, is because moral men act in a moral way at ALL TIMES; not just as a public face.

Bang-Won is in it for power; his fear is that he hates being powerless. Ha Ryun didn't buy that "Justice" bullshit for a second, despite Bang-Won (and his fanclub ;) ) saying it's all about "Justice" even over being "Good". He's planning on betraying JDJ, who is 'Just', and his father, who is 'Good', and the nation they are building (which will be both 'Just' AND 'Good')...all because he'll be powerless and at the mercy of others. He is the same scared little kid who was forced to burn his books at the beginning, and that feeling warped him forever; he's only just now coming to terms with it.

And that's the difference; LSG wants to make people's lives better, while Bang-Won wants the POWER to do so; whether or not he actually DOES is second-potatoes.

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18 Lisa Purba

February 3, 2016 at 11:11 PM

Aaaarrgggh~~~!! This episode is EPIC and made me ran out tissues. Sitting on edge while watching, biting nails and screaming during the fight scene. Moohyul baby your rocks! And Bangji thought on Bangwon while he was facing CSG is swee~~ "Master Bang Won are you alright?" Awwwn...

I got goosebumps at the red bridge scene where Bang Won and Poeun recited their famous poems (which were spoken in modern version), and Young Gyu did his part...it was so scary like why did he have to drag that thing which made a creepy noise, and sad at the same time. Cried with Sambong, cried when Bang Won held Young Gyu's shaky hand, and cried a river when Bang Won talked to his father. I need to stash more tissues *sobs sobs*

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 1:17 AM

yes the bridge scene!!!! It was so sad yet so powerful and the modernized historical poems were done so well.

But man I really thought moohyul would have his dragon title this episode from all the life lessons he's been learning recently.. I was so proud of him when he figured out the answer to his conflict when Sa-Kwang told him right or wrong did not matter, and so proud when he found that he was sure he wouldn't run away yet didn't want to die for the sake of his family and loved ones.

He's such a sweetheart for bandaging Sa-Kwang's wounds, lighting a fire for her and even bringing her food though I smiled watching that scene haha

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 2:01 AM

Yeah, i really adore him.

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Lisa Purba

February 5, 2016 at 8:18 PM

Keep crossing my fingers on the dragon title. They save the best for last for Moohyul! *wishful thinking*

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19 As3beaniebean

February 3, 2016 at 11:54 PM

Job well done on the first killing, Bang-won!

seriously the bridge scene was so intense and when Bang-won called out "Young-kyu ya!!" my breath kinda stopped for secs.
The poem exchange was beautifully done and I even take the time to compare similar scenes from other sageuks but SFD really interpreted the event to another level. I felt the thrill, guilt, everything in that particular scene.

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20 earthna

February 4, 2016 at 1:06 AM

I've heard about Po Eun's death being brutal but seeing it on screen like this just broke my heart. I still haven't watched it subbed coz I don't wanna see that scene again. :(

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 10:07 AM

I tried to skip it but I was too lazy to get up and ff through it. I thought it was overkill to be honest. He was dead with the first blow but Young-Gyoo kept on beating him. I think Poeun's skull was smash into pieces by the time he was done.

They just left his body on the bridge till some soldiers picked him up on the following day while people are walking back and forth on it with no care in the world. Makes me miss the way other sageuks handled it.

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kathy

February 4, 2016 at 11:13 AM

Kiara,
is there a specific reason on why he was killed so brutally?
why not with a sword? which seems the most predominantly way to die in that time..

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 2:38 PM

I honestly don't know but judging from how Bang-won sees Poeun as a threat to his father's life makes the killing more brutal. This is his father, his family.

They can sugarcoat it with politics all they want but when a son tries to protect his father than the freaking politics does not matter. This is personal.

That's my 2c.

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Yeri

February 4, 2016 at 10:28 PM

I wonder how his descendants feel everytime they see this,?

Kiara

February 5, 2016 at 6:12 AM

I think it's amazing that we are talking about Jeong Mong-ju after 600+ years later and not just Koreans but outside of Korea.

I don't know, I wonder how they feel about it too.

21 Shinubi Wang

February 4, 2016 at 1:10 AM

This episode had left me utterly frustrated on so many fronts. Have none of these characters read "Sun Tzu: The Art of War"? Or some ancient Chinese classics similar to Machiavelli's who was born much later.

In any undemocratic political system which is corrupt and ruled by despots, regime change is only through revolution, more often than not bloody. If you cannot see that, then you have no business in politics and be king.

Deep down, I am sure JDJ and Sung-Gye were glad about what Bang-Won did but they put up quite a performance. Bloody hypocrites!

Then there was that Moo-Hyul. He should have finished off Sa-Kwang when he had the chance. He fancied her so he let her live but hey! she already had a love interest, the King whom she was prepared to die for. I hope this comes back to bite him but unfortunately, a few others as well.

He aspired to be the best swordsman by beating someone famous. Kiss my arse! You cannot achieve this by being a pussy, dude.

Finally, there was Bang-Won with his open assassination. What a mess! Do it silently and neatly, you idiot. A clean cut to the throat and in secrecy. Pin it on somebody else, whatever. I know the Godfather was well before his time but Ha-Ryun certainly knew something so it was not unknown then.

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Hipployta

February 4, 2016 at 1:26 AM

You remember how for "justice" child Lee Bang Won went and killed those three boys? Also how he openly chops down the trees named after his enemies after he gets rid of them? I think the point is to drive how that this Lee Bang Won does not do things in the dark...which matches with how thing go later when he's King

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As3beaniebean

February 4, 2016 at 1:42 AM

Huh? Which three boys? I think I missed some scenes in SFD early episodes

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 2:09 AM

He killed three older scholar "students" i dont remember the number episode but it was the last episode the child actors appeared.

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mango

February 4, 2016 at 3:05 AM

it's episode 3

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magnolia

February 4, 2016 at 4:39 AM

hahaha..... but then, SFD would be more like Spartacus or 300

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I Will Goryeo You

February 4, 2016 at 5:04 AM

Remember that LBW put "justice"/"fairness" above of all. He said Poeun tried to kill his family, so he killed him right then and there, fair and square. Haryun said the same thing as you did that BW were supposed to kill Poeun secretly, but BW said he would never do that in the dark. It's not his style.

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22 xingii

February 4, 2016 at 1:32 AM

Another epic episode as always. Everything was so intense, watching the Making Of videos on Naver was super jarring (they're all so funny and cute)

Bangji + Moohyul vs Sakwang was amazing. I can't believe from like less than 10 minutes in we got treated to an epic scene like that. (& the rest of the episode was insanely epic)

Moohyul's kindness and integrity is absolutely overwhelming. So many feels. Yeah, for sure he would never have stabbed her while she was unconscious, because he's not an assassin, he doesn't kill people in cold blood like that. BUT he even treated her wounds, took her to a sheltered cave AND started a fire for her. Like honestly he didn't have to look after her so thoroughly, but he did it anyway. What I love about him is that his character is growing, he's becoming more mature, but he never loses the essence of who he really is: Essentially the nicest person in Goryeo. ;A;

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modestgoddess

February 4, 2016 at 11:59 AM

I also thought Moohyul's scenes were great and consistent with his character. Like Banji said, Moohyul fights best when he is protecting someone. He is not an assassin. He doesn't like killing, he only became a warrior to provide for his family.

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23 mango

February 4, 2016 at 1:59 AM

I can't wait for next week's episode. Bang-Won finally confronts Jung Do-Jeon on his plans for Joseon that really never intended to include him in the first place. I really frowned on Jung Do-Jeon when his five rules were revealed because it really seemed like he was using Bang-Won's smarts and talents to his own means while knowing full well that the new country he is intending to make does not have a space for Bang-Won.

Although it made me dislike Jung Do-Jeon, I still really respect him and love his character so I dislike disliking him haha. I hope next episode gives him a chance to explain so I can see it from his side too.

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24 C

February 4, 2016 at 2:14 AM

Cheon Ho-Jin was terrifying as the angered father, Lee Seong-Gye.

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Yeri

February 4, 2016 at 1:55 PM

The confrontation between him and bang won are so intense,took my breath for a sudden!

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25 hibeautiful

February 4, 2016 at 2:54 AM

Although with Po Eun's death, the Joseon team will be likely to achieve their big dream, deep down, I just don't want BW to be ruthless. If there was an alternative world, I would see him having a normal life.

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hibeautiful

February 4, 2016 at 2:55 AM

*would like to see

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26 nanachan

February 4, 2016 at 3:26 AM

hmnnn... i think sakwang will teach moh yul the goksan method..hehe

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nanachan

February 5, 2016 at 10:28 PM

hey, thats my name! people here will recognize me as first nanachan easily from my *cough bad english *cough #flushed with embarrassment

but its amazing that we have sama thought. that is exactly what im thinking last few weeks. cz in twdr the wound made by moo hyul sword had special traces too..... i think moo hyul will get his wing after learn goksan method. sa gwang will teach him for payment saved her live, i guess

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27 mango

February 4, 2016 at 3:52 AM

also i noticed, usually King Gongyang is introduced via subtitle as "King Gongyang" or "King Gongyang (34th king of Goryeo)", but after Jung Mong-Joo's death, it got changed to "King Gongyang (Last king of Goryeo)"

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28 Jeanie

February 4, 2016 at 4:13 AM

Epic episode!!! Sadly, still no chyron for Moo Hyul. Tho I'm sure if he did get it, it will be all grand and worth the wait. I trust these writers. Aside from the awesome fight scene, the bridge scene was magnificent. Yoo Ah In was eerily awesome. I loved it! Can't wait for next week.

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29 helios

February 4, 2016 at 4:28 AM

What a week for SFD! My interest began waning after ep 30 as Nameless came to the fore but the last three eps reminded me why I’ve decided to stick it out for the long haul. I love that the fallout from Poeun’s death created such a sombre tone for the rest of the ep. Everyone’s acting was incredible and elevated the emotional intensity tenfold, if that’s even possible. It’s so nice to realise that I’m watching one talented actor at work, let alone being so spoiled when all the actors in every consecutive scene are bringing it.

Random observations:
- BW opening his eyes in slowmo on the bridge truly looked like Poeun’s reaper come to life. I never connected with YAI’s acting or charisma until LBW started turning dark, but I see the light now.
- Although, it would've been awesome if they had filmed on the real bridge where Poeun's murder historically occurred. But it probs would’ve been less practical logistically. And less photogenic.
- Props to the sound editing team for consistently making realistic sword clanging / bludgeoning / blood squishing noises.
- MH/CSG, I SHIP IT. She’s elegantly badass, he’s a giant dork, and they’re both admirably soft-hearted when it counts.
- I suppose that the next major arc is Joseon being established and BW/JDJ’s growing tension. I can’t even think about the emotional carnage that opposing loyalties will cause between our beloved characters. Only 14 eps left :(

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Hipployta

February 4, 2016 at 4:47 AM

I'm a pretty sure the real bridge is in North Korea so...not possible LOL

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helios

February 4, 2016 at 4:53 AM

Oh right thanks, I hadn't considered that haha.

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30 magnolia

February 4, 2016 at 4:47 AM

only 14 episodes left and many of our wishes haven’t granted by the writers yet. Do you wanna die..writers! *in LBW tone when BY admitted thst she loves him.
Writers..oh..writers please let Bang Won has a light to cling to as he start to step into the darkness.
p.s. i suspect YAI is not acting..he’s s freakin’ psycho :),

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31 ha ji won

February 4, 2016 at 4:51 AM

I agree with u @nanachan

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32 CaroleMcDonnell

February 4, 2016 at 4:53 AM

Yes! I want a romance between MooHyul and SaGwang! The sexual tension in their scenes are amazing! Apparently I was missing UST

But pesky kingy is still in her heart, right?

thanks for the recap.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 9:26 AM

You and me girl lol.

I'm sorry but I'm not feeling it between Sa Gwang and the king. Sa Gwang's encounters with Moo-hyul feels more natural to me. They have chemistry because it's not forced like her first scene with the king.

I feel bad for the poor king because we know his fate but I hope they'll save her for Moo-hyul who is going to live a very long life. Longer than any of the characters in this show.

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modestgoddess

February 4, 2016 at 12:02 PM

there is no way she is going to fall for Moohyul when he is siding with the people that will kill the King

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 12:20 PM

Sshhhhhh with the logic. It doesn't belong in the realm of fan-girling.

One sided, two sided, 3 sided, I'd take any or all lol.

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Commentcomment

February 4, 2016 at 2:57 PM

I did wish she had sort of an amnesia when they fell so that she would just ignore the king.. i fangirl over moohyul-sagwang too, but thought that the king would be very pitiful, jmj died and left him, he is about yo overthrown, if csg would leave himtoo before he dies, itll be more sadder in his side.. they could just exile him sith csg following along then, after a few episodes csg will return for moohyul... but we know that she isnt in twdr... but the connections between the dramas are all messed up at this point, so why not just put in csg-moohyul.. the knetz seem to like the idea too

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 3:35 PM

It's no wonder Moo-hyul hasn't gotten his dragon episode yet. We are trying to hook him up with the person that he needs to defeat lol.

We are so terrible but amnesia would work. Kim Young-Hyun, did you read that? Lol.

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Gehrel

February 5, 2016 at 10:17 PM

Judging from the newly released preview, it seemed like in the next episode, the King's been ousted already and Yi Seong Gye is the new king. No clue to where Sa Gwang's trajectory in the next episode.

And I hate to admit it, but this means the Strife of Princes is about to begin and bring on the bloodshed. I can't wait to see the fights, especially from Moo Hyul, Banji and perhaps, Sa Gwang -- if she's not dead by then.

Kiara

February 6, 2016 at 6:55 AM

@Gehrel

Thanks for the news. I'm glad they didn't drag it to eps 40. If they follow history King Gongyang did not die till 2 years later after he was exiled. There is nothing much Sa Gwang can do for the king at this point.

I'm really disappointed about Moo-hyul's dragon episode :(. Looks like it's not going to happen before Seong-gye took the throne.

CaroleMcDonnell

February 4, 2016 at 3:20 PM

Yay!

Other folks daring to dream the wildest hope ever!

The problem is how to get rid of the king and her loyalty to the king. I don't think this king gets killed; The other king --the little boy-- was killed. This king just gets exiled........I think, anyway.

There really HAS got to be a way to get our swordsfolks together. Kdrama writers can do anything. And really, it's either gonna be very sad for Moohyul or very joyous. And we kinda need a little joy or a little healing love story to balance everything. Of course this is all a kdrama pipe dream but one can hope.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 4:06 PM

He is going to die soon and she is fictional. The writers can do anything they want with her.

Bang Ji failed to protect Samdong. Lets say Sa Gwang failed to protect the king also. Sambong could be responsible for the king's death and she'll join Moo-hyul's side for love and revenge lol.

I'm the worst fan-girl ever but at least it makes sense (I think).

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33 I Will Goryeo You

February 4, 2016 at 4:56 AM

Wow..what an amazing episode. The bridge scene was depicted beautifully tragic. But what really got me is when Bang Won held Young Gyu's shivering hand (it's so subtle and touched my heart), and Bang Won's conversation with General Lee. Both actors, Yoo Ah In and Chun Ho Jin truly nailed the scene, their emotions broke my heart.

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crazyahjummafan

February 4, 2016 at 7:14 AM

I like the scene of BW holding Young Kyu's shaking hand. It made them more humane. I liked that BW called him 'hyung' too.

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I Will Goryeo You

February 5, 2016 at 8:13 PM

Oh yes! BW called him "hyung" that time rather than Young Kyu's name. It was truly touching!

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modestgoddess

February 4, 2016 at 12:03 PM

I love that they showed both of their trauma and Bangwon comforting YoungGyu

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34 scott

February 4, 2016 at 5:31 AM

jung do jeon is actually being greedy of wanting to have poeun in his plan. yi seung gye too is being greedy of trying to change the nation without blood. for every gain, there'll always be pain. No pain, no gain. yi bang won clearly understood this. and just like damon salvatore in the vampire diaries, he chose to be the bad guy and save the people in his own way.

kinda remain me of jang ok jung in love drama where jang heo bin is being portrayed as a much better person. that all her bad acts for soron is reasonable as her love for her king.

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35 Gehrel

February 4, 2016 at 5:45 AM

Long time lurker here, but I feel like I just need to comment on this episode. Because of all the saeguks I've watched over the years, this is the one that made me sit up and PAY attention. While other saeguks, I watched with a sense of detachment and not getting swept into the story.

I don't usually tear up at dramas. But this. Will forever be one of the three dramas that made me tear up.

The other two were Tree With Deep Roots, when King Sejong learnt of his son's death (accompanied by everyone's anguish screaming of grief) and Secret Door, when Prince Sado's son burst into his suicide execution (that wailing as last attempt to stop Sado's inevitable death).

In fact, it was the combination of reactions to Poeun's death (from Sambong to King Gongyang, to Lee Saek and finally Yi Seong Gye) that finally did me in. Poor King Gongyang, he didn't want the throne and now, without Poeun, he's a sitting duck. Though I have a feeling he would probably die with Cheok Sa Gwang and for that, I really hope would be their end. They can get their bitter-sweet ending.

... But my stupid shipper heart for Moo Hyul and Sa Gwang wishes otherwise. Though I would hope for the two would part from each other on good terms.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 9:11 AM

I love Moo-hyul in TWDR and part of it was the actor Jo Jin-Woong who played him.
Moo-hyul is simple and the most loyal of all (sorry Poeun) and that's what I love about him.

I wish Sa Gwang wasn't attached to the current king because I am not feeling any chemistry between them but I do feel it with Moo-hyul and Sa Gwang. I'd watch them fall off a cliff/mountain anytime. That was .....hawt!

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Ikran

February 4, 2016 at 9:54 AM

Did you guys notice when they we're about to fall.. he put one of his arm behind her back as if he was protecting her ... I don't understand was he trying to kill her or save both lbj and Sak-wang?

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 10:43 AM

Bang Ji was watching and I think that Moo-hyul made it seems like he was strangling her but he was actually pushing her back and putting his other arm around her before the fall.

Bang Ji does not look like he is buying his story that Sa Gwang wasn't around when he woke up.

I think Moo-hyul is falling for Sa Gwang (I'm on board lol). He not only saved her but bound her wounds and moved her to a safe place. He even made a fire to keep her warm.

Go ahead Moo-hyul, it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

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Ikran

February 4, 2016 at 12:14 PM

I agree with you Kiara ... really love to see them together. .. probably I'll cry more than I did ep 36 when Sa GWang dies?

Gehrel

February 4, 2016 at 11:31 AM

I hear you. I was "meh" at the scenes she had with King Gongyang, but with the first scene where she called Moo Hyul "warrior-nim" and he started to have his tunnel vision of puppy crush ... Hello, to my new favourite ship (and probably sinking in the minute he started to get that puppy crush eyes).

Yes, I liked Moo Hyul from that one scene where King Sejong called out to Moo Hyul to cut down enemies in Tree Deep With Roots. And without hesitation, he drew his sword ready to cut down King Taejong. Like damn. Their interactions were one of the reasons Tree With Deep Roots was the best saeguk I've seen until Six Flying Dragons knock it off from the throne.

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Gehrel

February 4, 2016 at 12:02 PM

I hear you. I was "meh" when I saw Sa Gwang's scenes with King Gongyang. But the second she called Moo Hyul "warrior-nim" and Moo Hyul looked like Cupid just shot ten arrows at him ... Hello to my new favourite ship (one that is already sinking to the bottom of the ocean when he looked like he was crushing on her hard). But I'm still rocking the sinking dinghy anyway.

About Moo Hyul, I liked him from the moment King Sejong called him to cut down any enemies including King Taejong in Tree With Deep Roots. Like hot damn.

Side note, I'm just glad Lady Min praised Bang Won that he did a great job, like verbally. He probably needed to hear it, when all he had was just silence after the deed was done. That small grateful smile was enough for me to ship Bang Won, Lady Min and Boon Yi into my new OT3, with utmost respect.

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Commentcomment

February 5, 2016 at 1:17 AM

You like jo jinwoong, hes in a drama signal right now, are you watching it??

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Gehrel

February 5, 2016 at 2:37 AM

I liked his work in Tree With Deep Roots. I'm planning to wait until Signal finishes its airing run so I can marathon it in one go. Otherwise, I'm wrecked with perpetual anxiety for the next episode. Initially I wanted to do the same thing with this drama. But I couldn't wait and getting restless for next week's episodes.

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36 mary

February 4, 2016 at 7:59 AM

I love reading the recaps and comments and I love this show. The writer is really good at showing different sides of the story.

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37 Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 8:17 AM

There is a certain degree of loyalty that people had in those days that we can't seems to comprehend. I don't even think any of us are college major in Confucianism like these scholars.
So what do we know about Confucianism? Very little to nothing and yet we criticized them like we know anything about what they believe in.

(Mogeun)Teacher Lee Saek went abroad to study for years. He took the civil service exams in Yuan(China). He returned to Goryeo and became the instructor for Poeun, Sambong, (Woojae) Jo Joon etc. Poeun and Sambong were teaching at Sungkyunkwan when Bang-won was a student there. They played a major role in preserving this university that still exist today in Korea.

Like it or not that's what it was like in Korea 600+ years ago. There is nothing wrong with Buddhism and Confucianism. When people misuse it for greed and power then it turns into corruptions etc.

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Kaylie

February 4, 2016 at 8:31 AM

One thing about Confucianism that I can't accept - it entrenches social and gender inequality. As a Chinese I'm pretty glad the Asian society is slowly progressing towards egalitarianism.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 8:49 AM

That's one of the reason why Neo Confucianism is not the political ideology of our days.

Sambong was way ahead of his time. People in his days were not ready for any form of democracy.

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Kiara

February 4, 2016 at 8:52 AM

In my opinion.

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nara

February 6, 2016 at 1:35 PM

i have to disagree here i dont think that ppl were ever ready for democracy since it was a new notion for ppl who for so many centuries believed that kings are above human if sent by the gods or are actually decedent they had magic surrounding them and even now although ppl know royals are human the treat the royal family as if they are above and special - we know theyre not

to go from this to democracy you need a thought revolution which will happen as it did by more and more ppl getting education

JDJ reform more then anything enabled anyone who pass the test to be accepted to the uni and to be able to become an official and even a minister in the future

as more and more ppl get even an opportunity to learn through time it would have made more and more ppl from the ppl part of the decision making (without even Hangul)

what more is a government who can switch sides from time to time more progressive more conservative giving room for changes

in most places ppl were not ready fro democracy when it happened and it took years to establish it

even if tey were not ready they would have adjusted - sadly usually ppl just adjust rather than revolt which can cuase extreme governing to stay in power for long
but it also would have worke for JDJ advantaged

i really really think that given the chance it would have succeeded

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38 shinmudejuve

February 4, 2016 at 9:16 AM

What an EMOTIONAL episode!
Cried a river and lost my breath watching the whole Episode 36. Another masterpiece artwork from the production team. This one and Epi 25 are the best so far (I can't pick one haha).

Jung Mongjoo is not my SFD favorite character because of how the writers portrayed him in this drama, but I feel so deeply moved by his death. Watching all the inner's struggles by all the characters to courage themselves to kill each other, it's just too painly to be watched.
Lee Seonggye & Jung Dojeon that chosed to do nothing due to their moral duty.. Jung Mongjoo & Lee Bangwon who decided to kill their enemies instead of being killed. ALL the set up for every scene was so intense and hit straight to my heart. The superb acting skills, directing, visual effects, sound editing, OST background.. I can't mention one by one. Just BRILLIANT.

Now the only remaining obstacle before the Joseon start up is the King.
So there's still possibility of Cheok Sakwang being killed protecting him. I still hope that she is alive at the end.
The duel between her vs Lee Bangji x Moohyul drove me crazy, I don't want them all to be hurt.
We all saw Bangji & Sakwang top class swordmanship, but to me Moohyul was the real hero. I love the development of his character in this episode.
Many people here think that Moohyul might has a crush on Sakwang, but in my opinion he didn't kill her mainly because his sympathy for her. Moohyul and Sakwang are much similar, they both have a gold of heart and hate to kill people. That's also the reason why Sakwang avoid to hurt him, because they can relate to each other.

I've read some people don't like Sakwang because she is not fierce like Boon Yi, Lady Min, Choo Young or Yeon Hee. I admire all strong women in SFD, but heeey.. not all woman should be fierce like them.
Sakwang is just an example of a simple woman who wants to live normal. If you understand her past, how she deeply traumatic after killing one person. She avoids to fight with others because of the guilt that keep haunting her.
That's what make her so powerful outside but fragile inside.
Characters like LBW, JDJ, JMJ, Boon Yi or Lady Min has so many layers to dig so you can fully understand them.
But on the other hand, characters like Sakwang and Moohyul are simple and easy to be read. That's one of the reasons why I adore them, they're just simple & normal persons.

Last but not least, I want to praise Yoo Ahin's acting skill (again, again and again!)
Just when I thought that he's already show his best performance, he shows that he still has more! He is definitely THE BEST actor in his generation.
Unfortunately this show is his last project before he serve his military duty. We should wait for 2 years to see his superb acting. Ugh.

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Xingii

February 4, 2016 at 3:11 PM

I totally agree with you about everything, but especially on the Moohyul & Sakwang opinion. I don't think he likes her romantically either. He gets puppy eyes for every pretty woman he meets, doesn't mean he has a major crush on them. These two can just relate to each other, it's probably safe to assume that Sakwang is the first person that Moohyul has confided in, in regards to not liking killing people even as a warrior. (He wouldn't say something like that to Bangji (even though they're besties! XD lol) because Bangji already said he had gotten used to killing people not too long after he met Moohyul)

the thought of a romantic ship would be cute (and they have really good onscreen chemistry, moreso than Sakwang and the king) but I don't think a romantic love line is in Moohyul's destiny tbh. His loyalty lies with Bangwon and his family, and later in life, his loyalty is for King Sejong.

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nara

February 6, 2016 at 1:50 PM

CSG doesnt have an opinion it is different than fierce
not all women need to be fierce but all need an opinion
a view of their we think therefor we are
for we know she is a robot with no mind of her own
shw even said to MH we are not to thik of good and bad
its not fir us to decide

and most of all its a matter of taste - although i hope there isnt a women who doesnt have an opinion i am most certainly dont want to see it on my screen
it is a matter of preference like any type some you like some you dont

i love her fighting sequence and i was very exited at first knowing she is CSK i just hope there was more to her than just fighting like brain

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nara

February 6, 2016 at 1:54 PM

sorry for all the mistakes - its the ghost

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nara

February 6, 2016 at 2:06 PM

also even if you take it from the bodyguard perspective she is too silent

YH although not official bg is a warrior and gives and object all the time

LBJ after deciding to support JDJ sat with them in the cave and JDJ asked whet he thought and LBJ dejectedly replied not only do i have to protect you a also have to have an opinion? showing that even the "hands" need an opinion

and of course MH who helped with his simpleton opinion LBW & BY understand things which he was then praised for

all in allthe only one who doesnt have one is CSK she is just to make our screen pretty

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39 Ikran

February 4, 2016 at 9:43 AM

I hope that Moo hyul doesn't tell Sak-wang that Poen is dead or else he'll die where he is standing. I don't want neither of them to die hopefully.

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40 LY

February 4, 2016 at 3:35 PM

I shld thank the writers for producing such great script and drama. YAI has done well nailing the role as the ambitious Lee Bangwon. No doubt Po-Eun is dead but it's always survival of the fittest.

If there is no Taejong, then there will be no Sejong- then there will be no Hangul today. We're one step closer to the end of the drama with the clash between JDJ and LBW.

Am I just the only one who noticed YAI fits well in sageuk dramas since he was in Strongest Chil Woo, Jang Ok Jung, SKKScandal and Sado? Mmm... he makes my day! :D

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Mari

February 7, 2016 at 9:08 AM

Yoo Ah In said on his interviews that he lovesd acting in Sageuk more than contemporary/modern dramas because it felt like acting in a theater's stage :)

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41 THUMMAR

February 4, 2016 at 6:46 PM

Finally Yi Bang Won took a charge, and started to make decisions on his own, it is how a king should be. Also he convinced his friends and followers for his great cause. He did exactly the same he said to Jung Do-Jeon before few episodes “If PoEun is not convinced by you, then I'll handle the situation at my own.” Whatever he did and whatever people think about him, I'm always with him even after he turns to cruel king. He is my HERO, I would say. I like the words he said to Jung Mong Joo, “People will forget how you did it. They will only remember that you did it. As long as they get food and shelter they will like the one who gave it to them, no matter how.” Everyone on his side said that there is no place for him in this great cause, but without him even initialization of this great cause it’s not possible. Weather it is “Border stabilization plan” or “Entry of his father into DoDang” or “Impeach Yi Ingyeom and killing Hong In-Bang and Gil Tae-Mi” or even “Drag out MooMyung from hiding”. Now I think Yi Bang Won will make a tie with Ha Ryun and real conflict between Yi Bang Won and Jung Do Jeon will start.

Little disappointed about Moo Hyul. There is no fighting between him and Cheok Sa-Gwang. There should have been some martial arts show between them. After all he is our one of the dragon. Here they could have shown Moo Hyul achieving his dragon title, but I believe in Director and Writer that they have more good reason later to make him dragon. I think Moo Hyul will be the one who will kill Jung Do-Jeon after some episode and prove his true loyalty towards Yi Bang Won.

There was very less screen time for Moo Myung so I think after 2-3 more episodes either it will disappear or Yi Bang Won will bring them to destruction, as he said in few episodes back.

I like the way Da Kyung supported Yi Bang Won, she is an Ideal wife and now new country is established so she should get more screen time, because according to history she did major role after establishment of Joseon.

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Ranieta

February 5, 2016 at 8:09 PM

+100

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42 strawberry

February 4, 2016 at 7:57 PM

When I first started watching this drama, my mom asked if I knew the history behind it (we're Korean). I said not really, but it would be a win-win situation if I got to enjoy this long but amazing drama and learn history at the same time.
Unfortunately my mom spoiled it a little for me by giving me a little background info...that Lee Bang-won would eventually kill everybody, including Jung Do-jeon, Jung Mong-Joo, and his brothers, for power.
In the first episodes of Six Flying Dragons, I couldn't believe it. No way, I thought. Look at LBW right now. He's not going to betray his teacher, whom he looks up to so much. And Poeun is such a righteous and good man!
I love how this drama builds up the events so that I can understand why history happened the way it did. So informational, but so entertaining.
And yes, I would love a Moohyul-Sakwang relationship, but, tbh, I want Moohyul!!!

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43 Kween Ramyeon

February 5, 2016 at 3:31 AM

These last two episodes were really tough! I had to stop several times to catch my breath, and definitely stayed away from the recaps as I was too worried about spoilers.

So we've finally tipped over - it did feel like the JDJ and Poeun conflict had gone on for a bit and it was time for the next level. They've made the transition episodes so wonderful though.

From the Dragons' walking into the long night (that reference also made me think of Night of the Love Knives), the Moo Hyul showing up in the nick of time to stop Bang Ji from being chopped into half. It was amazing.

It's a challenge not to simply go with Bang Won's perspective though - especially for the expediency of how it moves the plot along. I tell myself that it's important that his father's moral compass is strong, despite it making him a less than decisive revolutionary. But I end up getting a little angry at JDJ too, but being happy enough to use Bang Won's nature previously, all the while already thinking the future regime had no place for him. In a sense, the elder two recognise in Bang Won a ruthlessness they cannot control.

It does make me wonder - in terms of taking political power and regime change - can it ever be done with no bloodshed? I'm not sure but I think not. it's in the nature of it, I think.

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THUMMAR

February 5, 2016 at 6:06 PM

I agree with you, No revolution is possible without bloodshed.

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nara

February 6, 2016 at 5:14 AM

the problem i think is not in the initial blood shed the problem is if it continues even after
or go on to become an all consuming civil war

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44 Ikran

February 5, 2016 at 10:21 AM

" Before Bang Ji chopped into half " liked that brace. Honestly, She was overpowering him at first but then he figured out her tricks & was good defense. love Chaek Sa Gwang hope they don't kill her so brutally like they did Poen coz I think she is dying soon anyway.

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45 Ranieta

February 5, 2016 at 8:06 PM

This episode broke the records of its highest ratings. I like Tree With Deep Roots. But this episode marked the point where I think Six Flying Dragons has surpassed TWDR.

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46 Dara

February 5, 2016 at 10:09 PM

I don't know if I'm the only one but I'm rooting for Chuk Sa Kwang and Mo Hyul to end up with each other or something.

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47 nanachan

February 5, 2016 at 11:48 PM

does everybody remember? the wound moo hyul made with his sword has special trace too? it's mean he would learn goksan method, right? sa kwang could be teach him goksan method for saved her.

but i'am not too confident because my guess earllier about nameless leader totaly wrong.. what a nameless.. just useless

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nanachan

February 5, 2016 at 11:50 PM

*moo hyul in TWDR

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48 nara

February 6, 2016 at 5:19 AM

there is a great explanation\translation by Homura of an article about the "nameless" in SFD soompi thread
helps - at least me - understand a bit about them

http://forums.soompi.com/en/topic/346524-current-drama-2015-2016-six-flying-dragons-육룡이-나르샤-mon-tue-10pm/?page=249#comment-19535860

Happy Seollal

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nara

February 6, 2016 at 5:22 AM

and im just awed by the writers

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Kiara

February 6, 2016 at 6:43 AM

Did they seriously expect viewers to connect all that without any commentaries? (Obviously, someone has to ask them directly for answers). On top of that most of it is made up by the writers, some from Hwarang Segi and some are related to Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa.

“The invisible organization is intended to manage the world to work in stable manner in order to keep their principle.”

This is how they are managing the world in Goryeo?
By assassinating reformist like King Gongmin and his queen who tried to make life better for the common people? They supported corrupted officials like In-gyeom because?
What did they help King Taejo with? What did they do when the military took the power from the king and ruled Goryeo for almost a century?

I'm really interested in finding out what kind of messed up principle these people have. I have more questions now than before.

Thanks for the link nara and to Homura for the infos and translation.

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nara

February 6, 2016 at 1:14 PM

from the writers its stagnant but given as a reasonable effort to stabilize the country - a thing the writers are against i think

i dont think the writers told us everything and probably gave some bc like you said how can we be expected o make these connection and ppl started to think "nameless" is needless

to me they explained only irrelevant details - i guess not to spoil

they supported LIG? i thought that LIG tried to get rid of them

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nara

February 6, 2016 at 1:15 PM

"On top of that most of it is made up by the writers, some from Hwarang Segi and some are related to Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa."

what do you mean?
what is Samguk?

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Kiara

February 6, 2016 at 8:42 PM

Samguk Sagi contains the history of the 3 Kingdoms (Baekje, Shilla and Goguryeo) written by Kim Busik of Goryeo from the Kim clan (part of Haedong Gapjok). There's historical informations on Queen Seon Deok, Bidam's revolt, Kim Chun-Chu (QSD's nephew), Kim Yushin (Bidam's rival) etc.

Samguk Yusa is a collection of historical accounts, folk tales, legends etc of the 3 kingdoms written by a Buddhist monk named Iryeon.
I love it although it's less factual compared to Samguk Sagi.There is a lot of stories in it about Maitreya, Buddhism etc. I think the kite story mentioned between Bidam and Kim Yushin was taken from it.

Hwarang Seji (Annals of the Hwarangs) written by a Shilla historian named Kim Daemun. The manuscript's authenticity is still being questioned.
It has detail informations on Shilla's Hwarangs and their leaders (pungwolju) like Munno (Bidam's foster father and teacher), Kim Yushin, Mishil (Bidam's fictional mother) etc.

And then we have the writer's secret organizations Milbon (TWDR), Nameless (QSD and SFD), fictional swordsmen, Chil-Sook (QSD) Bang Ji (TWDR/SFD), Moo-hyul (TWDR/SFD), Karpei (TWDR-totally hate him for killing my Moo-hyul), Sa Gwang (SFD).

That's a lot of stuff to remember in order to make the connection between their 3 dramas.

nara

February 7, 2016 at 1:14 AM

thanx kiara not only im awed by the writers but by you as well - learning so much

so Bidam was a real figure and i thought CSK is based on a real legendary swordsman

so Yusa & Sagi review the same in different styles?
again thank you

Kiara

February 7, 2016 at 7:33 PM

It's been over 5 years since QSD so I don't remember a whole lot :(.

Yes Bidam existed in history but he did not have a romantic relationship with QSD like how it was shown in the drama. The majority of fans were totally behind it so the writers gave in.
Historically, Bidam didn't think she was fit to rule because she was a woman. Shilla's enemies (Baekje, Goguryeo etc) would look down on Shilla so it was a matter of national security and that's why he revolted against her.

SFD's Cheok Sa-Gwang is fictional but based on a legendary warrior Cheok Joon-Gyeong. I think Homura mentioned that before and how he gained fame by fighting against the Jurchens. (Kim Busik was compiling Samguk Sagi during Cheok's time so I won't be surprised if he mentioned him).

Kim Busik was a confucian scholar and Iryeon obviously was a Buddhist monk.
I think Kim was like Teacher Lee Saek, he did not denounce Buddhism unlike Sambong and Poeun. He continued to practice it although he supported a government run by confucian ideology.

Lee Seong-gye also supported Sambong's confucian ideology. Joseon became a Confucian Country but Seong -gye (King Taejo) was still devoted to Buddhism till the day he died.

Kim's work was meant to be kept as a historical record. Iryeon's work was less factual. Legends, myths,songs,poems etc. It helps one understand the Korean culture in those days.

I can see why the writers wants to make a connection between QSD with SFD even though they are 700+ years apart. All 3 of their dramas do intertwined with the history and their own story.

49 nicole

February 6, 2016 at 10:25 AM

I commend highly Yoo Ah In's acting in this episode, especially his scene towards his father LSG. Him justifying his act towards Poeun, the way he cornered his father with those words like LSG being hate being criticized by the masses. He's right, if you loathe being criticized, then don't be a leader/King.

I am loving Yoo Ah In more more now. I liked him since I first saw him in Sungkyungkwan Scandal. He's gone so far after the flop Fashion King, to become of the best actor of his generations.

He made me adore Lee Bang Won to the fullest, bwahahaha.