DramaThe Moon Embracing the Sun / The Moon that Embraces the Sun (íŽë„Œ íì ëŹ) merupakan drama kerajaan garapan MBC yang pertama kali ditayangkan pada 2 Januari 2014 dengan total 20 episode. Drama Korea terbaik ini diadaptasi dari novel berjudul sama karya Jung Eun Gwol, serta disutradarai oleh Kim Do Hoon dan Lee Sung Joon dan ditulis naskahnya oleh Jin Soo Wan yang juga menulis untuk
EPISODE1 RECAP. A woman narrates: "It is said that in the beginning, there were two suns and two moons. But day was too hot, and night too cold. All of creation was thrown into chaos, and the people in misery. It was then that a hero appeared and shot one sun and one moon out of the sky with arrows, and brought peace to the world.".
Selasa 10 Januari 2012 Sinopsis The Moon that Embraces The Sun Episode 2 Payung merah itu ternyata bukan tersangkut di atas pohon tapi benar-benar melayang di udara. Hwon dan para pengikutnya terperangah. Payung itu jatuh ke tanah dan Hwon mengambilnya. Ia menganggap payung itu adalah pertanda bahwa ia akan bertemu dengan Yeon-woo lagi.
Dá»ch VỄ Há» Trợ Vay Tiá»n Nhanh 1s. What a fantastic episode for our men. This really should be The Sun Embraces That Other Sun And Heck, Also Those Other Friendly Suns, While Weâre At It. Yes, the two suns are brothers and that would require breaking a number of taboos, but hey, Iâm game if you are. Sigh. Another ratings increase the ninth straight one with todayâs episode bringing in a Ratings were for Captain and for Wild Romance. Good grief. I mean, Iâm entertained so Iâm not complaining â itâs just way beyond my expectation. Timing and circumstance really have so much to do with which shows hit which numbers; previous sageuk hits Princessâs Man and Tree With Deep Roots are both better dramas, but they aired in different circumstances. But Moon/Sun can thank them for setting the stage for it to come in and dominate. SONG OF THE DAY Feelbay â âĂ«âĂŹĆŸ â Midday nap [ Download ] EPISODE 10 RECAP In his bedchamber, Hwon addresses Wol in language that Iâm sure must have been carefully and intentionally selected to hint at the underlying sexual tension driving everything â this dramaâs whole conflict centers around sex, after all â as he tells her she must make him forget his exhaustion and put his pain to bed. She says she will, as the spiritual object she believes herself to be. Standing just outside, Bo-kyung cracks open the doors and is immediately alarmed at Hwonâs reaction to Wol, and readies to storm in. But Woon pushes the door closed and she loses the moment. She glares at him, but forces a smile as she tells Hwonâs entourage that she was merely worried about the king. Back in her own room, Bo-kyung breaks down in angry tears. Her fears have been realized, because she had recognized that Hwon was looking at the shaman with the eyes of a man for a woman, not a king for his good-luck charm. Hwon calls for the court doctor, surprising all by saying itâs not for him, but for Wol. Hyung-sun protests, because the royal physician is reserved for royalty. Hwon says that her job is to absorb the evil energy from him, and therefore ensuring her health is for the kingâs benefit, overriding Hyung-sunâs horrified protests. Hwon reads a book while his physician attends to Wol, although he canât help sending her longing glances, which donât escape Hyung-sunâs notice. Then, Wol takes her usual position and watches over Hwonâs sleep. After she leaves, Hwon opens his eyes, not having slept after all. Woon is given the note taken from Wol, intended for the king, and in the morning he gives it to Hwon. It basically tells him that though sheâs not considered a person, she wishes to be the kingâs citizen. He recalls his harsh words earlier, and reads this as a rebuke of his dismissal of her worth âShe means that a shaman is still a person, so I shouldnât disregard her.â Hyung-sun muses that itâs rare enough for a shaman to know how to write, but also that sheâd dare send this kind of message. Yet this also stirs another memory, of another letter he received from a 13-year-old. His thoughts echo his 15-year-old words âHow could I forget you?â Hyung-sun knows what heâs thinking, and gently reminds him that Wol is is not Yeon-woo. Hwon gets defensive and canât even bear to hear Hyung-sun continue with the reminder that sheâs dead, and he angrily shuts him up. Hyung-sun informs him of Bo-kyungâs visit and entreats Hwon to consider her feelings, and how hurt she must have felt to have abandoned pride to come to him. Bo-kyung is moping in her room when she receives word that the king plans to see her. This is great news for all the queens, especially queens mother and dowager. Granny attributes this to the shaman-charm, who has single-handedly improved the kingâs health and facilitated reconciliation with Bo-kyung, and she takes this as proof that Wol is indeed the successor to Nok-young. She decides to request another fortune-reading to move the consummation date up while things are looking good. Bo-kyung happily receives Hwon, who mentions her unannounced nighttime visit. She says it was purely out of concern for him but he cuts to the heart of the matter, as always, insinuating that it was really about keeping tabs on him. He says that there was no person in his room that night, merely an amulet, as a way of dismissing her concerns â See? Itâs just a thing. No reason for you to interfere. The words are polite but thereâs a menacing quality to Hwonâs tone, and Bo-kyung is ill at ease. Hwon reminds her that they are to keep their space until the consummation in a month, and Bo-kyung understands that heâs really warning her not to visit his quarters again. Bo-kyung grapples with her frustration after he leaves, wondering what he is trying to hide from her, and why he has to go so far as to order her away. She breaks down in tears as she wonders if the thing heâs covering up for is love. First the dead girl, and now the lowly shaman? She orders her lady in waiting to find a court lady with close access to the king. She wants someone to watch the kingâs visits with his shaman-charm and report to her â secretly, of course. Yang-myung returns to town to search for Wol, to no avail. He recalls Wol assuring him that she was safe, and wonders if thatâs true. He passes a group of young court shamans, and Jan-shil recognizes him from that time years ago when he saved her from the quack peddlers. She runs after him, adorably calling him âOraboniâ and grabbing him in a bear hug. He doesnât recognize her, all grown now, and is confused until she reminds him of the âmagic stoneâ he once talked about. Memory thus jogged, Yang-myung greets her warmly. Jan-shil tells him sheâs no longer a phony seer but the real deal, one of the shamans of Seongsucheong. And that makes the pieces fall into place for Yang-myung â Seongsucheong is the safest place for a shaman in the city â and he asks urgently whether a girl named Wol is among them. But Jan-shil remembers how furiously Nok-young warned her to keep her mouth shut about moon/sun related talk, especially regarding Yeon-woo, and the bodily harm she was threatened with. So she shakes her head no and says that thereâs nobody like that around. Jan-shil goes to Wolâs room with a heavy heart, sorry for lying. Sleeping Wol has a fitful dream, and relives the memory of that long-ago night at the festival. Out of context, though, the sight of Hwon wearing that big mask is spooky, and the dream has teh tone of a nightmare. Just as he lifts the mask to reveal his face, she wakes up. Itâs a recurring nightmare that always ends before seeing his face. Wolâs particularly disappointed tonight, feeling like she was just about to see his face. Seol is there when she wakes and thinks sympathetically that the face she wants so badly to see is the one she looks on every night. That evening, Hwon is waiting for Wol when she enters and refers to her letter, which conveyed her resentment of him. She protests that she didnât mean it in that sense, and he allows that maybe she doesnât resent him â but she did mean it as a reproach. She answers that she only meant to say that she would undertake her duty to the best of her abilities, and that misunderstanding is bound to arise if the reader of the note approaches it with preconceived notions. If he felt something in her note, perhaps itâs because there was a reason he made that inference. Hwon reads into that remark as well, supposing that sheâs insinuating that heâs ruling badly. Even though Wol has a tendency to speak in poetic riddles, Hwon does seem to be overreacting this time and he gets worked up, reminding her of her place and that he is not to be trifled with. He exclaims, âI am JoseonâsâŠ!â in much the same way he had at their first encounter. Hwon cuts himself off, recalling that very thing, and declares heâs in need of some air. Wol, as his charm, is ordered to follow him outside. He orders his entourage to stay at a distance, keeping only Wol nearby with the excuse that sheâs his charm. They stand outside the closed palace building that was once hers, and that stirs a memory â of young Hwon crying after her as Yeon-woo was kicked out. Assuming her medium powers are responsible for the vision, Wol asks if this place holds sad memories for the king âWas the person who shed tears at this place⊠you?â He looms over her and asks intently, âWhat did you see?â Then he grabs her even closer â rawr! â and asks if she knows this because of her supernatural powers. She says yes, and he tells her to use those powers, then, to answer a question âWhat do you think Iâm going to do now?â Watching from across the courtyard, Hyung-sun and Woon avert their eyes as Hwon asks whether she thinks he would embrace her, disregarding her status. And then he eyes his uncomfortable staff, all shifting and looking down â and grabs Wolâs hand to run away. HA! I love that he was being intentionally discomfiting to get everyone to look away. Racing across the palace grounds, Hwon ducks into an empty building and demands to know who she really is âYou are not Wol.â But she has no other identity, and she says that before he gave her a name, she was just a nameless shaman. Hwon looks at her entreatingly, asking, âDo you really not know me? Have you truly never met me?â Wol asks if heâs looking to find Yeon-woo in her, and if her resemblance to that woman is why heâs keeping her close. He looks devastated as she tells him that she isnât that person. Lashing out, he says sheâs overstepped her bounds for assuming he cared for her, and that sheâs a mere charm, not a person. Who is she to send him into such chaos? He warns her to keep away â if she crosses the line again, he wonât forgive her. His entourage awaits outside, and he leaves with them, dismissing Wolâs services for tonight. He does send Woon to follow her back to her quarters, though. Nok-young finds Wol outside and asks in concern if something happened, alarmed when Wol asks, âWho am I?â She confesses that sheâs seeing strange visions, and while they must be someone elseâs memories, they feel like her emotions. Not really believing it, Wol asks, âI canât be the owner of those memories, can I? No matter how much I resemble her, I canât become her, can I?â As though she wishes she were, so she could have the kingâs love or maybe just ease his pain. Seol witnesses the conversation with tears of sympathy. Yeom freaks out to have Yang-myung pop up outside his house, and the two friends are then further freaked out by the silent arrival of a third party â Woon. Ha. Woon is here to convey Hwonâs orders to Yeom to appear at the palace, and on his way out gets a glimpse of a letter written on familiarly bright yellow parchment. Yeom explains it as an old letter from Yeon-woo. Seol once more visits Yeomâs house to get a glimpse of him, not seeing that Woon has clocked her shadowy presence. He surprises her with an attack and asks who sent her. Seol knocks his sword aside and runs away. The two remaining friends have a drink, and Yeom asks whether itâs true that Yang-myung has a new sweetheart, wondering what sheâs like. Yang-myung reminisces about that one instance eight years ago, on the night before Yeon-woo was to be decided as the princess bride. Heâd offered to take her away, but she had dismissed him by telling him not to joke, and he had let it go at that. Yang-myung âIf I hadnât disguised it as a joke⊠If Iâd had more courage, and held out my hand⊠If I had shown my true feelings and asked her to run away⊠would she be with me now?â Seol finds Wol waiting up when she returns, and explains that she was visiting her former ownersâ house. Wol smiles and says they must have been good people for her to still feel attached, and Seol answers that they were âWhen I was not even treated like a beast, they treated me as a person and gave me the pretty name Seol.â She finishes the thought in her head, adding, âThatâs the kind of person you were.â After Yang-myung leaves, Yeom goes to Yeon-wooâs old room⊠where he finds her old chest. OH THANK GOD. Will somebody find that damn letter already? Yeom remembers Yeon-wooâs words about going through with the bridal selection despite her familyâs worries. He lifts the lid to find the scrap of paper, curiously out of place, which immediately grabs his attention. He pulls it out, and sees that itâs addressed to the Crown Prince. Yang-myung walks along the deserted road, stopping short at the sight of a dark figure. Itâs Jan-shil, and she tells him emotionally that sheâs sorry, and that sheâll help him find the woman heâs looking for. She grabs him in a hug, crying, âBecause you saved my life. Iâll repay that kindness, I promise.â Yeom visits his mother prior to making his trip to the palace. Min-hwaâs disappointed he didnât tell her in advance so she could go with him, and Mom asks if sheâs angry. Min-hwa says no, not angry â uneasy. Because if her husband goes to the palace alone⊠Cut to Yeom, stirring up a frenzy among the court ladies, just like old times. Hwon warmly receives Yeom, whom he still calls Teacher, and invites him to settle in for a chat. Our axis of evil plays the role of todayâs political exposition fairies as they receive word of Yeomâs sudden appearance at court and try to unravel its significance. I guess âBecause I wanna hang out with my friendâ doesnât compute with this council of backstabbing conspirators? One minister comically complains that his hottie ranking slips whenever Yeomâs around, but then they get to the crux of the problem As the princessâs husband, Yeom isnât supposed have anything to do with politics, and thus his presence at court is dangerous. His very existence is problematic on a symbolic level not unlike Yang-myung, since there are those willing to rally around him, perhaps moved by his fatherâs lingering influence. Yeom has deliberated over the letter, and now presents it to the king, explaining that he decided the right thing to do was to return it to the rightful recipient. Hwon canât hide his emotion as he confirms that this is Yeon-wooâs last letter to him. Bowing respectfully, Yeom advises Yeom to forget her now, and to remember his wife. He says that Yeon-woo wouldnât have wanted him to stay stuck in her shadow either. Hwon notes sadly that everybody is telling him to forget her. After Yeom leaves, he sits there staring at the unopened letter for a long while, and finally reads it. Yeon-woo âCrown Prince, I gather the last of my strength to leave this letter. I do not know if it will cause trouble or even if it will reach you, but I write this anyway. Before I leave, even only through the things I have learned from you, I was very happy. But now you must stop blaming yourself, and think of me as a memory. My father will bring me medicine soon. Then I will no longer be able to see you. You must forget me, and years later become a good and wise king.â He cries, asking, âHow much must she have hurt? How painful must it have been?â He asks Hyung-sun to bring him his old chest, and sobs that he canât remember Yeon-wooâs handwriting anymore. He has to see her old letter as confirmation. Bo-kyungâs court spy reports to her about the kingâs nighttime stroll, as well as Yeomâs visit. He was seen in troubled spirits afterward and asked for a chest bearing the hanja character for rain. Bo-kyung seems to recognize this immediately, with some concern. Hwon takes out the old letter, the apology sheâd spent so much time on. But as he reads, it triggers another thought and he fumbles for a different letter â the one he recently received. Hwon compares the handwriting of the letters, which contain some of the same words. He orders Wol brought to him immediately. Wol is escorted to his quarters, but along the way sheâs jerked to the side by Yang-myung, who asks intently, âDo you recognize me?â As he does, Hwon finishes his comparison and looks up with conviction. COMMENTS Ack! He knows! They both know! Youâre just going to cut out here?? Right, of course youâre going to cut out here; you donât get to 30%+ ratings by just giving it away, I guess. Iâll give it to this show â even in a slower episode which is what I thought of this one, it always pulls out a cliffhanger designed to rope us back like a crack addict at the bottom of his pipe, or however else you run out of crack. I said before that I wished Bo-kyung had been developed differently, to not be so outright malicious from the start, and that feeling is growing. I understand that she was raised by a villainous father, but she would have been such an interesting character if she had been allowed to âchooseâ her evil, so to speak, rather than have been marked from the start as a dark soul. This also stems from Kim Min-seoâs portrayal of Bo-kyung, which I think is fantastic. And yet the problem is, I think sheâs giving the character depth that isnât there in the writing. Thatâs not as bad a problem as the reverse scenario, but it does give me moments of confusion as a viewer. As a child, when she saw the lovebirds slipping away from the festival and cried, I felt nothing for her because there was nothing to show why she should feel so crushed; they had no existing relationship, and sheâd never even looked at him admiringly. She could have been smitten by him at the soccer match, but again, wasted opportunity. Thus I felt and still feel that Bo-kyungâs issue is about jealousy over all the things Yeon-woo had, rather than jealousy over the kingâs heart â because as far as Iâm concerned, she doesnât care for Hwon, the person. Itâs all about what this represents Sheâs always felt inferior to Yeon-woo, and her insecurities arenât dead just because the girl supposedly is. It would have been a wonderful thing to explore, wouldnât it? Hereâs what I would have done In their youths, I would have had Bo-kyung misunderstanding Hwonâs request to see her in secret, rather than realizing the truth in two minutes. She could have then built him up in her mind for days and read signs into everything, so when she later found out he meant to see Yeon-woo, that crushing disappointment would have had some bite. Then she could feel hurt over their relationship, whereas right now I feel like sheâs a toddler unwilling to relinquish a toy because itâs hers. Iâm not saying we canât enjoy what we have, because Iâm going with the story thatâs given to us and itâs still entertaining. Itâs just rather one-dimensional, ignoring its early potential to cultivate richer characters and more believable emotions. I have found the continued dumping on Han Ga-in a bit excessive, but itâs true that she doesnât measure up to the men. I like her quite a lot in this role when sheâs with Seol and Jan-shil, and I love that this drama shows us some solid female friendship, as fierce and loyal as any bromance. More of that, please! Han is managing the sageuk-speak pretty well and I think she bears a striking physical resemblance to child counterpart Kim Yoo-jung, so good casting on the looks front. But itâs too bad that Kim Soo-hyun blows her out of the water, and so does Kim Min-seo. I never really thought Yeon-woo was terribly nuanced a character to begin with, though, even in childhood; she was the simplest role of them all, and I partly blame the writing for being flat on that front. Thatâs true of a lot of the characters, actually, and we are just blessed in some cases with some actors who transcend their material. And boy, did they transcend in this episode. Kim Soo-hyun was pretty much on fire the whole episode through, whether he was being hurt, furious, confused, or heartbroken. And Jung Il-woo is at his best when heâs letting down that mask of mirth, as he did when he confessed to Yeom that perhaps he might have been able to keep Yeon-woo alive and with him if heâd been emotionally sincere. Heâs wrong about that â yâknow, Fate and all â but that regret is a bitter pill to
Another solid if not spectacular episode of The Moon that Embraces the Sun. Iâve given up hoping for the return to the cohesive clarity of the earlier episodes or for some much needed secondary character development. Iâm still entertained, but Iâve accepted this is about as deep as itâs going to get. As the drama continues to steer its trajectory away from the events of the novel, Iâm left knowing things will happen but unsure of how and when. Because sheâs gotten so little screen time, it wasnât until this episode that I finally realized just how magnificent Kim Min Seos performance as Bo Kyung is. Sheâs animated without being forced, digging deeper into a character written without nuance, pulling out emotions that hit all the right notes and makes me interested in her. That is how great acting can compensate for shoddy writing. Kim Soo Hyun is lucky to have the best written character in the entire show, and his performance equally matches up. Poor Han Ga In is left hanging out to dry, with Wol being either a cipher or a too-good-to-be-true heroine the way Yeon Woo was created. MoonSun feels like a show with alternating bites of spicy and bland, depending on who pops up on the screen at any given moment. Episode 10 recap Hwon tells Wol to help him forget his lonely pain and ease the hurt in his heart. Can she do it? Wol wants to, she wants to block the ill directed at the King. Hwon orders Wol to raise her face to him. Bo Kyung cracks open the door to the Kingâs inner chambers and briefly glimpses Hwon standing there staring intently at his human amulet with a look that is clearly of a man to a woman. Before she can barge in, Woon slams the door shut. End of that peep show, lady. Bo Kyung leaves under the pretense that she was just worried about the Kingâs health and wanted to check on him. Hwon calls Hyung Sun in to summon the royal physician. Not for him, but to treat Wol. Hyung Sun hesitates since the royal physician is allowed only to treat a member of the royal family. Hwon argues that the human amulet is absorbing his ills, so if she is sick, it might harm him. He yells at Hyung Sun to summon the royal physician immediately. Woon walks outside and his subordinate hands over a note Wol had written to the King which the subordinate confiscated from Wol. Bo Kyung sits in her chambers and seethes with rage, knowing that Hwon was clearly interested in his human amulet in very primal ways. Wol is treated by the royal physician while Hwon reads a book off to the side. He canât help up but sneak a peek, but when Wol meets his gaze, he nonchalantly turns away. Hyung Sun is aware of this frisson of interest from Hwon to Wol. Later that night, Hwon sleeps while Wol keeps vigil over him as usual. Morning comes and Wol leaves, which is when Hwon immediately wakes up, clearly pretending to be asleep this entire time. Woon hands over to the King the note from Wol, indicating that she wants to be of service to him as a citizen of this country. Hwon takes that as a rebuke of his acknowledgement of Wol as merely a thing and not an actual person. Hwon smiles a tad at Wolâs effective and to-the-point note. Hyung Sun sneaks a peek, explaining his surprise to find a shaman knows how to write Han characters, and write such poetic words at that. Hwon snarls at Hyung Sun, but then remembers his wonder at reading 13 year old Yeon Wooâs first note to him. Hwon remembers how his reaction to Yeon Woo was that he could never forget her. Hyung Sun takes the opportunity to remind Hwon that Wol is but a shaman. Hwon understands that his servant is warning him not to be interested in Wol. Hyung Sun dares to remind the King that Wol is not Yeon Woo, no matter how much she looks like her. Hyung Sun reveals that Bo Kyung visited last night, shaking off her pride and coming to see him. Hwon ought to consider how she must feel right now. Bo Kyung is moping in bed when her servant comes to get her, revealing that the King asked to see her. That immediately rouses Bo Kyung, who dresses up await her husband. Hwonâs visit to Bo Kyung doesnât go unnoticed, as his mother reports to Queen Yoon that the King appears to be showing interest in his queen. Queen Yoon chalks it up to the magical powers of the human amulet. She orders that a new date for the marriage consummation be selected. Since Hwon is feeling better, getting them to sleep together will also increase their burgeoning feelings for each other. Hwon sits with Bo Kyung, asking if she has any worries on her mind since she doesnât look so good. Bo Kyung claims that she is worried about the King so she couldnât sleep. Hwon knows she went to visit his chambers last time, asking directly what she intended to spy on him about. Did she see or hear anything last night? Whatever she saw or heard, it is with a human amulet. Hwon reminds Bo Kyung that their marriage consummation will occur one month later. Until then, they cannot see each other, because he needs to remain undisturbed. Bo Kyung understands Hwonâs warning to stay away. After Hwon leaves, Bo Kyung is even more suspicious, wondering what exactly Hwon is trying to conceal from her? Is it his heart? A dead womanâs spirit is not enough, he is even placing a lowly shaman in his heart above her. Bo Kyung summons her servant and demands a spy close to the King to report back on the female shaman who spends every night with the King. Yang Myung goes to the paper seller and tries to find information about Wol. The guy doesnât know anything other than Wol is a shaman. Yang Myung leaves dejected. On his way out, he passes a group of shamans from the Royal Astrology Office, among them is Jang Shil. She immediately recognizes Yang Myung and chases after him. Yang Myung wonders who is lying to him, the minister who claimed Wol was being punished for practicing the dark arts, or Wol who claimed to be in a safe place now. Jang Shil catches up to Yang Myung, calling him orabeoni and grabbing him for a bear hug. He pushes her off, noting that she doesnât look like a gisaeng. Jang Shil says she is a shaman from the Royal Astrology Office, mentioning how Yang Myung saved her years ago. He finally remembers her, and then realizes where she now works is the safest place for shamans in the entire city. Yang Myung asks Jang Shil is there is a shaman named Wol? Jang Shil is about to answer but then remembers Nok Youngâs warning for her to never mention Wol again. Jang Shil has no choice but to lie that there is no such shaman named Wol. She quickly runs off before Yang Myung probes any further. Wol sleeps during the day now since she is awake at night watching over the King. When Wol sleeps, Seol keeps her company. Jang Shil walks into Wolâs quarters all mopey and sad. She looks at the sleeping Wol and apologizes to Yang Myung in her mind. Seol suddenly notices that Wol is having a bad dream, which is actually the incident when Hwon wore a mask and then pulled her away. The dream ends right when Hwon is about to pull off the mask. Wol wakes up and confirms to Seol that she had the same bad dream, and just like all other times before, the dream ended before she could see the masked manâs face. Seol thinks to herself that the masked face is not that important, because Wol is watching over him every night now. Wol arrives for her nightly vigil, passing Woon and Hyung Sun on her way in. She takes off her robe and finds the King seated at his reading desk. Wol sits down facing Hwon, who breaks the silence by bringing up his surprise at finding out how much Wol was secretly upset at him. Wol tries to explain that sheâs not, what she wrote was her sincere feelings. It was not a rebuke of the King. She wrote that as a citizen, she wanted to try her best at serving the King. If the reader of the letter had some preexisting prejudices, then her words would be misconstrued. Hwon gets riled up still, thinking Wol is calling him prejudiced, and hence not a good ruler. Heâs about to state that he is JoseonâsâŠâŠwhen he suddenly remember his teenage self telling Yeon Woo that he is JoseonâsâŠâŠ Hwon stops mid-sentence, and then gets up and announces that he wants to go out for a walk. As he passes the still sitting Wol, he asks why sheâs not following as the human amulet to absorb his ills. Hwon marches off and Wol quickly follows. Hwon and Wol walk through the Palace, following by Woon and all the retainers. Hwon orders everyone to back up a few steps. Everyone starts backing up, including Wol, but Hwon pulls Wol back because as his amulet she has to stick by his side. The walk takes them past the Hidden Moon Chambers, which are forever sealed since Yeon Woo resided there. Wol looks up at the sealed windows and suddenly has flashbacks of her leaving the Palace and Hwon crying out for Yeon Woo. Wol asks if this place has painful memories for his majesty. Was he the person who was crying here? Hwon grabs Wol and demands to know what she saw? He pulls Wol tightly up against him, using his hand to hold her face, asking if she saw things because of her shaman powers. Everyone averts their eyes at this intimate gesture. Hwon asks if her shaman powers can tell her what he intends to do now? Hwon asks if he ought to embrace a female shaman such as Wol. As he leans closer, and sees everyone lowering their heads even more, he suddenly turns and takes off running with Wol behind him. By the time the retainers react and give chase, Hwonâs got a head start and manages to pull Wol inside a private room with him. Hwon asks Wol again who she is? Wol gives the same answer, but this time Hwon doesnât believe it. Wol was someone without a name until the King bestowed one on her, so who else could she be. Hwon grabs Wol, asking tearfully if she doesnât recognize him? Does she really not know who he is? Wol asks if the King is looking for the memory of someone through her? Is it someone named Yeon Woo? Did Hwon allow her to stay by his side because Wol resembles her? But the truth is that Wol is not Yeon Woo. Hwon yells at her to be quiet. She has overstepped her bounds now. Just because he allows her to stay, doesnât mean he has given his heart to her. She is nothing but a shaman who casts away ills. He is about to rebuke her even further but stops, knowing that his heart is already messed up because of her. Hwon orders Wol to keep her distance from him. As Hwon leaves the room, he announces that he intends to sleep alone tonight and Wol need not come. As Hwon leaves, he quietly orders Woon to make sure Wol gets home safely. Wol returns to her chambers, but she stands outside looking up at the moon. Nok Young asks why Wol is here instead of keeping vigil over the King? Wol asks Nok Young who she is? Supposedly she got lost from her parents because she was filled with shaman spirit. But is that true? Why does she keep having these memories. If the memories belong to someone else, why does it feel like itâs her own memories? Nok Young looks frightened to hear this, while Seol wipes away a tear. Seol peeks at Yeom over he wall at his estate. Yeom suddenly senses a presence, which turns out to be Yang Myung, who is rebuked again for climbing the wall to enter. Suddenly another person shows up and freaks both of them out, the person being Woon. He gets yelled at for climbing a wall and being all silent and stealthy. Woon delivers the message that the King wishes Yeom to enter the Palace tomorrow. As Woon is leaving, he suddenly sees a letter written on yellow paper. Yeom explains that it was a birthday letter Yeon Woo wrote to him. Woon leaves the estate and sees Seol, the two of them getting into a sword fight because Woon thinks someone has sent Seol to spy on Yeom. Seol manages to get away. Yang Myung and Yeom stay and catch up, with Yeom wanting to know about Yang Myungâs new lady love. Yang Myung gets serious and suddenly brings up the night eight years ago when he jokingly asked Yeon Woo to run away with him instead of going into the Palace for selection. Because Yeon Woo was dead set on doing it, Yang Myung did not push any further. Had Yang Myung been braver that night, and seriously asked Yeon Woo to run away with him, then today Yeon Woo might still be alive and by his side. Seol returns to the room she shares with Wol, who asks where Seol went and why sheâs been injured. Seol lies that she got hurt while training. But when Wol presses further, Seol tells the truth, that she went to visit her former owners who treated her not as a thing but as a good friend. Yeom decides to go visit Yeon Wooâs old room. He opens the drawer in the Go box and then flips the lid, where he finally locates Yeon Wooâs farewell letter to Hwon. Yang Myung is walking home when heâs waylaid by Jang Shil. She immediately apologizes to him. She was wrong, the person he wants to find, she will help him meet her. Jang Shil grabs Yang Myung for a bear hug, crying that he is the man who saved her life, so she would give her life for him. He will be able to see the person he is looking for, so he neednât be sad. Yeom holds Yeon Wooâs last letter to Hwon and contemplates what to do. Hwon lays in bed, tossing and turning, remembering what Wol said to him about how he was looking for another personâs memory through Wol. Princess Minhwa is stitching with her mother-in-law, vowing to keep her company until Mom cheers up. Yeom arrives dressed in his court robes, informing his two ladies that he is going to the Palace. Minhwa is annoyed he didnât tell her early otherwise she would have accompanied him. Minhwa reveals that sheâs worried about her husband entering the Palace, and it turns out her worries are for good reason. Yeom enters the Palace and immediately all the court ladies fawn over him. Hwon happily welcomes his esteemed teacher to the Palace, ordering snacks and wanting some privacy to catch up with his teacher Yeom. The court ministers are bitching about how Yeom dared to enter the Palace. The husband of the Princess is historically not allowed to participate in politics. They discuss that his very existence is a threat, a focal point for other ministers to rally around. Yoon Dae Hyung worries that Yeom may have greater influence than even his father did, wondering why he entered the Palace today. Yeom delivers Yeon Wooâs letter to Hwon, explaining that he thought long and hard but decided the letter belonged to the person it was addressed to. Hwon confirms that his bride Yeon Woo wrote this final letter to him. Yeom tell Hwon to dispose of the letter as he sees fit, whatever he does, Yeon Woo will be happy from the after life. Yeom bows and asks Hwon to forget Yeon Woo now, because he has a wife in the current Queen. If he doesnât move on, Yeon Woo will surely be sad. Hwon tearfully reveals that everyone has been asking him to forget Yeon Woo. Hyung Sun walks Yeom out, asking him to visit more often because the King misses him. Yeom states the sad truth that heâs not supposed to be in the Palace, asking Hyung Sun to keep Hwon company. After he walks away, Hyung Sun sighs that it ought to have been Yeom who keeps the King company. Hwon sits with the letter for a good long while before he picks it up to read. The letter is Yeon Woo saying that she wrote this letter with the final remaining ounce of energy she possessed. She doesnât know if heâll get it but she still wants to write it. Meeting Hwon one final time before she passed was of great comfort to her. She asks Hwon to make her a memory now. Her father is coming soon with medicine, and then she will never be able to see him again. He must forget her, and be healthy for her sake. He must become a great King for the people. Hwon cries, chocking back sobs that Yeon Wooâs final wish was for him to be healthy. She used her final bit of energy to write this letter. She must have been in such pain and agony. Hyung Sun cries with his King. Hwon notices that even with no strength, Yeon Wooâs letters are still so beautifully written. Hwon orders that Yeon Wooâs past correspondence be brought to him now. He cannot remember her writing anymore, so he wants to read it all again. Bo Kyung gets her report from her spy, who says that the King went for a walk with the human amulet, and after the walk forbid her from accompanying him back to his chambers. She also reveals that Yeom visited today, and the King asked for a box with the character rain Woo carved on it. Hwon opens the box and takes out the letters he exchanged with Yeon Woo years ago. Woon sits across from him as Hwon reads. Hwon suddenly pulls out Wolâs letter to him and puts the two letters side-by-side. He orders Woon to bring Wol immediately. Wol is walking to the Kingâs chambers when suddenly she is pulled aside. It is Yang Myung, who pushes Wol against the wall and asks if she knows him? Hwon stares intently at the two letters with identical handwriting, clearly making the connection between Yeon Woo and Wol. Thoughts of Mine Okay, that was an AWESOME episode ender. In fact, the entire second half of this episode was just pure awesome courtesy of Hwon, who kept reaching deeper and deeper into his hidden reservoir of sadness over the loss of his beloved Yeon Woo. He finally sold it for me on why he canât let her go. Not only did he genuinely love her for who she was inside, her death was just so sudden and wrenching that the traumatic loss clearly isnât something he has properly grieved. Moreover, after losing Yeon Woo, everyone else went down the crapper. Yang Myung took off, Yeom couldnât be his teacher anymore and later on couldnât even come to the Palace, and he was forced to marry scheming Bo Kyung and gain slimy Yoon Dae Hyung as a father-in-law. By trying to suppress his memories of Yeon Woo, so much so that he canât remember her handwriting anymore, he ended up being unable to let go of her. Just like Lee Min Ho before him, Jung Il Woo is really selling Yang Myungâs pining for Yeon Woo. It doesnât make much sense logically, but then the affairs of the heart donât and rarely make sense. He loves her, and her death is also something he hasnât gotten over. Sounds like he feels some guilt for not talking her out of going to the Crown Princess selection, though we all know he wouldnât have been able to change her mind regardless. I like how the drama is slowly and finally weaving all the characters together again. Seeing Yeom, Yang Myung, and Woon gather together, albeit briefly, was like taking a walk down memory lane. Seol and Woon finally cross paths and swords, plus Yang Myung and Jang Shil reunite and then promptly sent the drama into overdrive. I love how Jang Shil decided to go with her heart and tell Yang Myung about Wol, seeing how much he wanted to find her. But what I loved the most was Hwon figuring out on his own the connection between Yeon Woo and Wol. I knew his realization would involve writing, since the love affair between Hwon and Yeon Woo blossomed during the period when they wrote to each other. I hope he doesnât take one step forward and two steps back and try to rationalize away the identical handwriting. Iâm glad the drama decided to let both Hwon and Yang Myung confirm Wolâs identity at the same time, because I think this story can and ought to have a viable love triangle. I want to see Yang Myung fight for Wol, because he loves her and because he wants to keep her safe. Whether as Wol or as Yeon Woo, she will never be safe in the Palace with Hwon because of those conspiring against the King. After what happened to Yeon Woo, itâs clear this time Yang Myung wonât let her be placed in such a dangerous situation again. I was really shaking my head when watching the Hwon-Bo Kyung scene today, when he warned her to stay away. There was so much chemistry between Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Min Seo it made me sad the same frisson of energy couldnât be transferred over to the OTP interactions. I can live with second lead shipping, but shipping the hero with the resident witch is clearly NOT a viable or sane proposition. At this point I donât need Han Ga In to magically become a good actress, all I ask for her to wake up a little. Sheâs so low-energy onscreen that she sucks the charisma out of a scene. Though with Kim Soo Hyun emitting fireballs of acting passion, it does even out when they are together. Funnily enough, their acting reminds me of him being the brightly burning sun and her being the cold soft moonlight. An apt observation if ever there was one for this drama.
recaps discussion news cast 288 February 2, 2012January 24, 2016 The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 10 by javabeans What a fantastic episode for our men. This really should be The Sun Embraces That Other Sun And Heck, Also Those Other Friendly Suns, While Weâre At It. Yes, the two suns are brothers and that would require breaking a number of taboos, but hey, Iâm game if you are. Sigh. Another ratings increase the ninth straight one with todayâs episode bringing in a Ratings were for Captain and for Wild Romance. Good grief. I mean, Iâm entertained so Iâm not complaining â itâs just way beyond my expectation. Timing and circumstance really have so much to do with which shows hit which numbers; previous sageuk hits Princessâs Man and Tree With Deep Roots are both better dramas, but they aired in different circumstances. But Moon/Sun can thank them for setting the stage for it to come in and dominate. SONG OF THE DAY Feelbay â âëźì â Midday nap [ Download ] Audio clip Adobe Flash Player version 9 or above is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. EPISODE 10 RECAP In his bedchamber, Hwon addresses Wol in language that Iâm sure must have been carefully and intentionally selected to hint at the underlying sexual tension driving everything â this dramaâs whole conflict centers around sex, after all â as he tells her she must make him forget his exhaustion and put his pain to bed. She says she will, as the spiritual object she believes herself to be. Standing just outside, Bo-kyung cracks open the doors and is immediately alarmed at Hwonâs reaction to Wol, and readies to storm in. But Woon pushes the door closed and she loses the moment. She glares at him, but forces a smile as she tells Hwonâs entourage that she was merely worried about the king. Back in her own room, Bo-kyung breaks down in angry tears. Her fears have been realized, because she had recognized that Hwon was looking at the shaman with the eyes of a man for a woman, not a king for his good-luck charm. Hwon calls for the court doctor, surprising all by saying itâs not for him, but for Wol. Hyung-sun protests, because the royal physician is reserved for royalty. Hwon says that her job is to absorb the evil energy from him, and therefore ensuring her health is for the kingâs benefit, overriding Hyung-sunâs horrified protests. Hwon reads a book while his physician attends to Wol, although he canât help sending her longing glances, which donât escape Hyung-sunâs notice. Then, Wol takes her usual position and watches over Hwonâs sleep. After she leaves, Hwon opens his eyes, not having slept after all. Woon is given the note taken from Wol, intended for the king, and in the morning he gives it to Hwon. It basically tells him that though sheâs not considered a person, she wishes to be the kingâs citizen. He recalls his harsh words earlier, and reads this as a rebuke of his dismissal of her worth âShe means that a shaman is still a person, so I shouldnât disregard her.â Hyung-sun muses that itâs rare enough for a shaman to know how to write, but also that sheâd dare send this kind of message. Yet this also stirs another memory, of another letter he received from a 13-year-old. His thoughts echo his 15-year-old words âHow could I forget you?â Hyung-sun knows what heâs thinking, and gently reminds him that Wol is is not Yeon-woo. Hwon gets defensive and canât even bear to hear Hyung-sun continue with the reminder that sheâs dead, and he angrily shuts him up. Hyung-sun informs him of Bo-kyungâs visit and entreats Hwon to consider her feelings, and how hurt she must have felt to have abandoned pride to come to him. Bo-kyung is moping in her room when she receives word that the king plans to see her. This is great news for all the queens, especially queens mother and dowager. Granny attributes this to the shaman-charm, who has single-handedly improved the kingâs health and facilitated reconciliation with Bo-kyung, and she takes this as proof that Wol is indeed the successor to Nok-young. She decides to request another fortune-reading to move the consummation date up while things are looking good. Bo-kyung happily receives Hwon, who mentions her unannounced nighttime visit. She says it was purely out of concern for him but he cuts to the heart of the matter, as always, insinuating that it was really about keeping tabs on him. He says that there was no person in his room that night, merely an amulet, as a way of dismissing her concerns â See? Itâs just a thing. No reason for you to interfere. The words are polite but thereâs a menacing quality to Hwonâs tone, and Bo-kyung is ill at ease. Hwon reminds her that they are to keep their space until the consummation in a month, and Bo-kyung understands that heâs really warning her not to visit his quarters again. Bo-kyung grapples with her frustration after he leaves, wondering what he is trying to hide from her, and why he has to go so far as to order her away. She breaks down in tears as she wonders if the thing heâs covering up for is love. First the dead girl, and now the lowly shaman? She orders her lady in waiting to find a court lady with close access to the king. She wants someone to watch the kingâs visits with his shaman-charm and report to her â secretly, of course. Yang-myung returns to town to search for Wol, to no avail. He recalls Wol assuring him that she was safe, and wonders if thatâs true. He passes a group of young court shamans, and Jan-shil recognizes him from that time years ago when he saved her from the quack peddlers. She runs after him, adorably calling him âOraboniâ and grabbing him in a bear hug. He doesnât recognize her, all grown now, and is confused until she reminds him of the âmagic stoneâ he once talked about. Memory thus jogged, Yang-myung greets her warmly. Jan-shil tells him sheâs no longer a phony seer but the real deal, one of the shamans of Seongsucheong. And that makes the pieces fall into place for Yang-myung â Seongsucheong is the safest place for a shaman in the city â and he asks urgently whether a girl named Wol is among them. But Jan-shil remembers how furiously Nok-young warned her to keep her mouth shut about moon/sun related talk, especially regarding Yeon-woo, and the bodily harm she was threatened with. So she shakes her head no and says that thereâs nobody like that around. Jan-shil goes to Wolâs room with a heavy heart, sorry for lying. Sleeping Wol has a fitful dream, and relives the memory of that long-ago night at the festival. Out of context, though, the sight of Hwon wearing that big mask is spooky, and the dream has teh tone of a nightmare. Just as he lifts the mask to reveal his face, she wakes up. Itâs a recurring nightmare that always ends before seeing his face. Wolâs particularly disappointed tonight, feeling like she was just about to see his face. Seol is there when she wakes and thinks sympathetically that the face she wants so badly to see is the one she looks on every night. That evening, Hwon is waiting for Wol when she enters and refers to her letter, which conveyed her resentment of him. She protests that she didnât mean it in that sense, and he allows that maybe she doesnât resent him â but she did mean it as a reproach. She answers that she only meant to say that she would undertake her duty to the best of her abilities, and that misunderstanding is bound to arise if the reader of the note approaches it with preconceived notions. If he felt something in her note, perhaps itâs because there was a reason he made that inference. Hwon reads into that remark as well, supposing that sheâs insinuating that heâs ruling badly. Even though Wol has a tendency to speak in poetic riddles, Hwon does seem to be overreacting this time and he gets worked up, reminding her of her place and that he is not to be trifled with. He exclaims, âI am JoseonâsâŠ!â in much the same way he had at their first encounter. Hwon cuts himself off, recalling that very thing, and declares heâs in need of some air. Wol, as his charm, is ordered to follow him outside. He orders his entourage to stay at a distance, keeping only Wol nearby with the excuse that sheâs his charm. They stand outside the closed palace building that was once hers, and that stirs a memory â of young Hwon crying after her as Yeon-woo was kicked out. Assuming her medium powers are responsible for the vision, Wol asks if this place holds sad memories for the king âWas the person who shed tears at this place⊠you?â He looms over her and asks intently, âWhat did you see?â Then he grabs her even closer â rawr! â and asks if she knows this because of her supernatural powers. She says yes, and he tells her to use those powers, then, to answer a question âWhat do you think Iâm going to do now?â Watching from across the courtyard, Hyung-sun and Woon avert their eyes as Hwon asks whether she thinks he would embrace her, disregarding her status. And then he eyes his uncomfortable staff, all shifting and looking down â and grabs Wolâs hand to run away. HA! I love that he was being intentionally discomfiting to get everyone to look away. Racing across the palace grounds, Hwon ducks into an empty building and demands to know who she really is âYou are not Wol.â But she has no other identity, and she says that before he gave her a name, she was just a nameless shaman. Hwon looks at her entreatingly, asking, âDo you really not know me? Have you truly never met me?â Wol asks if heâs looking to find Yeon-woo in her, and if her resemblance to that woman is why heâs keeping her close. He looks devastated as she tells him that she isnât that person. Lashing out, he says sheâs overstepped her bounds for assuming he cared for her, and that sheâs a mere charm, not a person. Who is she to send him into such chaos? He warns her to keep away â if she crosses the line again, he wonât forgive her. His entourage awaits outside, and he leaves with them, dismissing Wolâs services for tonight. He does send Woon to follow her back to her quarters, though. Nok-young finds Wol outside and asks in concern if something happened, alarmed when Wol asks, âWho am I?â She confesses that sheâs seeing strange visions, and while they must be someone elseâs memories, they feel like her emotions. Not really believing it, Wol asks, âI canât be the owner of those memories, can I? No matter how much I resemble her, I canât become her, can I?â As though she wishes she were, so she could have the kingâs love or maybe just ease his pain. Seol witnesses the conversation with tears of sympathy. Yeom freaks out to have Yang-myung pop up outside his house, and the two friends are then further freaked out by the silent arrival of a third party â Woon. Ha. Woon is here to convey Hwonâs orders to Yeom to appear at the palace, and on his way out gets a glimpse of a letter written on familiarly bright yellow parchment. Yeom explains it as an old letter from Yeon-woo. Seol once more visits Yeomâs house to get a glimpse of him, not seeing that Woon has clocked her shadowy presence. He surprises her with an attack and asks who sent her. Seol knocks his sword aside and runs away. The two remaining friends have a drink, and Yeom asks whether itâs true that Yang-myung has a new sweetheart, wondering what sheâs like. Yang-myung reminisces about that one instance eight years ago, on the night before Yeon-woo was to be decided as the princess bride. Heâd offered to take her away, but she had dismissed him by telling him not to joke, and he had let it go at that. Yang-myung âIf I hadnât disguised it as a joke⊠If Iâd had more courage, and held out my hand⊠If I had shown my true feelings and asked her to run away⊠would she be with me now?â Seol finds Wol waiting up when she returns, and explains that she was visiting her former ownersâ house. Wol smiles and says they must have been good people for her to still feel attached, and Seol answers that they were âWhen I was not even treated like a beast, they treated me as a person and gave me the pretty name Seol.â She finishes the thought in her head, adding, âThatâs the kind of person you were.â After Yang-myung leaves, Yeom goes to Yeon-wooâs old room⊠where he finds her old chest. OH THANK GOD. Will somebody find that damn letter already? Yeom remembers Yeon-wooâs words about going through with the bridal selection despite her familyâs worries. He lifts the lid to find the scrap of paper, curiously out of place, which immediately grabs his attention. He pulls it out, and sees that itâs addressed to the Crown Prince. Yang-myung walks along the deserted road, stopping short at the sight of a dark figure. Itâs Jan-shil, and she tells him emotionally that sheâs sorry, and that sheâll help him find the woman heâs looking for. She grabs him in a hug, crying, âBecause you saved my life. Iâll repay that kindness, I promise.â Yeom visits his mother prior to making his trip to the palace. Min-hwaâs disappointed he didnât tell her in advance so she could go with him, and Mom asks if sheâs angry. Min-hwa says no, not angry â uneasy. Because if her husband goes to the palace alone⊠Cut to Yeom, stirring up a frenzy among the court ladies, just like old times. Hwon warmly receives Yeom, whom he still calls Teacher, and invites him to settle in for a chat. Our axis of evil plays the role of todayâs political exposition fairies as they receive word of Yeomâs sudden appearance at court and try to unravel its significance. I guess âBecause I wanna hang out with my friendâ doesnât compute with this council of backstabbing conspirators? One minister comically complains that his hottie ranking slips whenever Yeomâs around, but then they get to the crux of the problem As the princessâs husband, Yeom isnât supposed have anything to do with politics, and thus his presence at court is dangerous. His very existence is problematic on a symbolic level not unlike Yang-myung, since there are those willing to rally around him, perhaps moved by his fatherâs lingering influence. Yeom has deliberated over the letter, and now presents it to the king, explaining that he decided the right thing to do was to return it to the rightful recipient. Hwon canât hide his emotion as he confirms that this is Yeon-wooâs last letter to him. Bowing respectfully, Yeom advises Yeom to forget her now, and to remember his wife. He says that Yeon-woo wouldnât have wanted him to stay stuck in her shadow either. Hwon notes sadly that everybody is telling him to forget her. After Yeom leaves, he sits there staring at the unopened letter for a long while, and finally reads it. Yeon-woo âCrown Prince, I gather the last of my strength to leave this letter. I do not know if it will cause trouble or even if it will reach you, but I write this anyway. Before I leave, even only through the things I have learned from you, I was very happy. But now you must stop blaming yourself, and think of me as a memory. My father will bring me medicine soon. Then I will no longer be able to see you. You must forget me, and years later become a good and wise king.â He cries, asking, âHow much must she have hurt? How painful must it have been?â He asks Hyung-sun to bring him his old chest, and sobs that he canât remember Yeon-wooâs handwriting anymore. He has to see her old letter as confirmation. Bo-kyungâs court spy reports to her about the kingâs nighttime stroll, as well as Yeomâs visit. He was seen in troubled spirits afterward and asked for a chest bearing the hanja character for rain. Bo-kyung seems to recognize this immediately, with some concern. Hwon takes out the old letter, the apology sheâd spent so much time on. But as he reads, it triggers another thought and he fumbles for a different letter â the one he recently received. Hwon compares the handwriting of the letters, which contain some of the same words. He orders Wol brought to him immediately. Wol is escorted to his quarters, but along the way sheâs jerked to the side by Yang-myung, who asks intently, âDo you recognize me?â As he does, Hwon finishes his comparison and looks up with conviction. COMMENTS Ack! He knows! They both know! Youâre just going to cut out here?? Right, of course youâre going to cut out here; you donât get to 30%+ ratings by just giving it away, I guess. Iâll give it to this show â even in a slower episode which is what I thought of this one, it always pulls out a cliffhanger designed to rope us back like a crack addict at the bottom of his pipe, or however else you run out of crack. I said before that I wished Bo-kyung had been developed differently, to not be so outright malicious from the start, and that feeling is growing. I understand that she was raised by a villainous father, but she would have been such an interesting character if she had been allowed to âchooseâ her evil, so to speak, rather than have been marked from the start as a dark soul. This also stems from Kim Min-seoâs portrayal of Bo-kyung, which I think is fantastic. And yet the problem is, I think sheâs giving the character depth that isnât there in the writing. Thatâs not as bad a problem as the reverse scenario, but it does give me moments of confusion as a viewer. As a child, when she saw the lovebirds slipping away from the festival and cried, I felt nothing for her because there was nothing to show why she should feel so crushed; they had no existing relationship, and sheâd never even looked at him admiringly. She could have been smitten by him at the soccer match, but again, wasted opportunity. Thus I felt and still feel that Bo-kyungâs issue is about jealousy over all the things Yeon-woo had, rather than jealousy over the kingâs heart â because as far as Iâm concerned, she doesnât care for Hwon, the person. Itâs all about what this represents Sheâs always felt inferior to Yeon-woo, and her insecurities arenât dead just because the girl supposedly is. It would have been a wonderful thing to explore, wouldnât it? Hereâs what I would have done In their youths, I would have had Bo-kyung misunderstanding Hwonâs request to see her in secret, rather than realizing the truth in two minutes. She could have then built him up in her mind for days and read signs into everything, so when she later found out he meant to see Yeon-woo, that crushing disappointment would have had some bite. Then she could feel hurt over their relationship, whereas right now I feel like sheâs a toddler unwilling to relinquish a toy because itâs hers. Iâm not saying we canât enjoy what we have, because Iâm going with the story thatâs given to us and itâs still entertaining. Itâs just rather one-dimensional, ignoring its early potential to cultivate richer characters and more believable emotions. I have found the continued dumping on Han Ga-in a bit excessive, but itâs true that she doesnât measure up to the men. I like her quite a lot in this role when sheâs with Seol and Jan-shil, and I love that this drama shows us some solid female friendship, as fierce and loyal as any bromance. More of that, please! Han is managing the sageuk-speak pretty well and I think she bears a striking physical resemblance to child counterpart Kim Yoo-jung, so good casting on the looks front. But itâs too bad that Kim Soo-hyun blows her out of the water, and so does Kim Min-seo. I never really thought Yeon-woo was terribly nuanced a character to begin with, though, even in childhood; she was the simplest role of them all, and I partly blame the writing for being flat on that front. Thatâs true of a lot of the characters, actually, and we are just blessed in some cases with some actors who transcend their material. And boy, did they transcend in this episode. Kim Soo-hyun was pretty much on fire the whole episode through, whether he was being hurt, furious, confused, or heartbroken. And Jung Il-woo is at his best when heâs letting down that mask of mirth, as he did when he confessed to Yeom that perhaps he might have been able to keep Yeon-woo alive and with him if heâd been emotionally sincere. Heâs wrong about that â yâknow, Fate and all â but that regret is a bitter pill to swallow. RELATED POSTS The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 9 The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 8 The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 7 The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 6 The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 5 Interviews with Moon/Sunâs child actors Jung Il-woo and the adults of Moon/Sun to appear this week The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 4 The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 3 The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 2 The Moon That Embraces the Sun Episode 1 Hanboks galore at press conference for Moon That Embraces the Sun Tags featured, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-seo, Kim Soo-hyun, The Moon That Embraces the Sun Premium Supporter Currently Airing
sinopsis the moon that embraces the sun episode 10
