Ruler–Master of the Mask: Episodes 13-14
by hanshimi
This show continues to be enjoyable and fun, though its flaws are getting more and more difficult to ignore. Despite the fact that the untapped potential in each episode is threatening to kill me, I still haven’t lost faith in our hero, who continues to strive to become a king worthy of the throne.
EPISODE 13 RECAP
At the sound of Sun and the mysterious gisaeng Mae-chang exchanging blows in the dark, Hwa-goon’s father finally awakens and shouts for the guards. As Mae-chang runs out, Sun chases right after her, leaving the guards to chase after Chung-woon.
The chief of the Water Bureau tries to assure Hwa-goon’s father that the guards are already looking for the thieves, but Hwa-goon’s father isn’t assuaged. He tells the chief that the thieves didn’t just take some trinkets—they stole “the map.”
Meanwhile, Moo-ha catches Chung-woon taking off his disguise, and immediately recognizes him as the crown prince’s bodyguard from five years ago. Connecting the dots, Moo-ha realizes that Chung-woon’s current companion must be the prince, too.
Forcing Chung-woon to bring him to Sun, Moo-ha demands to know Sun’s true identity. Before Chung-woon can stop him, Sun solemnly confirms that he is the same prince who ordered him to investigate the Water Bureau. In addition, he admits that the man currently on the throne is not the true king but his friend, Lee Sun, now in the clutches of Pyunsoohwe.
Infuriated, Moo-ha scoffs that Sun hasn’t changed a bit, still letting others suffer for his actions. Before Chung-woon can defend Sun, however, he drops to his knees to offer Moo-ha his belated apology: “Because of my reckless command, I caused the death of Deputy Magistrate Han and put you in danger. Please, forgive me.”
At that, Moo-ha collapses in tears, grieving for the magistrate and regretting his own actions of depending on a mere seventeen-year-old boy. Outside, a woman strolls by, listening to Moo-ha’s sobs.
Once they regain their composure, Moo-ha promises to help Sun in his fight. Sun thanks him before explaining the situation: Pyunsoohwe is aiming for the right to mint coins by seizing copper. To counter them, they must secure the copper first and give it to the Ministry of Finance.
Meanwhile at Pyunsoohwe, an informant tells Dae-mok about the chief peddler, explaining that he started off as a simple merchant but managed to consolidate an entire organization of merchants under his wing. At that, Dae-mok orders the informant to bring the peddler to him. When a Pyunsoohwe member asks why, Dae-mok responds: “This peddler must be one of two things: a man I must recruit, or a man I must kill.”
Ga-eun sits with Kko-mool and Lee Sun’s mother, taking inventory of her herbs. When Lee Sun’s mother asks Ga-eun about the rumors of the chief peddler’s good looks, Ga-eun flashes back to the times Sun denied that he was Chun-soo and rejected her attempts to get close to him. With a sad sigh, Ga-eun tells her that he was just an ordinary man with a common face.
As Lee Sun’s mother pulls medicines out of a storage pot, Ga-eun recalls Royal Consort Lee’s dying request—to find the big pot. At that moment, Kko-mool complains that she’s hungry, saying that waiting is always difficult—except when someone else is waiting for her to go to the bathroom at night. Ga-eun laughs, but Kko-mool’s comment sparks an idea. She asks Lee Sun’s mother to help her make something.
The next thing we know, Ga-eun slips over to the king’s greenhouse, disguised as a court servant and holding a tray of medicine. Walking up to the pair of guards outside, she offers them some medicine, saying that the king specially asked her to share it with them. The guards bow in deference before each taking their share.
It’s not long before the guards stumble away, clutching their stomachs in pain. In their absence, Ga-eun hurries to enter the greenhouse—but she’s stopped by a sword to her throat.
The sword belongs to the king’s personal bodyguard, who demands to know who she is. Shaking, Ga-eun stutters that she was ordered to deliver medicine to the king. But Lee Sun is right behind her, knowing that he never gave such an order, and orders her to turn and reveal her face.
With no choice, Ga-eun turns to face the king. Lee Sun recognizes her immediately, of course, and stares at her in shock. Meanwhile, Ga-eun glares at him in defiance, flashing back to the moment that the crown prince—that is, Chung-woon—executed her father five years ago.
When the guards return to their post, they hurry to grab Ga-eun and apologize for their absence, but Lee Sun shouts at them to release her. Telling them that he called for her, he orders them to let them talk in private.
Lee Sun brings her into the greenhouse, where Ga-eun asks if he saved her because he remembers her. He quickly denies knowing her, but that only makes Ga-eun angrier. She demands to know if he truly doesn’t remember her face, and Lee Sun finally realizes that she thinks that he killed her father. He spins around, wishing desperately to rip off his mask and tell her that he is the Lee Sun she grew up with since childhood…
…But unable to do so, he quietly orders her to leave. Furious, he orders his guard to find out since when and why Ga-eun is working in the palace. As Ga-eun leaves, she thinks about the fact that the king doesn’t remember her, and realizes that her father’s execution meant that little to him. She sobs in grief.
At the palace that night, Hyun-seok enters Lee Sun’s room to tell him what he found out: Ga-eun sells herbs to the palace physician, and only disguised herself in order to enter the greenhouse.
When Lee Sun wonders why, his guard suggests that he meet with her and ask her directly—he’d been forced to lie until now to protect her and his family, but he should be able to tell her the truth now. Lee Sun responds: “If I could meet her once and tell her my feelings for her, it would keep me going for the rest of my life.” Making his decision, Lee Sun asks Hyun-seok to bring Ga-eun to her. Hyun-suk promises to do so no matter what.
Sun, Chung-woon, and Moo-ha meet with Hwa-goon at night to share their discoveries: The merchants who had their copper taken by pirates are now spending loads of money, Dae-mok’s son is somehow involved, and the person who tried to steal from Dae-mok was not a man. As Sun says this last part, he looks pointedly at Mae-chang, who performs with her gayageum onstage.
Meanwhile, Hwa-goon’s father meets with the chief of the Water Bureau, panicking that the stolen map reveals the time and location for the copper purchase. The chief of the Water Bureau suggests pushing back the time of the purchase, but Hwa-goon’s father tells him that they wouldn’t be able to meet Dae-mok’s deadline if they did so. Instead, he’ll just have to set up a trap of his own.
Disguised once again, Sun and Chung-woon slip into Hwa-goon’s father’s room in search of evidence that the pirates’ copper robbery was planned by the merchants. Sun finds records that the merchants bought plenty of luxuries like ginseng after the attack, even though they should have had their money stolen.
Just as they start to leave with the evidence, however, a panicked Moo-ha notes that their exit is surrounded by Hwa-goon’s father’s men. They begin to leave in a different direction, but this time, Moo-ha trips over the flooring, causing a loud crash and revealing their location.
At that moment, Mae-chang appears before them, guiding them to a secret passageway that will lead them to safety. With no choice, they follow her through a cave leading to the ocean. Hwa-goon is waiting for them on the beach, and at Sun’s confusion, she explains that Mae-chang promised to help them come here. Mae-chang and Hwa-goon share a smile.
At Mae-chang’s house, she and Sun exchange passive aggressive suspicions about each other’s actions, but Sun finally thanks her for her help. In return, Mae-chang informs them that the Water Bureau has been disguising themselves as pirates to make copper exchanges with the merchants.
Mae-chang wonders why they are trafficking copper of all things, and a smitten Moo-ha jumps to explain that Pyunsoohwe is trying to take control of the currency and of the palace. But not to worry, Moo-ha adds heroically—for he will do everything in his power to keep the evil Pyunsoohwe from getting what they want. Mae-chang takes his hand and thanks him for his service and bravery, which nearly sends Moo-ha into a love confession.
Sun then asks that Mae-chang tell them who she is, and why she saved them. But instead, Mae-chang turns the question of identity back on him. Seeing him unable to answer, Mae-chang smiles that the time isn’t right. Pulling Pyunsoohwe’s stolen map from her sleeve, she gives it to Sun and tells them that it has the time and location of the copper trade.
At Pyunsoohwe, an informant tells Dae-mok that the goods will arrive around the same time that Lee Sun must take his dose of poison. Deciding that he will gain the right to mint coins that day, Dae-mok tells a minister to convince the king that the people are suffering because of a lack of coins.
As promised, the minister brings up the issue of a currency shortage in the royal court the next day. The ministers advise Lee Sun to mint more coins so that people can continue to trade and revive the market economy. Seeing that the proposed scroll has Pyunsoohwe’s marking on it, Lee Sun agrees to the proposal.
The Minister of Finance steps forward for the next leg of Pyunsoohwe’s plan, telling Lee Sun that they cannot afford to mint copper coins right now because of a severe lack of copper. Citing the recent pirate raids to explain the lack of copper imports, the Minister of Finance suggests that the Minister of War take responsibility for the problem. Lee Sun agrees.
After the meeting, the Minister of War meets with the queen to discuss the situation, both recognizing that Dae-mok must be behind the copper shortage. The queen orders the Minister of War to find a way to secure copper no matter what, promising to buy time from the king.
Back at Mae-chang’s house, the group wonders how they can get enough manpower to defeat the traders. Sun suggests using the royal forces, telling them that all they need is someone overambitious, easily swayed, and confident in his abilities. Mae-chang knows just the guy: the navy commander, who is to visit the province tomorrow.
The next morning, Mae-chang greets the navy commander warmly, introducing Hwa-goon as a merchant from the capital. She then tells him that Hwa-goon heard a rumor that a royal inspector is secretly here on a mission. At that, the navy commander asks Mae-chang to let him meet Hwa-goon.
So Hwa-goon, Mae-chang, and the navy commander meet in private. Hwa-goon makes him promise not to tell anyone how she found out about the inspection before telling him that the inspector’s name is Park Moo-ha, a close relative of the queen.
Hwa-goon then points the navy commander to Moo-ha, who is conspicuously asking Japanese merchants about any pirates they’ve seen. Chung-woon and Sun confirm that the navy commander has seen them on their royal inspection before dragging Moo-ha away before he can get into an argument with the annoyed Japanese merchant.
Hwa-goon tells the navy commander that Moo-ha is rumored to be loyal to those who help him and will likely be promoted after this inspection. Hearing this, the navy commander hurries after Moo-ha. Just as he does, Moo-ha, Sun, and Chung-woon turn to face him, demanding to know why he’s following them.
EPISODE 14 RECAP
Declaring that he found them suspicious, the navy commander demands to know who they are. Chung-woon asks Moo-ha for his orders, and the next thing we know, Moo-ha pours the navy commander a drink in a private room. Chung-woon and Sun urge Moo-ha to let the navy commander in on the secret, since he will surely be of help.
So Moo-ha reveals to the navy commander that he’s actually a royal inspector, trying to find a group of copper thieves disguised as pirates. The navy commander bows down, swearing that he’s always lived for justice and is willing to do anything to serve the nation. Moo-ha promises to reward him if he aids his cause.
Meanwhile, Hwa-goon’s father meets with the chief of the Water Bureau, furious that he still hasn’t found the map thief. Their only chance to meet Dae-mok’s deadline now is to change the location of the trade. He orders the chief to contact the Japanese merchant in any way possible.
Moo-ha starts to head home that night when Sun suddenly asks him not to let Ga-eun know who he is. At Moo-ha’s surprise, Sun explains that he wants Ga-eun to live in peace, uninvolved with either him or with Pyunsoohwe. Hwa-goon listens from afar, heartbroken at the realization that he hid his identity from Ga-eun because he was concerned for her.
As Hwa-goon walks home, she calls for Gon, who appears behind her. She tells him sadly that the crown prince is targeting her father, and orders Gon to protect him.
The next morning, Sun and Chung-woon wait at the written time and location, but no one shows up. They start to think they got the details wrong when they notice a smoke signal nearby. When they arrive at the source of the signal, the navy commander points them to the trade occurring nearby.
Just as Hwa-goon’s father and the chief of the Water Bureau finish up the trade, Moo-ha appears before them, declaring that the traders are under arrest for trafficking copper. The chief recognizes Moo-ha, but before he can say anything, the navy pours out onto the beach. As the navy and the Water Bureau’s men face off, the chief of the Water Bureau grabs Hwa-goon’s father to flee.
Chung-woon hurries to stop them on the beach. The chief draws his weapon, and he and Chung-woon start to spar, though the chief is no match for Chung-woon. Suddenly, however, Gon enters the fray, distracting Chung-woon enough to let the chief and Hwa-goon’s father escape again. Seeing that Moo-ha and the navy commander have successfully captured the traders, Sun chases after them.
However, the chief and Hwa-goon’s father run into Hwa-goon further down the beach, who is waiting for them with a pair of horses. Promising to explain later, she tells them to take the horses and escape.
As they gallop away, Hwa-goon cuts her own arm with a sword. When Sun arrives and hurries to her side, Hwa-goon tells him that she failed to catch the enemy. Noting her injury, Sun tends to her wound.
Hwa-goon begins to tear up at his kindness and silently swears never to betray him again. Clutching her arm, she cries into his embrace, and a confused Sun comforts her, guessing that she must have been very alarmed. Hwa-goon thinks: “Being able to cry in your arms is the greatest happiness I have.”
The team regroups at the dock, having failed to capture both Hwa-goon’s father and Gon. Sun decides that he must return to the capital first, and asks Chung-woon and Moo-ha to come later with the copper loads.
At that moment, Mae-chang joins them, apologizing for her tardiness—she had to finish up some work. Sun brightens, guessing that she must be agreeing to his request. He thanks her, and both he and Hwa-goon promise to wait for her at the capital. Moo-ha stares at them in confusion, wondering what they’re talking about.
As Sun and Hwa-goon head toward the capital on a boat, Hwa-goon confesses that the true reason she helped him was because she wanted to: “I am your person,” she says. “Can you promise to trust me?”
Hwa-goon returns to Pyunsoohwe to find her father panicking over the lost copper. Hwa-goon calmly advises him to tell Dae-mok immediately—there’s no immediate solution, so they need to tell him before things get any worse.
Hwa-goon’s father then asks what she was doing at the beach, and Hwa-goon lies that she just happened to have business there. He trusts her completely, sighing that it’s a huge relief that she was there. Hwa-goon asks where the chief of the Water Bureau went, and her father explains that the chief found it strange that the navy was waiting for them and has gone to investigate.
Meanwhile, Sun meets with Woo Bo, telling him that he plans to give the copper to the queen, since she is the only one with enough power to fight Dae-mok. Sun decides that he will support her for the time being in order to face Pyunsoohwe.
Suddenly, a villager interrupts them to report that the chief of the Water Bureau has just gone to the herbal store to find Ga-eun. Realizing that Ga-eun is in danger, Sun hurries out.
The chief arrives at Ga-eun’s store, confronting her for daring to report their warehouse to the Capital District Office. Ga-eun has no idea what he’s talking about, but notes that since he’s so worked up about it, there must be something bad inside. Shoving past him, she tells him she’s off to the Capital District Office to report his suspicious warehouse.
The chief lifts his sword to cut Ga-eun down, but Lee Sun’s mother throws herself in front of her. Ga-eun stands in front of her and glares at the chief again, and the chief lifts his sword again at her disrespect. This time, another sword blocks his path: it’s Hyun-seok, the king’s bodyguard.
The chief withdraws his sword in deference, and Hyun-seok warmly asks Ga-eun to come with him—the king has summoned her to speak with him.
At that moment, Sun arrives at the herbal shop, demanding to know if Ga-eun is safe. Recognizing him as Chun-soo, Lee Sun’s mother confirms that she’s all right. To Sun’s shock, however, she adds that the king’s bodyguard took her to speak with the king.
Ga-eun waits in the greenhouse, and when the masked king appears, Ga-eun bows down to the ground. Lee Sun tells her to stand and apologizes for her suffering, telling her that he knows she is the daughter of the magistrate he executed five years ago. He tells her that as the king of the country, he can grant her any wish as an apology.
Ga-eun clenches her fists, telling him that the only thing she wants is for him to clear her father’s name. Lee Sun looks away, offering anything else instead. Ga-eun rejects his offers of riches, however, and turns to go.
Desperate, Lee Sun stops her to tell her that he has frequent headaches and insomnia, and asks her to fill the greenhouse with medicinal herbs. She coolly accepts the royal order before leaving.
She walks home in tears when suddenly Sun appears before her, having come outside the palace to wait for her.
COMMENTS
I’m becoming a lot more disappointed with the trajectory of this drama, which has all the potential for a high-concept plot… but just falls unsatisfactorily on its delivery every time it matters. It’s especially hard for me to recognize this since there are so many elements of this drama that I do love—Yoo Seung-ho’s acting, Dae-mok’s character, the cinematography, the world-building, the love between families, the unquestioned loyalty between friends. The show is still plenty enjoyable and easy to watch, of course, and I still love our hero to no end… but on the other hand, it’s never really the surprising or exciting ride it promised to be at the start of its run. In the end, it feels like the show is either failing to recognize or just plain ignoring the potential of its own plot and characters, and seems to be heading in the direction that is easiest to go rather than where it would be interesting to go.
Of these missed potentials, about which I could go on and on, the worst for me is Ga-eun’s character. After casting a talented actress like Kim So-hyun, it seems a crime to let her be defined by her intelligence, compassion, and determination… and then pigeonhole her into straightforward, reckless, and weak actions that always end up in her either crying or being saved by someone stronger. After all, it’s one thing to be headstrong and another entirely to just be rash, and the last few episodes have been filled with such uninteresting, ineffective decisions. Telling the chief of the Water Bureau to his face that she’s off to report him to the Central District Bureau? Sneaking into the palace with nothing but a flimsy cover and homemade medicine balls? None of her plans really make sense or make use of the wits she’s supposed to have—and at this point, her ineffectiveness is becoming more of a burden to the plot than serving to drive it forward. She doesn’t seem to have a very clear purpose except to drive Sun and Lee Sun toward their character developments, which is pretty depressing since she started out as such a fun, smart character.
The problem seems to be that the show hasn’t created any definite foundation of its character relationships—and especially now that Ga-eun is separated from both Sun and Lee Sun, it’s impossible to have much relationship development except to expand on what’s already there. In particular, I wish that the show had done a more solid job of establishing Ga-eun and Lee Sun’s relationship, apart from them both being Woo Bo’s pupils. If that were better established, the fact that Ga-eun and Lee Sun have finally met would be a lot more bittersweet and powerful. I mean, were they even friends, or just acquaintances? We know that he’s always had a crush on her, but what does she think of him? How well do they know each other? Honestly, the answer to that question seems to be “not much,” if Lee Sun really thought she’d be satisfied with riches in place of her father’s honor. As it stands, Ga-eun and Lee Sun just seem like two people who happened to once know each other.
On a more positive note, I do like that Lee Sun was the one to save her this time, since it points to the possibility that he’ll be a more active player in the plot. It’s sweet that he’s trying to use his newfound royal power to make her happy, but I’m really looking forward to the moment that he’ll realize that he must find his own personal avenue to make her happy instead of using powers that aren’t his to control. I still haven’t given up hope that the show will rediscover and draw upon its strengths, because there’s too much untapped potential and many episodes to go, and we’re still gearing up to enter the core conflict of the drama. I can only hope it’ll get better soon.
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Tags: Kim So-hyun, L, Ruler–Master of the Mask, Yoo Seung-ho, Yoon So-hee
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1 Lynn
June 3, 2017 at 9:01 AM
I've enjoyed this series, but for me, Ga Eun isn't really showing much power and strength I'd expected of a heroine (who supposedly guides the crown prince). She acts recklessly, but unnecessarily to put others around her at risk, and in the end, someone comes by to save her. D:
Usually, I'm ok with characters like this, but I can't help but feel a bit disappointed. With the amount of camera time of Lee Sun and Hwa-Goon has been having, I'm being slightly swayed to side with Hwa-Goon than Eun Ga as the ending love interest (but that isn't going to happen anyways). There's definitely going to be conflict when her betrayal is revealed to her family and Lee Sun.
Tl;dr: Eun Ga isn't that interesting atm; she lacks the strength that I have expected she would've had. I hope for some change/progression, or I'm siding with Hwa-Goon!
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Lynn
June 3, 2017 at 9:11 AM
And just putting it out there, I love Kim So-Hyun as an actress -- watched her in school 2013 (though I have to admit, didn't like the ending qq gets me frying every time I think about it). It's just frustrating to see how her character is so un-relatable and purposely jump into sticky situations -- like @hanshimi said; is necessarily telling the Water Bureau you're going to report them going to help anything ? I thought her character would be more intelligent...
I had high hopes for this drama, but I can't help but feel slightly disappointed by the outcome...
Ga-Eun hwaiting ! Please become the strong woman you are suppose to be to guide the Crown Prince !
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Lynn
June 3, 2017 at 9:13 AM
I meant crying not frying ** QQ
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s9313071e
June 3, 2017 at 9:17 AM
I agree GE isn't that interesting for now. However, she seems to be considering entering the palace as court lady, so that might spice things up and make her characterization more exciting. Hopefully. Fingers crossed.
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Sera The Ms Temper
June 3, 2017 at 9:59 AM
I hope she won't just blindly follow the Queen Mother and use her brain & intelligence too.
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wonderlust
June 3, 2017 at 10:44 AM
I want to side with Hwa Goon too since I usually like a character like that but hmmm Yoon So Hee acting just makes me cringe every time. I want to like her but I can't because of the acting. I hope L can tone down the shoulder thingy too. All I can hope now is the scriptwriter makes the lead's character and storylines better. For YSH and KSH, I'm still giving this drama chances.
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transient
June 4, 2017 at 9:05 PM
I have been wondering whether L slouched his back on purpose for his character or he did that unconsciously given his limited acting experience.
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kdramafanne
June 5, 2017 at 1:40 AM
at first i thought it must be because he was not used to being the Crown Prince/King. But after sometime (5 years in kdrama world) it's been bothering me every time he appears onscreen with slouched back.
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YM
June 3, 2017 at 11:16 AM
IKR!!! I really hope ga eun's character becomes more interesting. She was described as wanting revenge from the prince? But from the encounter it didn't seem like she hates him that much
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byeol
June 3, 2017 at 9:36 PM
At this point (or even way back when the Consort Young Bin told her that there's more powerful beyond her father's death), it seems like Ga Eun is more inclined to know the truth beyond her father's death. She do have hatred towards the King but it doesn't look like it taken over her. She managed her rage well in those king encounters perhaps recognizing that he still the leader of this nation and he gave her access to the greenhouse-- that will do for now.
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YM
June 4, 2017 at 6:32 AM
well I guess I feel that ga eun is rather lost as to what to do and how to help avenge her father, she doesn't seem like she has a plan but rather just begged to have her fathers honor restored. We didn't even see her looking for the pot at the greenhouse :(
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2 imzadi
June 3, 2017 at 9:11 AM
So far I have only watched the first two (or four?) episodes and I don't think I will continue watching right away. Even in this first episodes the writing was sub par. There are coincidences and then there coincidences. If that's the only way to further the plot, it get's old pretty soon.
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imzadi
June 3, 2017 at 9:13 AM
And there is nothing worse, when people act stupid, because the plot demands it.
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s9313071e
June 3, 2017 at 9:26 AM
I know right. Right now, the writer isn't making GE very bright, and the plot seems to be flailing and not tightly written. I was tearing my hair out at GE's stupidity this episode.
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imzadi
June 3, 2017 at 9:30 AM
If there is one way to get me to drop a series, it's because the plot makes smart people act stupid. I really hat it.
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windsun33
June 3, 2017 at 10:32 AM
..And supposedly "strong women" turn into total wimps.
windsun33
June 3, 2017 at 10:31 AM
You made it further than I did. I watched 1.5 episodes and gave it up. Aside from all the flaws, just not my type of show.
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imzadi
June 3, 2017 at 12:22 PM
I don't watch often sageuks. But I wanted to give this a try. Well, perhaps later, if it improves. Maybe.
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3 s9313071e
June 3, 2017 at 9:15 AM
I am beginning to feel bad for L. His earnest love for GE is not going to be reciprocated since her love is for the Chief Peddler.
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4 Leo
June 3, 2017 at 9:17 AM
I'm starting to think this writer is unable to write female lead characters and second male lead characters because both GE & LS seem really underdeveloped right now. I know we are only on the 4th week and anything can happen but I feel like this writing limitation might persist for a while. Even Daemok is becoming a one trick pony at this point. And I still don't know if his son aka HG's dad has any aspirations of his own!
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s9313071e
June 3, 2017 at 9:23 AM
I agree with you. DM started as a cunning smart antagonist, but that has since given way to a one-dimensional bad guy. I am holding out on GE and LS though because I am hoping things would change for the better once GE enters the palace as a court lady.
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Leo
June 3, 2017 at 11:16 AM
I'm not placing my money on that court lady plot to be honest. It feels contrived and frankly I don't really understand where they plan to go with. I'm just hoping at this point that KSH comes back with another drama this year which can wipe away this poorly character from my memory. I feel bad for L fans too because he's actually doing a decent enough job and this could have been his breakout role but the writing is just so bad. The cinematography on the other hand is quite beautiful!
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transient
June 4, 2017 at 9:07 PM
I have been waiting to see the promised genius peasant Lee Sun.
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5 Elaine Wong
June 3, 2017 at 9:23 AM
I feel pretty disappointed that the more interesting character went to the (far) weaker actress. I wish Ga Eun would be let in on all the identity secrets soon, so that she can actually work with Crown Prince to take down the villian. Damsel in distress wasn't what I signed up for.
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s9313071e
June 3, 2017 at 9:30 AM
I wish GE could be a bit more intelligent and scheming like the Queen, or at least thinks fast on her feet. I didn't expect her to be a damsel in distress most of the time because the synopsis hinted at something more sinister.
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mochi
June 3, 2017 at 4:09 PM
As much as I want GE to be like that, I can't really expect her to since she's always kept out of the loop for everything. Knowledge is power. The Queen and HG are able to scheme because they have intel, resources and people to do the job for them. GE has none of that, I wish the writer gave her more agency. Sigh.
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byeol
June 3, 2017 at 9:50 PM
Totally agree with you.
Things happened because of Ga Eun's attempt to discover the 'truth' behind the dying consort's words. Of course she wants to know what is going on-- basically why her father died. She's left in the dark because they think she'll be safe but truthfully, it's her obliviousness that will throw her in danger. She's slowly getting close to the real enemy but she even have no idea about it.
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elenapotato
June 4, 2017 at 4:06 AM
I found HwaGon really creepy at first, but I am warming up to her character. She's got layer whereas GaEun is a bit boring? Wish the female lead was HwaGon so we can get more angst and star crossed lovers feel. But I'm not losing hope for GE. And our crown prince is simply brilliant, as always.
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6 Heartstrings
June 3, 2017 at 9:26 AM
Happy Birthday Kim Sohyun! Wish the plot get better in the future and more screen time for her.
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7 Martin J Simwaba
June 3, 2017 at 9:35 AM
I hate it that they're making Kim So Hyun's character so miserable. Sometimes they don't even give her enough screen time, it's like she's on a supporting role and not a main lead.
Please show improve.
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frozenyogurt
June 3, 2017 at 1:16 PM
Yes, really need more screen time of Ga-eun please!
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8 Tender
June 3, 2017 at 9:40 AM
I know Yoo Seungho is the main star of the show since it's called Master of the Mask but the show was advertised with Kim So Hyun and her having a crucial role in the Crown prince's development in becoming a good king to his country by playing an active role besides him in shaping who he will be. There was a promised revenge story and complicated emotions on Ga Eun's part. But after 14 episodes she's just there for the Crown prince to feel angsty about and look heroic saving her. Also I don't buy her supposed revenge thirst and first love for the Crown prince at all. The revenge feelings pop up when the plot demands it and then disappear not bothering her in her daily life at all. She knew the Crown prince for a short time and while I can see some cute innocent attraction at first there's no way I can buy the epic first love she couldn't forget for years yearning for.
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9 hanbin
June 3, 2017 at 9:52 AM
As an avid fan of KSH, I really feel bad for saying this, but I don't feel any chemistry with Kim Sohyun and Yoo Seungho at all. Which is weird because they were oozing with chemistry during the MBC Awards last year. But then again, they were Kim Sohyun and YooSeungho themselves, not Gaeun and Yi Sun. And I don't blame them for this, especially Yoo Seungho. His eyes alone speak so much that he could romance a chunk of wood and I'd still believe he's in love with it. But, as characters who are supposed to love each other, I don't feel connected to them. I don't even know how it all happened. I blame this to the writer/s who failed to develop their romance enough for me to believe it. Was I supposed to assume that Gaeun felt in love at first sight the way Yi Sun did? Because I did not understand her pining for Chunsoo-not-Chunsoo at all. And don't even get me started at the manufactured angst. I still do not understand why Yi Sun had to lie being Chunsoo (which was still a ruse to begin with).
It is a shame, really. I don't even think the screen time is the issue here. I mean, Kim Sun and Wang Yeo's romantic scenes in Goblin were minuscule but I could tell they loved each other and I understood how it all started and during their minute of an appearance I just want them to stop fighting and just be together forever. Just to put a disclaimer, I'm not belittling Yoo Seungho. Again, I blame the writer/s for this.
Also, Gaeun was supposed to be intelligent, but so far, besides taking care of the villagers, she has been reckless. How many times do I have to see her with swords pointed at her and her getting saved by someone else every single time ala stereotypical damsel? She was supposed to be a revenge-seeking woman but I think the revenge already ended five years ago. Where was the Gaeun we were all promised?
And the plot? I could write an essay elaborating all the holes in it but overall I'm just very very very disappointed.
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Shan
June 3, 2017 at 10:03 AM
Agree... I largely blame the writer for viewers not understanding how the love story developed. I mean, same here I could feel the love between Kim Sun and Wang Yeo in Goblin, so I don't think it's a lack of ability to show such emotions. If only they had built in even a few scenes of GE and CP enjoying their time together, as just two of them, 5 years ago before all the angst happened, maybe I might believe it more. But nooo, the angst just swept everything away with everyone dying in the span of (what felt like) a few days.
And yes, they have written GE into too many scenes of her being in danger, that given her limited screentime, makes viewers feel that that's all there is to her character. I'm hoping things change soon, since I came in as a KSH fan too.
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ar
June 3, 2017 at 2:44 PM
This is such a good example of when a production really can't just depend solely on actor chemistry and acting to carry things through. The characters on paper need to have chemistry too. It's hard to do that when they act in random ways or when one of them barely shows up.
I'm disappointed that KSH has to play such a badly written leading role. I've always admired KSH's talent, but her acting in Goblin just blew me away. I'm glad that drama had so many viewers who were able to experience KSH as the young, dignified Kim Sun and not as the aimless Ga Eun.
There must be a term out there for this syndrome of having a heroine lose their self-sufficiency and experience overactive tear ducts after meeting the hero.
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Lynn
June 4, 2017 at 8:49 AM
Comment was deleted
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10 aniont
June 3, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Okay, is this a joke ? Is that really the revenge plot the writers talked about ? I mean, I was not expecting Ga Eun to just stand there, in front of the man that supposedly killed her father, and even bow to him ... Is it the same girl who swore to kill him in earlier episodes ? Where did that go ?
I'm really not used seeing Kim So Hyun play such a badly written candy type character, that's why it is all the more appalling to watch ...
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hanbin
June 3, 2017 at 10:03 AM
I rolled my eyes when she bowed to him. I'm like: "Okay, revenge arc is completely thrown out the window." You don't freakin' bow to someone you loathe to the core and swore the kill unless it's part of the plan.
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Shan
June 3, 2017 at 10:07 AM
Oh yes, I cannot understand why the writers ( i blame the writers all around ) did not have GE at least searching for the pot, before the King walks in or something. then at least, its not that she didn't try, but couldn't. sigh..
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s9313071e
June 3, 2017 at 10:20 AM
GE brings to mind Do Han in Lookout. Like GE, DH is gunning for revenge for his father's demise, but unlike GE, DH acts all smarmy while hiding his true intentions to take down the people for revenge. I thought he is a character that I would like for GE to be. I don't mind if GE prostrates herself before the King, but the will to seek revenge or the anger that the King has caused her father's death must be there.
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outofthisworld
June 3, 2017 at 8:13 PM
Oh no! This is what GE could have been but no such luck here. When I first read the synopsis, I thought it would be interesting to see how Ga Eun survive in the palace without getting her real motives discovered. At the same time, she will get increasingly conflicted over her growing liking for the very man she's supposed to kill.
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11 urnaa
June 3, 2017 at 10:08 AM
Ga Eun was almost absent during this episode and there is always Hwa Goon. I feel like Kim So Hyun's real age is showing and she cant romance at same level with Yoo Seung Ho. It is like Yoojung in Secret Door where she also couldnt romance Lee Je Hoon coz of her minor age. Hope drama improves soon.
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hanbin
June 3, 2017 at 10:13 AM
But Taecyeon(1988), Shin Jaeha(1993), Sungjae(1995), Kim Minjae (1996), Nam Joohyuk (1993) had chemistry with her. Heck, Taecyeon, Nam Joohyuk and Shin Jaeha were all older than Yoo Seungho. So I don't think that she can't, it's just that she's being limited by her character which is very poorly written.
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cutie
June 3, 2017 at 10:54 AM
Nam joo hyuk and shin jae ha are not older than yoo seung ho..
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hanbin
June 3, 2017 at 5:59 PM
Yoo Seungho was born in August while Shin Jaeha in April and Nam Joohyuk in February. So yeah, while they're all 1993, both of them are older than Yoo Seungho by months.
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urnaa
June 3, 2017 at 11:31 PM
I know. I loved her with all of these actors mentioned above. She had cute romances but not too emotional ones. but Yoo Seung Ho is at another level the way he emotes with his eyes and hope writers makes her character better soon. I am in this ship.
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aniont
June 3, 2017 at 10:45 AM
I don't think Kim So Hyun can't do romance either. I think she had amazing chemistry with Yook Sungjae in Who Are You : School 2015 ... She is still young and has room for improvement but she can do it.
Unfortunately, the romantic scenes in Ruler are so cliche (all that slow motion) that it makes me cringe. The only scene that felt natural to me was when Prince Sun and Ga Eun were talking around the fire about freedom.
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Leo
June 3, 2017 at 11:06 AM
It's definitely not her age. KSH can have chemistry with just about anything let alone a person. In fact I think KSH & YSH have adorable chemistry off screen and I actually enjoy their interactions on screen too but it's just that the way it's been written is not very organic that a lot of people don't understand how we reached from point A to B so are left to fill in the blanks themselves.
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12 Sera The Ms Temper
June 3, 2017 at 10:12 AM
I am still enjoying this drama despite of weak plot and acting by second leads. Maybe because I am not a huge fan of any actors in this drama that made me less disappointed, but still show, you can do better. I think there is chemistry between the main leads, at least I believe it when they're longing for each other.
Hwa Gun is quite cool character for second female lead, but the weak acting made me hard to cheer for her..
I miss Rebel, where we can enjoy all 4 main characters equally, and we don't have to bother with anyone's weak acting.
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vanptc
June 3, 2017 at 7:27 PM
Omg, you ảe talking my language. I have enjoyed this show so far and I love the way how it forces me to figure out on myself about motivation of our characters every episode.
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celine
June 3, 2017 at 7:57 PM
Me too. It's quite disappointing that it's not living up to its potential, but it's serviceable for me and far from being downright terrible in my book.
I like seeing the OTP on my screen and I do feel chemistry between them. It's just that it's not visceral.
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13 wonderlust
June 3, 2017 at 10:12 AM
Ohhhhhh, I'm so frustrated looking at Ga Eun. Why after casted Kim So Hyun they make her character that way? Such a waste of a talent. Not just Ga Eun got less scene, she also becoming weaker which cry and being rescued a lot. Haaaaa~ I'm hanging by a thin line here. I wonder what does the scriptwriter imagine to make Ga Eun that kind of girl. I can't help but comparing Go Eun character with Go Eun Byul and Kim Hyun Ji all the time watching this since I've seen Kim So Hyun took a better role.
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Shan
June 3, 2017 at 10:16 AM
Actually I'm starting to think if they had cast any other actress for GE, it would be impossible for viewers to support the CPxGE pair... right now, most people probably still buy into it because its YSH and KSH, who are very well loved I believe.
I loved KSH in school 2015 as Go Eun Byul too! She can do so much more than what she's been given so far...
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ar
June 3, 2017 at 2:23 PM
I had held off on watching it since I wanted to wait for the father to get killed off first. Then I waited for the revenge to start. Now I'm sort of catching parts of the drama because my mom's been watching it this past week and I'm just filling in everything else with the recaps. Every time I happen upon my mom watching it, it's either Sun or Hwa Goon on screen.
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14 outofthisworld
June 3, 2017 at 10:15 AM
Is it bad that just reading this recap makes me laugh at how incredulous the show is?
This first paragraph already cracks me up imagining how Hwa Goon's father slept through the sounds of intrusion and clashing swords for some time before waking up. Ga Eun suddenly remembers the dying Consort's last words about the pot when she sees Lee Sun's mother taking herbs out of a storage pot? The guards taking Ga Eun's medicine without question is another one which made my eyes roll. It's conveniences like these which make the show look bad.
By the way, why is Ga Eun so sad that the Crown Prince doesn't remember her face. Didn't Ga Eun know the real CP only as Chun Soo? I mean she was never acquainted with him when he was dressed as CP, was she? Did I miss something?
I wish the drama would focused on the most important plot central to the whole story instead of meandering into silly subplots like this copper heist and shenanigans. Dae Mok and the Pyunsoohwe doesn't strike fear anymore. Watching them and Sun with his gang is almost like watching Tom and Jerry skits.
I am amazed that people in this show recognize each other and remember things at random. I believe that Lee Sun and Ga Eun had a solid friendship, not simply just Woo Bo's pupils. It's the poor writing that is inconsistent. Even though Lee Sun has the mask on and as unbelievable as it is that he is actually the one playing fake King, shouldn't Ga Eun recognize his voice? I just need a hint of her finding it familiar. I also agree that it's dumb that Lee Sun would offer her riches. So far, Lee Sun is not displaying any bit of the smart and intelligent young man.
I think this whole Water Bureau chief coming to find trouble with Ga Eun is just a set up for GE to meet with Lee Sun and Sun. I already lost track of the flip flops. So would Sun now acknowledge that he is the man she had been longing for or maybe pretend that he is a chief peddler peddling his wares to the King?
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Shan
June 3, 2017 at 10:20 AM
Ga Eun was sad that the Fake CP didn't recognise her because it meant that he had forgotten the beheading 5 years ago, where she had rushed out and begged that her father be saved. So to her, it showed how little her father's death meant to her. (hopefully this was the scene you referring to when you said sad that the Crown Prince didn't recognise her)
I agree I thought it silly that GE couldn't recognise the voice of her childhood friend... and that LS has been poorly developed as well. I thought the Water Bureau chief scene was alright though, because it sort of linked in the scene when CP first met GE again. At least, I could kind of see why the Water Bureau chief thought it was GE's fault that the navy came and took the copper.
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outofthisworld
June 3, 2017 at 7:27 PM
That's the problem. Why should she expect the CP to remember her just because she rushed out and begged him? If she had held him in contempt all this while, did she really expect him to feel sorry for her father's death? On the other hand, the story could have her confused about the CP because of what the Consort told her. However, that's not shown. Like others have said, all these inconsistencies made Ga Eun a character that's hard to root for.
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byeol
June 3, 2017 at 10:38 PM
I feel GE there and where that question is coming. After 5 years, she met again the person who beheaded her father and the least she can do is ask whether he remember her or her father's death perhaps to somehow, appease her loathing.
after all, he is the 'justice' his father sought, driving him to choose death. Why not remember him and that tragic moment of executing a loyal subject who just followed his orders?
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+G
June 4, 2017 at 6:39 AM
I think it's because of the fact that his father had to be killed with the cp's own hands (tho it's not really the cp who beheaded him) when he knows to himself that her father is not lying and that he have done nothing wrong. So what I mean is that she at least wants the cp to remember the injustice of her father's death or maybe she at least wants someone to remember her poor father.
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s9313071e
June 3, 2017 at 10:31 AM
You are not alone. I was in stitches when I watched HG's dad sleep through the entire swordfighting scene until one of them makes a sound loud enough to wake him up. He must be a really deep sleeper. Haha.
With regards to the pot, I was wondering why GE hasn't tried to sneak into the palace in the past five years to get to the pot if it's really that important. And why she doesn't have it in possession already five years later. Is a consort's dying words not important enough for her to register the significance of the pot?
I think GE expected the CP to remember her as the daughter who rushed to stop her father's execution since that was a rather major event in her life. However, she forgot the CP has lots to do in the royal court. Why would he remember an insignificant person like her? Executions must be quite commonplace too in that era. How is he expected to remember every family member of the executed?
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outofthisworld
June 3, 2017 at 7:49 PM
I can only shake my head at the potty pot plot. I am now wondering when will Ga Eun remember the pot again? Will it take another 5 years? When will Lee Sun's mother take out medicine from the pot in front of GE again? Strangely and I mean in not a sarcastic way, I am really curious what's in that pot. Since, I am likely to stop even reading the recaps after this week, I hope I can find my answer somewhere in the finale.
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15 Hye Mi
June 3, 2017 at 10:25 AM
Here to voice my agreement with the majority of opinions here that have expressed a universal disappointment in Ga-Eun's character. I won't however beat the dead horse because I've beaten it quite a lot until last week's recaps.
I've made the decision to put this show on hold, but I'll still check the recaps to see if there's any sign it will get better. Blame me for being such a hopeless viewer who keeps praying for the writing to get better to no avail.
Before leaving Ruler, however, I'd wish to say something about Lee Sun (commoner) instead. I've got to agree with @hanshimi that the relationship between Ga-Eun and Lee Sun has been built upon very flimsy ground. Yet what irritates me more is the writer's choice to reduce Lee Sun to the stereotypical 'unworthy second lead'. By this I mean it is very uncharacteristic for someone with the upbringing and life experiences of Lee Sun to say anything along the line of 'I'd give you any riches to compensate for your loss'. First, Lee Sun has supposedly been growing up with Ga-Eun, and since he loves her for her kindness undiscriminating treatment of the poorer villagers and himself, he should know before anyone else that material wealth is never Ga-Eun's concern. Second, he doesn't look like he's enjoying a lavish life either. To be more exact, the life he has been living for the past 5 years has been nothing more than misery and pain, and boy doesn't look as if he's been blinded by wealth and power. To have him say such thing is therefore not within character at all, and feels more like a cheap and lazy tactic to scream to the audience that he's not meant to be Ga-Eun's end game.
Ga-Eun has not seen him in a romantic light all her life. It's completely unnecessary for him to say that line, and it's only proof that the writers are not confident to explore the possibility that there are people who, no matter how genuine, considerate, respectful, and kind they are to one another, are just not romantically compatible.
And I'm here to show my regret for Lee Sun the commoner too. He's been advertised to be so promising as a character, but he's been largely ignored. At this rate I even ship him and Ga-Eun together, because they're both neglected by the writers I feel so bad for them.
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Hye Mi
June 3, 2017 at 10:40 AM
To add more to my main post: Having Lee Sun the commoner to say such line also suggests that the writers themselves are not confident in the OTP's romance, because they have to uglify the second lead(s) to make the main leads look 'better' and more worthy for each other. When the writers are not confident in the romance they create, how are viewers themselves supposed to be convinced and invest in such romance?
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s9313071e
June 3, 2017 at 10:42 AM
To be honest, I thought the fake CP would have learned something from watching the Queen handle the court matters, but alas! He seems to have learned nothing nor grown some spunk, but gets manipulated by DM left and right because of the poppy wine. I thought the Queen would try to work with him or even teach him the ropes so that they can control the royal court and build on their power to defeat DM, but that hasn't been done. What is the point of the five year time skip if everything is still the way they were five years ago?
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Hye Mi
June 3, 2017 at 10:57 AM
*sighs* You hit the nail on the head.
The only explanation I can think of is the sole purpose of the show is to elevate real CP's arc. Everyone else's becomes secondary. Poor Lee Sun commoner and Ga Eun getting the end of the stick all this time. This drama has got the potential to be a show-down of:
HG versus DM
CP versus LS
GE versus HG
LS versus DM
GE+CP versus DM aka the one true battle
But then it got swept up in who-knows-what and add the Queen to the equation then we end up with the messy plot that is neither here nor there that we're having now.
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d.
June 3, 2017 at 11:08 AM
I wish I can upvote this a thousand times
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Gwinna
June 4, 2017 at 11:14 PM
Agree so much. I was ??? in that scene as well. It's a shame LS's character has been neglected so much that he's not even been given a consistent characterization, let alone developed or allowed to do anything.
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16 K
June 3, 2017 at 10:42 AM
feels like I'm asking for a beating when I say this: but doesn't anyone think the ratings this show's getting is more like 60% cast-power?
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17 Adal
June 3, 2017 at 10:47 AM
Kim So Hyun and Yoo Seung Ho have surprisingly, very little onscreen chemistry. I thought they'd be sizzling hot together, but their scenes together feel forced and the emotions, contrived. Instead I find myself shipping her with commoner Lee Sun. I can't help wishing he would take off his mask in her presence and let her in on the big secret of what he knows. It seems a shame to keep a bright, intelligent lady like Ga Eun in the dark when she would have been an asset in their fight against the Pyunsoohwe. And she'd be less susceptible to the machinations of others if she knows the truth.
I must say that L is really knocking it out of the park with his performance. I had no expectations at all watching this, and he surprises me with how well he plays his role.
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cutie
June 3, 2017 at 11:07 AM
It is subjective, their chemistry to me feels so natural that they don't need to shouts and yell around, fight like kids to show their chemistry, it's showing just by the two looking at each other, their eyes speaks volume..
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Lulla
June 3, 2017 at 12:28 PM
I feel the same way *lol*.
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Vantc
June 3, 2017 at 7:37 PM
I feel the same way like you. I can say that they are longing for each other from the way how they look at each other.
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outofthisworld
June 3, 2017 at 7:41 PM
Looking at each other can be meaningful and filled with chemistry only if there's a supporting story. This is not the fault of YSH and KSH but rather the writer's.
I remember being blown away by KSH's short scenes in Goblin. Is it because Kim Min Jae and Kim So Hyun have better chemistry than Yoo Seung Ho and Kim So Hyun? I think it's more because the former couple's story is compelling compared to the latter.
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Lulla
June 3, 2017 at 9:12 PM
This story is in a traditional era, where boys and girls are not mixed together like now. It means a lot if there's a boy that is attracted to you comes and says that he loves you. And, it also means a lot if you are 'caged' in a palace, with nobody dares to say a lot of things or to discuss with, then suddenly meets a beautiful attractive girl who's not just smart, but also strong-willed and intelligent. It's like a first crush when you were young, but because this is a traditional era, that crush felt serious because old people don't talk about going-out, but marriage instead. That's why, CP-GE's feeling for each other stay longer and deeper than expected.
Well, at least that's what I think :p
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Vanptc
June 3, 2017 at 10:55 PM
I totally agree with you. This is the truth in ancient China and Vietnam (which was heavily influenced by Chinese culture like Korea) as well.
immawish
June 3, 2017 at 9:44 PM
Well, they were actually projecting that hot chemistry in earlier episodes imo. But idk their timing after the time gap are just lost and we just lost the romantic pace when the time gap was supposed to be ticking bomb to their love line :(
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18 cutie
June 3, 2017 at 10:58 AM
I'm enjoying this show, episode 15 &16 is even a lot more interesting..
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cutie
June 3, 2017 at 11:02 AM
And L character needs to man up, like by now he should be planning something to go against dae mok, looking so weakling and fragile is not the solution, i feel like he's the least developed character of them all..
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Ajusshi
June 3, 2017 at 1:56 PM
Agree but others mention plot what plot. It feels like there is a body of second-rate writers who throw the die each week for their turn and never refer to what has happened previously.
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Vanptc
June 3, 2017 at 9:12 PM
I watched ep15.16, too. The plot is getting better and I can tell that Lee Sun is becomjng greedy after reuniting with Ga Eun. Thiss will turn him to be CP Sun s formidable friendenemy, which would be awesome to watch.
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19 Mina
June 3, 2017 at 11:49 AM
I like this drama for what it is. :)
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Litchi
June 3, 2017 at 1:19 PM
Omg I thought I'd never read a nice comment about this drama! hahahaha
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Lulla
June 3, 2017 at 4:21 PM
A comment like this is so rare, so it really stands out among others .. hahahahaha
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Mina
June 3, 2017 at 6:04 PM
I wrote it for us!
It hurts to see other comments. I know that most of the time their complaints are justified but It still hurts. I adore YSH and KSH and I'm just grateful to have them as leads. But I feel like these bad comments are haunting me. I see them on every single social media. Besides I know that I can't tell people to stop watching or stop sending some kind of comments so I just wrote that small sentence...which contained nevertheless lot of feelings...
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20 aniont
June 3, 2017 at 12:16 PM
I hope Kim So Hyun comes back with another drama this year, this one was terrible to watch ... But she already had a cameo in Goblin and will have one in While You Were Sleeping, so I don't know if that's too much to ask T_T
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Leo
June 3, 2017 at 12:26 PM
Even if it is I'm going to hold out hope for it. Please let not the year end on this terribly written role! I need my KSH fix!
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immawish
June 3, 2017 at 9:41 PM
I know how you feel T_T Didn't you think that Ruler would be that break out drama for Kim Sohyun and it turns out dissapointing :(
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21 Ajusshi
June 3, 2017 at 1:35 PM
Thanks, Hanshimi for the recap I think we all agree with your remarks about the weakness of this show and how although we do our best to enjoy it we are deeply frustrated it is not realising its true potential or giving the actors real meat. This was so heavily promoted and I'm beginning to think I should see that as a sign it will definitely dissappoint!
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22 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
June 3, 2017 at 1:46 PM
It is so disappointing that the two people I started watching this show for are the two reasons I now have to drop this show. I came for Ga-eun and Lee Sun since I love both Kim So-hyun and L to pieces but their characters are the most ridiculous in this show.
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23 jessanno
June 3, 2017 at 2:13 PM
I want them to tap into the power that is Kim So-hyun! She can do more than cry, you know. -_-
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24 Rainbow Unicorn
June 3, 2017 at 6:10 PM
This is why I lurk around so much on dramabeans rather than any other forum! The comments by the recapper always perfectly manage to convey what I'm feeling about the show without mincing words! be it when it's doing a spectacular job or not living upto it's potential like ruler.. thanks @hanshimi for the recap & insight!
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25 katasu1996
June 3, 2017 at 6:42 PM
Hanshimi is too optimistic. I don't think it's going to get better, but I've decided to stick this one out! I know I complained about this show a bunch, but at one point it became fun to make fun of it. I'm actually finding it cracktastic because it's so bad it's good. So I'm going to watch this for all twenty episodes and just have a bunch of fun watching this garbage script play out. And I'm going to keep reading the recaps because if I'm feeling this frustrated, poor hanshimi who has to recap the thing. I still wish it were the show we were promised, but hey! It's at least funny now.
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26 Vanptc
June 3, 2017 at 7:43 PM
Finally peasant Sun & Ga Eun reunited! I feel so sorry that he has to take all the blame (He's innocent!). I guess that Ga Eun will start to work as a court lady, and then give peasant Sun drug addiction treatment to free him from Dae Mok. He will grow strong enough to fight agaisnt Dae Mok. Then he will either (1) or (2):
(1) Help CP Sun to bring Dae Mok down (Of course, they are still rivals in love), and end up sacrificing himself to save CP Sun or Ga Eun's life.
(2) Become greedy. He thought CP Sun died but he didn't, while peasant Sun himself has to lead a miserable life. He will side with Dae Mok wholeheartedly to ensure the throne and take advantage of his status to get the girl. In this scenario, he will end up sacrificing himself to save Ga Eun's life.
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27 Vanptc
June 3, 2017 at 7:48 PM
As for Hwa Gun, she is betraying her family to help SP Sun, but she starts to betray him, too. My prediction for Hwa Gun:
(1) She will end up turning super evil because of jealousy (So this is what you do to the one who saved your life?! I even betrayed my family to help, why are you just looking at someone else?! LOL). Hwa Gun eventually attempts to destroy CP Sun to take revenge out of jealousy (her love for him is obsessive, remember?), then Ga Eun sacrifices herself to protect him. She dies, and Hwa Gun will be exiled.
(2) Despite CP Sun doesn't reciprocate her love, she will stay loyal to him to pay for her grandfather's crime. She will end up sacrificing herself to protect him. from her grandfather. Poor girl.
Either Hwa Gun or peasant Sun would become another important villain of the show beside Dae Mok, to form a more well ballanced proportion of characters, and I think that both of them have motives to turn evil. (Btw, I was so surprised to know that L & Yoon So Hee were lovers in a mini series called A Day After We Broke Up which aired last year. I checked it out & found that they were really beautiful couple to look at)
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Ajusshi
June 4, 2017 at 3:35 AM
Yes ADAWBU was great! This show has been followed from day one by a loyal band of followers of either or both the leads. I understand that but neither of their performances has been remarkable thus far, that's down to the inadequacies of the writing. On the other hand, YSH's acting has been lambasted (without explanation of anything, in particular, being at fault) when actually the writing and direction is to blame. I am always greatly disappointed to read easy and unqualified criticism of individual actors. It is cheap and negative it reminds me of the hate so often directed by social media at celebrities, idols and actors.
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28 jasmin
June 3, 2017 at 9:30 PM
I'm so disappointed in this drama. After MDBC I thought this would be my new sageuk crack. The teasers looked so promising. But I gotta admit I got tricked by it since the first teaser was simply a pre-filmed one which apparently didn't reflect what this drama would be about.
I expected a revenge plot and conflicted feelings. I would've been okay even with Ga Eun somehow managing getting married to Lee Sun to fulfill her revenge plan. Every cliché drama plot would've been better than what we're getting now.
I'm not blaming YSH... He is doing a great job and so far his character is the most developed. I also don't blame KSH... It feels like - yet again - another actress got tricked into a drama with the promise of receiving a equal treatment as the male actors and an appealing character. Now she is demoted to a plot device and that's downright stupid when the director could make so much use of KSH's talent.
It's a shame it still get double-digit ratings while a drama like Seven Day Queen - with a much better written plot - probably won't be able to gain ratings to be put on no. 1.
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29 immawish
June 3, 2017 at 9:39 PM
Is it funny that at this point, god knows how I wish Kim Sohyun was Hwagoon and Gaeun could be played by someone else. It's a win win, Hwagoon the character could ACTUALLY spark our interest and ACTUALLY makes us miserable on who to ship with Yoo Seungho (I'd ship me with him but...)
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30 Vanptc
June 3, 2017 at 9:59 PM
Kko Mul asks Sun questions as if she would become his mother in law. That scene is really hilarious!
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celine
June 3, 2017 at 10:52 PM
She's so cute! Her forward-thinking is admirable! hahaha! Taking into consideration the usual problem with in-laws and financial capability of the man.
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31 Freja
June 3, 2017 at 10:22 PM
I don't know why, despite its flaws, I keep coming back to this. Thank you hanshimi for this recap!
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32 Dinsss
June 3, 2017 at 10:35 PM
I want to root for Hwa Goon, but I hope she won't blindly attack the crown prince when in jealousy mode
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Ajusshi
June 4, 2017 at 3:42 AM
I think it will be Vanptc's option 2, Despite CP Sun doesn't reciprocate her love, she will stay loyal to him to pay for her grandfather's crime. She will end up sacrificing herself to protect him. from her grandfather.
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33 inhaya
June 4, 2017 at 2:03 AM
Hi there, i am not an avid fan of kdramas but i really like historical genre and it’s setting so allow me to share my tought about this episode, i am sorry if it come out too long :D
I fully enjoy this drama despite oftenly confused by question that popped up in my head as i watch few scenes of the show, my few comment from this episode alone :
1. i ask myself is it this convenient to barge into someone room in te middle of the niht like they just need to open te door and walk in carefully , i dont know how it done in other drama since i dont watch that many but considering even King’s room was attacked off guard in episode 8, i think security in this drama is questionable. Maybe i would not have opportunity to really mind those scene if they appear like the omnipresent Gon. The fight is good thought regardless the situation.
2. Scene with Park Moo Ha is so touching, i have soft spot to the toughtful crying scene espescially if it was well acted and well delivered
3. I have a question again when Ga Eun suddenly went to the palace and handing a medicine to the palace guards, where did she het those Janggeum uniform dress? Is she get this along with that palace maid dress she get when she managed to escape on the day of assasinaton? Or is it just that easy to get one? It would be good if we get to see how Ga Eun could enter the palace that way because i think it was such a big step for her.
4. About Ga Eun, despite rarely oncscreen i still see her as a strong female character but unfortunately powerless and when she didnt realize her situation,it came out painful to watch. I second @hanshimi about the scene when she enter the palace and sneak into greenhouse , she clearly put herself in danger and only realize when the sword already in front of her neck, from her expression only, i could say that she just realized how reckless and powerless she is. The other, when she told water beaureau guy that she will report him to te Central Distric Beaureau in front of his flock of guard, i do faceplam and think this girl already given up on life, maybe with all tragedy that happened to her at some point she could not bear it anymore so she have nothing to lose to face the sword once again, or maybe se got an emotional explode wherever se sees that annoying guy who popped up everytime and everywere to harass her like her sworn enemy so she could not thingking straigt at that time out of rage, but maybe the explanation from external point of view is this scene along with those greenhouse scene simply made to be dramatic way of Ga Eun to meet Peasant Sun wich is not too necessary if in the end it have to makes Ga Eun’s character look reckless and needs a saviour from other party, she barely onscreen and showing few unwise decision could make her flaws cant be leave unnoticed and its not good for a caracter that supposed to be heroine.
5. Afterall I still rooting for our main heroine. Maybe more because of her tragedy...
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inhaya
June 4, 2017 at 2:05 AM
continued...
5. Afterall I still rooting for our main heroine. Maybe more because of her tragedy than her character, since we dont get to see her in alot of scene till tis episode while i could have feel symphathetic to someone wit miserable fate even witout knowing who is s/he or how their character actually. On Ga Eun, her one and only innocent father has beheaded unjustly, leave her powerless, alone without relatives, become orphane, as if no time for her to grieve about her father too long , she bear the responsiblity to support the people in the village mentally and be their leader although se did it offscreen. her romance wit Seja also makes me root for her evenmore, in this episode while the oter girl could hanging around and have alot of moment wit Seja, Ga Eun remain alone and even took the blame from water beaureau after Sejas’s plan that little bit interupted by Hwa Gun wich then put
Ga eun in danger. In the end of episode she has to face the person that she believe had beheading her father and open up her deepest pain. My poor heart makes me soft on the character that has pitiful fate and have to struggle .
6. Speaking of Hwa Gun, we got to see that she is given to be powerful and resourceful, she had it all, she is the most strategic ally of Seja if she remain good until the end because she is given to it. Its lucky that all resource that could save crown prince in many situation is accesible for Hwa Gun, i recall from the prison key , horse, poison, money from wealty mercant, guards, she just have to say it all. Maybe exclude her merchant career, she got her resource mainly from her grandfather wich is the powerful villain of this show, like master WooBoo said in episode 1, the one that have the potion is the one that have the antidote. Hwa Gun undoubtly is a strong character given what she already have, but i can not feel symphathetic with her. Her only tragedy is only her unrequited love for Seja wich is can do her no harm if only she has willing to move on, her tragedy is just like our everyday tragedy regardless her background .
Maybe because i am just shallow viewer that drawn to this drama more by feeling than my tinking so i still got excited and curious about tis drama’s proggres . Actors took a big part in draw viewers emotion that leads them to feel symphathetic with the character and in my opinion the leads in tis drama have done wonderful job in delivering their parts, even in their questionable scene, the actors still manage to draw my emotion with their expressive eyes, gestures and intonation that often give me goosebump. I conclude that i fall for tis drama because of great acting that gave me feeling and emotion, also it as good OST too , so in my opinion this drama is appealing to my eyes, my ears and my heart but admittedly frustating my brain sometimes , if only the production team paid more attention to details so viewers doesnt have to be te one that thinking and...
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Ajusshi
June 4, 2017 at 3:53 AM
Some nicely put thoughts and observations!
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inhaya
June 4, 2017 at 2:07 AM
if only the production team paid more attention to details so viewers doesnt have to be te one that thinking and questioning many minor and major holes, i think this drama could become a greater experience.
Still it just my opinion and i could relate wit every oter opinion about this drama
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34 Joyce
June 4, 2017 at 3:03 AM
At this point i prefer Hwa Gun over Ga Eun..but both actresses are pretty disappointing.
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+G
June 4, 2017 at 6:55 AM
Why are you disappointed over the actresses?
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35 +G
June 4, 2017 at 7:15 AM
When you can't ship the main leads with each other just because you're still wondering and you can't find a reason as to why Ga Eun and Lee Sun are so in love with each other despite the fact that they've never been together for too long, then just remember how Hwa Gun's love for Lee Sun begins. It's the first time she saw Lee Sun but she already fell head over heels for him. And see what Hwa Gun is willing to do just for him? She's willing to do everything just to get him even if it means to betray her family. So why can't you buy the thought that Ga Eun and Lee Sun are in love with each other? And you're not even wondering as to how can Hwa Gun betray her family just to protect someone he just met. lol!
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urnaa
June 4, 2017 at 8:26 AM
i am buying it and fully 100 in the ship. Romance just isnt fully there and Kim So Hyun feels like a child beside YSH. Still supporting them. Hope things will get better, actually got better at the end of episode 16.
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vanptc
June 4, 2017 at 8:51 AM
A child?! I find their chemistry very compelling though, with just their longing looks for each other. Maybe it's because of excellent eye acting of Yoo Seung Ho and Kim So Hyun.
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Vanptc
June 4, 2017 at 9:01 AM
I think CP Sun has chemistry with both ga Eun (babyfaced, pretty like a doll, good natured impression) and Hwa Gun (beautiful grown up young lady with very smart aura). I root for Ga Eun but can not help feeling sorry for Hwa Gun.
Btw, I like Ga Eun's Disney styled hanbok a lot. She looks just like Snow White when she runs around in that costume.
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36 Lemaree1992
June 4, 2017 at 5:20 PM
I prefer Kim sohyun's acting, but I like hwagoon 's character more. At the beginning o wasn't sure about her character, but with the recent developments, I like her character more than ga eun. I like that she has conflicting feelings of wanting to help crown Prince, but also that she wants to save her father. If anything, I would like her to continue supporting the crown Prince even though he doesnt love her
It would be nice if she can continue to help him because then she can develop into her own person and not turn into the typical second lead b!tch that gets on everyone's nerve.
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37 Gwinna
June 4, 2017 at 11:44 PM
I've been busy lately and only got the chance to watch this episode today, and I was pretty disappointed. Honestly all of the leads except the CP are getting very poor development at this point.
GE - Are we supposed to think she's brave just because she acts defiant? Deliberately provoking someone who is perfectly willing and able to kill her on the spot without any kind of plan isn't brave, it's just idiotic. I was remaining optimistic that we just hadn't gotten to the good part of her character arc yet, but that made me think the writer doesn't understand the meaning of a strong female character.
HG - So, she betrays the CP to save her father, which is understandable, but apparently she only did it because she was piqued that he still cares about GE, which is *facepalm*. And then she decides that it's fine to betray her family, but she can't bear to betray the CP because that one moment in the greenhouse is just so much more important that the whole rest of her life. *sigh*
LS - It's hard to comment on this character because I don't even know what the writer wants to convey, if anything. Everything he does is entirely motivated by plot concerns and does not form a consistent characterization. What a waste of potential.
Actually, I take that back, I was also frustrated with the CP and his attitude of treating GE like a porcelain doll who needs to be carefully kept from knowing or being involved in anything that is happening "for her own good." Ugh.
Sorry to be so negative, but I actually still thought the drama was pretty decent until this episode, so now I'm kind of feeling discouraged. :/
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38 thumbelina
June 7, 2017 at 8:21 AM
I love when i watching this movie. the part i mostly cry was the episode 9 where the king died and the way crown prince cry. :(
i still waiting the parts coming... hwaiting!!! the actress kim so hyun is good when she acting in the movie and how the she fighting for helping people found the place and where to find water. she also had same age as me. I was shocked when i heard infinite myungsoo will be the series "ruler master of mask" and now i still waiting episode 17-18 due today yes i can't waits..
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