budoboo

Read a few comments here on the board that in the novel Li Qin was not a nice character from day dot. Maybe the writers were character correcting at the end?

I do not see the connection yet either. There is not enough background information to know what the connection is between the father and mother.

Understood.

You are right. Was initially a bright spot female/plot connection to be sure. Irregardless of how masculine her chararter was presented - I agree with your your point.

His dancing is suprisingly good.

To darn funny. 😂

Was there ever a plot connection with any female in this drama beyond advancing it? For me, its impossible to understand any of the female characters backgrounds. Its the weekness of the drama - the female 'huh, what, why' character holes.

Agree. There does not seem to be enough backstory about any of the women in this drama beyond spectulation. Think we are meant to be focused on the key characters (the men).

True dat. 😂😂 And, yes, to your previously posted opinion on the father being actually sick - or not.

A thoughtful comment that got me thinking. Was not contemplating Gu's mothers character from this perspective. One of the high points of being on MDL.

Edit: The fall of a middle-class mother in the late Qing Dynasty.

From my viewpoint the mother is one of the most profound 'objects' in the drama. Playing a metaphoric roll of being used as a vehicle to present the roll of women in her place in time. As a pregnant single mother with a toddler in tow, she lost her her identity, husband, status, protection, possessions, and health. In the middle of profound depression, civil war, strife, starvation, and the need to take care of her children she did whatever it took to survive. Each and every one of her days was reportedly filled with crushing hunger, terror, uncertainty, foreboding, and great responsibility (children).

Each sub story in the drama brings a small piece of - look into - what her life was like over the 20 year span between when her husband disappeared and her son reappeared. They show us how she both survived and endured while managing her own personal suffering and pain with intelligence, dignity and a persevering spirit.

When the house was remodelled for the wedding, instead of listening to fanciful fleeting memories, we got a tanglible glimpse into just how much her life had changed. A hard look at just how much she had, how much she lost, how painful her life was, and how she seem to be shrouded in despair.

In the military substory we come to understand that she knew he was still alive and she had to tell herself he was not just to keep being able to put one foot in front of the other with a clear enough head for her children and a stone heart for herself.

At the beginning of the salt story, as she comes finally comes face to face with her husband, we see her crumble under the mental, emotional, and physical weight of what she carried.

To me, she is in fact, the hero the men speak of in the drama. Even now, in our place in time, the hero saga continues - that the real everyday life of woman heros quietly and at time with great suffering, keeps the human race alive - one day at a time.

The actress is doing an admirable job of playing numb with potential layers of intelligence and further life experience. While I am not invested in the character as the writers are not giving us much to work with, I am interest to see underneath more of the layers of a single mother's life in in the late Qing Dynasty.

Ling chi - death by a thousand cuts & beheaded. Looks like some 1.5 - 2 years after they were married. Though he did have a choice. He was offered general status with Qing because of his fighting prowess though he declined.

Stunning. What a production effort. Feature film worthy. Standing ovation for mother earth's roll.

Enjoying this drama so much. The question asking and answering regarding story changes and historical context on the board is nearly as interesting as the drama itself. Have not had this much fun reading comments in a while.

Thank you for that. Agree - there is some confusion. Checked as well (a few times) and Zhu Ya Wen was not where to be found. We will see him again in Swords into Plowshares which is due to come up this month.

I do not mind the Li Qin character washing at this point. Understood that we are meant to feel the mysterious brotherly bond (so far). Your comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

His wife and 3 kids or his wife and two kids?

These are rhetorical question used to make the point that "The focus on Sanghyun and his feelings vs how MuJin (Moojin )is feeling is misguided and disrepectful."

Are you responding to my comment? Read it again. Perhaps the translation is not working? We (You and I) are both saying the same thing. MuJin is doing a good job and he has real feelings. Plus he is respectful and balanced.

No worries.

👍🏻 Not a surprise.