This isn't a bad series, but the romance was unnecessary (the leads had no chemistry). Other than the FL and the ML's sidekick I thought the acting was outstanding. The actors really elevated what was just average writing. Still, it is more than watchable thanks to Woo Do Hwan and the villains. It can fill the gaps in between better shows.
Interesting comment!!!! However, something tells me Seok Jeong might not be as ‘devoted’ of a husband/partner…
It was the flashback that made me consider Seok Jeong as a suitor. He seemed quite serious about his love and very determined. He does act frivolous 15 years later but maybe it's just a facade or inconsistent characterization.
So Seok Jeong never found a way to get a letter to his mother at least once in 15 years?
Having said that, I actually think he could be a good match for Cho Yeo Hwa. He is just as unconventional as she is and would not mind her doing anything she wants although they seemingly don't share the same ideals.
Park Su Ho on the other hand is an over-protective stick in the mud. He didn't notice the light go out in Yeo Hwa's eyes when he told her to stay home and do nothing. Then asking himself, "What would she want me to do?" You don't snuff out the very thing that led you to fall in love with a person. So despite their obvious attraction & chemistry, I dunno if they're going to get off the ground. We shall see.
Shall I watch this while airing or wait till the whole series fully releases?
Part of the fun is the wait for the episodes, then the subtitles, then chatting & speculating with everyone in this giant watch party. I'm so glad I didn't wait.
The more I think about it, the more I believe Lady Oh is not as smart as she thinks she is. Instead of killing her husband and condemning herself to a life of widowhood, she could have found him a concubine to serve his needs. Then she could continue to move about freely, conspiring with Seok & Kang.
If he had to die at all it would have made more sense for a political rival or a rich merchant to kill him, i.e. Kang didn't get his shipping routes, so kill the Minister to place someone in office who would give him the rights he wanted.
ETA: Episode 8 confirms that Lady Oh is losing her marbles in her efforts to not be exiled. Step 1 was don't kill your husband. LOL She better pray that Su Ho can keep her alive long enough to bring down the Left State Councillor. That's her only hope for salvation now.
Did Councillor Seok and Lady Yoo fake their son's death to cover up for his elopement with the English lady? And they have been holding Yeo Hwa hostage as I suspected.
Considering the stakes I'm surprised that only the Finance Minister has died so far and that was due more to domestic violence. Seok & Kang must be getting soft in their old age.
That series of slaps at the start of episode 10 was even more satisfying than the flip at the end of episode 9 - maybe because the whole company saw it.
They are trying to put in the message that people often forget the importance of their living and go behind failures…
Yes, that was the show's biggest (only?) shortcoming although paradoxically I agree that life is worth living and pushing through the hardships. My eyes kind of glazed over during the scenes of hell TBH.
For anti-suicide messaging to work, the promise of life has to be greater than the relief of death and the show did not make the case. Then again, it's not Death's job to save us from ourselves, so maybe she was the wrong interlocutor.
Having said that, I enjoyed the show immensely and rate it as one of the better dramas I've seen in a long time.
Oh Eui-shik plays Seok Jeong: Yeo-hwa's husband and Ji-sung's son who came back alive. Fifteen years ago, he went to the Qing Dynasty and fell in love with Anne Marin, an English woman. Currently, he appears in Myeongdogak under the name Yoo Joo-seop.
I think it is important to remember she is a widow in name only. She never even met her deceased husband. Sometimes…
I was thinking the same thing. A worldly man about town who's travelled the country definitely has more experience than an older widow who has known nothing but her family's home and her in-laws compound.
Having said that, I actually think he could be a good match for Cho Yeo Hwa. He is just as unconventional as she is and would not mind her doing anything she wants although they seemingly don't share the same ideals.
Park Su Ho on the other hand is an over-protective stick in the mud. He didn't notice the light go out in Yeo Hwa's eyes when he told her to stay home and do nothing. Then asking himself, "What would she want me to do?" You don't snuff out the very thing that led you to fall in love with a person. So despite their obvious attraction & chemistry, I dunno if they're going to get off the ground. We shall see.
If he had to die at all it would have made more sense for a political rival or a rich merchant to kill him, i.e. Kang didn't get his shipping routes, so kill the Minister to place someone in office who would give him the rights he wanted.
ETA: Episode 8 confirms that Lady Oh is losing her marbles in her efforts to not be exiled. Step 1 was don't kill your husband. LOL She better pray that Su Ho can keep her alive long enough to bring down the Left State Councillor. That's her only hope for salvation now.
Did Councillor Seok and Lady Yoo fake their son's death to cover up for his elopement with the English lady? And they have been holding Yeo Hwa hostage as I suspected.
Considering the stakes I'm surprised that only the Finance Minister has died so far and that was due more to domestic violence. Seok & Kang must be getting soft in their old age.
ETA: It turns out the problem is Hulu on my laptop. Everything is much brighter on TV. Weird.
For anti-suicide messaging to work, the promise of life has to be greater than the relief of death and the show did not make the case. Then again, it's not Death's job to save us from ourselves, so maybe she was the wrong interlocutor.
Having said that, I enjoyed the show immensely and rate it as one of the better dramas I've seen in a long time.
Proceed at your own risk
Oh Eui-shik plays Seok Jeong: Yeo-hwa's husband and Ji-sung's son who came back alive. Fifteen years ago, he went to the Qing Dynasty and fell in love with Anne Marin, an English woman. Currently, he appears in Myeongdogak under the name Yoo Joo-seop.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_Flower
SPECULATION: The mustachioed newcomer is Yeo Hwa's fiance/husband making her not a widow at all.
I think I would enjoy The Picture of Dorian Grey and Charles Dickens' novels through a Korean lens too.