Damo, ep. 03-07

[oyceter]

I was very good and patient and tried waiting for the DVDs from Blockbuster to come through, but Blockbuster has cruelly changed the status of the discs from "Available" to "Coming Soon." They taunt me with their wily promises of kdrama DVDs.

Anyway, I am still obsessed, as this series has been hitting almost all of my buttons, particularly the ones for people who follow honor over personal desires and have heartbreaking angst without saying very much at all. Also, it's got court politics and intrigue, swordfighting, some awesome action scenes, and two new female characters whom I am predisposed to like! And two people bonding while weapons training together!

Hat speculation: the non-mesh, two-level hats seem to belong to upper court officials (ex. the Minister of the Left) and the Emperor. The mesh hats seem to be long to upper-level officers, like Hwangbo Yoon and and some of his senior officers. I think having a string of black and white beads on the mesh hats signifies an upper rank (the police chief of the left wears the beads and mesh hat when not wearing his court hat. I think). And the hats with rounded tops and giant brims seem to be the working hats of normal officers (part of this taken from The Duelist).

I really need to find a book on historical Korean clothing, because not knowing is killing me.

(all screencaps courtesy of shewhohashope)

I thought the "Chae-Ohk quits" plotline was resolved a little too quickly, and I was a little sad that she didn't beat up the guy even without her police thing. But then again, I am not sure of legalities, and maybe it is a hanging offense or something. I was also a little sad that it was a set-up, but I love how she immediately takes action once she's got her badge back.

Also, oh man, the angst in episode 3, when she and Hwangbo argue about how much danger she puts herself in! All the unspoken feelings! (oh shut up, I am completely OTPing them and will be irrational about anything Hwangbo/Chae-Ohk related.) And then the scene when she tells the other guy that she's like a tree who must stay where she is, no matter how barren the soil, and then she cries because her life is so constricted! And she tells Hwangbo that he's got to let her do something, or it's like she can't breathe, and the look he gives her, and the hug! And the "No matter what, come back alive."

I loved all the twisty outwitting of the rebels and the prison scheme, and I love the politicking Hwangbo is caught in at court. I'm hoping we'll get to see a lot more of the police chief's daughter. I really like how the show so far hasn't gone for the romantic triangle -- she's in love with Hwangbo, but it's pretty clear he's completely uninterested right now. I suspect they will eventually get engaged because of political reasons. I also want to see more of the woman who follow Jang Sung-Baek; she is cool and kicks ass as well!

Also, I can't believe I didn't think before that Jang Sung-Baek was Chae-Ohk's long-lost brother. I am quite certain he is now, and I really want to know how the first five minutes of the series comes to pass, and if that's going to be the end of the series. I hope it's not the end!

I'm confused about the whole counterfeiting scheme and just how much Jang Sung-Baek is involved in it. He didn't seem like he was masterminding it before, but now... who knows? And who is the corrupt court official?

I also want to find out if counterfeiting money was a big thing in the Joseon Dynasty, since it is a major plot point of both this series and The Duelist. Or maybe it's just one of those weird plot similarity things.

I was going to stop after watching episode 6, given the exciting confirmation of Sung-Baek as Chae-Ohk's brother, but then they ended on a cliffhanger! I love love loved Sung-Baek galloping back with the memory of his lost sister crying there in the water. I suppose I should be grumpier at how Chae-Ohk didn't get to kick ass in that scene, but still! Memory!

Speaking of which, I am loving that they aren't making it a romantic triangle. At least... I hope not? I just don't read Chae-Ohk going that way once she knows he's her brother. Plus, the angst potential in him being her brother is already good enough! I cannot wait to see what actually happens in the first five minutes of the drama. Is he dead? Is it a set up? What's going on?

I sort of want to yell at Hwangbo (I can't call him Yoon! It sounds too informal, and it makes me confuse him with yhlee) for being short with police chief's daughter, but I also like that the show isn't doing the romantic triangle thing again. And I feel bad for her, but it's a little creepy going into a guy's house and nursing him when he doesn't really know you. I am hoping she gets to do other, non-piney things!

Oh! And there was a girlfight! Only Hwangbo showed up and killed (?) Soo-myoung (sp?). I am hoping she is not dead, but I think she is, given Sung-Baek's reaction.

And! Best yet! Hwangbo completely flips out when he hears Chae-Ohk has been injured! And has awesome flashbacks to them spear-training together! I love the flashbacks so much.

I love love love their reunion scene, how she can only ask about his firing and he can only ask about her wound. They are so cute! And he gets reinstated (yay) and she's back as a damo. And Sung-Baek looks sadly and tragically at the bullet he removed from her shoulder!

But anyway, yeah, I am madly loving this series.

Comments

[oyceter]

Yes! I think the episode that didn't have synched subtitles was ep. 6, although the post says ep. 14-2 subtitles need synching as well (woe!).