After watching the final trailer, there are 2 other couples in this drama and maybe that's why we have 33 episodes.https://youtu.be/xmSCRvWW_Vo?si=5wrCQT3K27okk1OZ
After watching the final trailer, there are 2 other couples in this drama and maybe that's why we have 33 episodes.https://youtu.be/xmSCRvWW_Vo?si=5wrCQT3K27okk1OZ
Hmmm...when script writers decide to extrapolate and venture into new territory in adaptations, unless they are super skilled and know the original, they inevitably muck it up. But I'll keep an open mind. Who knows? They may just surprise me. I just hope they don't dwell on some traumatic backstory for him because he was a level headed, nice, confident ML.
The ML is well cast. He does have a lovely voice and tone. Loved him in Under the Skin. And I did enjoy the novel. Having said that, seeing the hash they made of OFL I'm a little skeptical. Not to mention, there isn't enough story for 33 eps. 16 sure. 20 would be pushing it. 33? #confused But let's see what happens.
This is hilarious! Super enjoyable iteration by everyone and Queen LSY never disappoints. Glad to see BIH get a leading man role after his scene stealing presence in Gumiho. Since it's 12 eps, I'm hoping for crisp writing, excellent characterisation and attention to detail. I have to say, all the humour has landed well for me. And, I love the fact that they showed her struggle with the lever on the door -- as yet another signal of how out of place she is. Fantastic attention to detail.
Love it! Hardcore makjang. This drama is proof positive that you can make well-done abbreviated drama which is crammed with so much story and so many plot twists that a viewer could get whiplash. None of that filler crap or slow-mo blah blah. This drama is like a cake full of empty calories + frosting which makes me a little ill afterwards but super enjoyable while consuming. Lol! What's that advert tag line: consume responsibly. hahahahhaahha
And the plot thickens! I've been wanting to watch an intense, clever, action packed drama. After Under the Skin -- this is next most clever and engaging crime drama I've watched. Good action. Solid scripting. Great acting.
Great analysis, I can’t wait for her to see past the ideas that she has of both of them. She doesn’t truly…
Thanks! That's true that she acts based on the ideas that she has of them, which, to be fair, most of us do in real life. But the difference here, I would argue, is that her 'ideas' of them are informed by a very real past life. In that life she witnessed and experienced the full brunt of XW revenge, violence and manipulation. She was party to, what she admits to, tempting a good and just man to serve her ends. Granted this last piece takes away a lot of his agency, and I think ZZ is smart enough to know what he was doing but chose his poison anyway. XW is different. His and her choices led to her brutal ending. All of this is influencing how she responds to each of them. Just as she has changed, so have they in response to her and as a result of the choices everyone has made. Now, I'd say, the old truths about these two no longer hold true. It's anyone's game.
It's interesting reading the comments and catching a glimpse of how others are viewing what's happening between JXN and XW. I find that the narrative has done a good job articulating both their perspectives (the acting has been great too!). The two of them are perfect examples of what happens when tenuous allies (through shared secrets and fear) reach a fork in the road. JXN was on board with XW partly because he terrifies her (memories of her last life): he is this looming character, whom the entire world, to date sees as unassuming, non partisan and devoted to the monarch. The town's most eligible bachelor, even! (I mean, hands-down for the pretty but the personality...) And partly, because he seems to be committed to safeguarding the Yan Family. Protecting them is her first priority so so far their goals are united, if the means are vastly different. However, her desire to protect ZZ is beyond his ken. I think, XW for all his cleverness doesn't quite grasp the extent of her loyalty to ZZ. And that's fair. He has no knowledge of her past life. He knows that she's barely met him once, and while she's not a fool -- in his eyes -- in ZZ's matter, XW very much considers her a fool. A typical girl of her age and time.
These two episodes show us that where ZZ is concerned they have competing agendas. While JXN is willing to protect him -- even at the risk of exposing XW's plan (which he didn't share with her, nor did he have to for reasons above) -- at the risk of her own life. While XW sees him as a pawn in his larger game of thrones and revenge. So, they are at an impasse.
I'd be willing to bet that the next several episodes are very much going to be about, XW terrifying JXN with his reach and power. She is his accomplice. Having benefited from the tiger hunting on her behalf, she will come to realise that while he let her tug on his whiskers there are very real boundaries and consequences to messing with his plans. I think, and I hope, that we'll also witness JXN's realisation that ZZ has been idealised in her eyes. He is righteous, establishment oriented, and remarkably unforgiving of mistakes. He said as much. JXN already feels encumbered by her memories of the past and is committed to penance but her penance takes the form of manipulation and violence against those who would wrong her/or those she considers hers. ZZ will find it difficult to condone it. Furthermore, she will always stand penitent before him. There is significant tilt in the power dynamic there and it's unlikely to change.
Interestingly, while there is a significant power differential between XW and JXN too, it feels less burdensome: because they don't pretend when they are with each other. They witness the other's anger, hate, pettiness, manipulations, and violence, humour and behavioural quirks without artifice. It's like being naked in front of the enemy and vice versa. They have shared more emotional intimacies and witnessed transgressive behaviours than lovers.
The drama has done well with JXN-XW's negotiations and cessation of hostilities so far. Let's see how they rebuild this bridge. It'll start with threats and then.....well, then there is a lot of room to manoeuvre.
Excellent first 4 eps! Action packed. Dark and twisty characters! Complicated storyline. A suitably intense hero with insane amounts of swagger. And people with motives upon motives. There are no good men here, folks. At least not on the face of it. High production values, OST is banging, and the high octane thriller that I didn't know I was waiting for.
Whoah! Now that's a first ep.🔥 WZQ is such a solid actor in his age range. Great to see him do a more physical and gritty role. And it's my fave duo from Imperial Coroner. Excited about watching this!!
I agree with every word. MJTY direction and cinematography with this storyline and cast would have been an unparalleled…
It's a shame, since they screwed the script of MJTY and mishandled it towards the end. This script plus that direction, color palette and cinematography. What a treat.
But let's see what happens.
I have to say, all the humour has landed well for me. And, I love the fact that they showed her struggle with the lever on the door -- as yet another signal of how out of place she is. Fantastic attention to detail.
Lol!
What's that advert tag line: consume responsibly. hahahahhaahha
Good action. Solid scripting. Great acting.
XW is different. His and her choices led to her brutal ending. All of this is influencing how she responds to each of them. Just as she has changed, so have they in response to her and as a result of the choices everyone has made. Now, I'd say, the old truths about these two no longer hold true. It's anyone's game.
These two episodes show us that where ZZ is concerned they have competing agendas. While JXN is willing to protect him -- even at the risk of exposing XW's plan (which he didn't share with her, nor did he have to for reasons above) -- at the risk of her own life. While XW sees him as a pawn in his larger game of thrones and revenge. So, they are at an impasse.
I'd be willing to bet that the next several episodes are very much going to be about, XW terrifying JXN with his reach and power. She is his accomplice. Having benefited from the tiger hunting on her behalf, she will come to realise that while he let her tug on his whiskers there are very real boundaries and consequences to messing with his plans. I think, and I hope, that we'll also witness JXN's realisation that ZZ has been idealised in her eyes. He is righteous, establishment oriented, and remarkably unforgiving of mistakes. He said as much. JXN already feels encumbered by her memories of the past and is committed to penance but her penance takes the form of manipulation and violence against those who would wrong her/or those she considers hers. ZZ will find it difficult to condone it. Furthermore, she will always stand penitent before him. There is significant tilt in the power dynamic there and it's unlikely to change.
Interestingly, while there is a significant power differential between XW and JXN too, it feels less burdensome: because they don't pretend when they are with each other. They witness the other's anger, hate, pettiness, manipulations, and violence, humour and behavioural quirks without artifice. It's like being naked in front of the enemy and vice versa. They have shared more emotional intimacies and witnessed transgressive behaviours than lovers.
The drama has done well with JXN-XW's negotiations and cessation of hostilities so far. Let's see how they rebuild this bridge. It'll start with threats and then.....well, then there is a lot of room to manoeuvre.