Next day, Ki is looking longingly at Seung Nyang but not saying anything. Bool Hwa and Byung Soo arrive to say that they searched the whole island and didn’t find the guy. Seung Nyang says that she *knows* she wounded him. Byung Soo says they checked but no one was wounded. Soon Yong emerges from Ta Hwan’s quarters and reports that the Prince just now dozed off. He asks Ki for a tonic. Ki leaves with Bool Hwa to get the tonic, leaving *Byung Soo* to watch the Prince. Because he wants to talk to his daughter, he makes her come too.
Back at his office, Ki looks at Seung Nyang and doesn’t say anything. Finally, when prompted, he tells her that she’s so like her mother. He produces the rings and, practically crying, asks her why she didn’t say anything. He reaches to touch her, calling her by her given name, Nyang, when she jumps up to stand in front of him. She calls him Commander. And she’s clearly trying to hold it together. Bool Hwa corrects her, telling her that Ki’s not her Commander but her father. Ki jumps up, too, and tells her that she has brothers who will want to meet her.
And this is all really surreal because I just got done watching ‘Faith’ aka ‘The Great Doctor’ which takes place during the same time period, where Ki is Empress already and one of her brothers is the main villains, Gi Chul. If I was aligning things, Wang Yoo’s character either was the drunken king that killed Choi Young’s mentor, or he’s the guy’s father. And that loser king had none of the character that Wang Yoo has. Like I said, surreal.
Seung Nyang replies that there’s no need for her to meet her brothers, since she likes how things are now. Before Ki can press anymore, she excuses herself by saying that the Prince will be looking for her. She quickly leaves. Ki lets her go and can’t hold back his pain over her hurt: losing her mother, all those years alone.
Bool Hwa chases after her to set her straight on her father. He tells her how desperately Ki had been searching for her after her mother died. Seung Nyang stops him and explains that if it gets out that she didn’t end up in Yuan as tribute, it could be bad for her whole family. So she’s not going to really have a relationship with her dad to *protect* him. Mmmm, okay. If it stays the way it is, she can be near the commander. And Bool Hwa is torn because he knows she’s right.
Seung Nyang arrives at Ta Hwan’s room and he’s having another nightmare. He bolts awake and refuses the tonic she offers. Then he begs her to teach him the sword so he can defend himself. Which makes total sense to me and it works for your man, Wang Yoo. She refuses. He says fine and starts to pound his head on the table. She decides that she better do it before he really hurts himself.
Now they’re out doing training. He’s using a real sword and she’s got a stick. And she keeps hitting him with it and telling him what body part he just lost. At one point she tells him he’s dead. He cries back that he won’t die. He’s going to live! They fight some more and she pops him on the head, which cuts his head open. And he freaks out more than she does.
Later, they’re back in his room. His head is bandaged. Ki and Soon Yong rush in and yell at Seung Nyang. But before she can accept full responsibility, Ta Hwan announces that he fell and hit his head and it was in no way Seung Nyang’s fault. If they have to blame someone, they should blame the stones he tripped on. Seung Nyang’s surprised that he covered for her. And it makes me really like him, because he could have easily stuck it to her. But it also tells me that he likes her in spite of all his protesting. He looks at Seung Nyang and says that those stones (she) really get his goat! And I laugh. And so does she. He momentarily bares his teeth at her in frustration.
Wang Yoo summons Wang Ko to the throne room and asks him about the assassin. Of course, Wang Ko claims innocence. Wang Yoo tells Wang Ko that he is the King and Wang Ko is a Koryeo vassal and he will not have a vassal betray this country. Wang Ko, of course, has been wronged by this statement. Jaw clench and then Wang Yoo responds, if making Koryeo a Yuan state isn’t betrayal, what is? Wang Ko growls back that Koryeo does not exist to give *him* power. Even though Wang Ko sure seems to act like Koryeo exists to give him power. Wang Yoo can’t believe the guy just said that. Wang Ko asks him how much longer Koryeo can hold out against the Yuan? Ten years? Twenty? Has Wang Yoo even considered the price in pain and misery his people pay? And I am amazed at the utter hypocrisy. This is why I can’t play politics. I can’t stomach stuff like this. And why I can understand Wang Yoo’s shocked “Abababa” response when his father pardoned this scumbag.
Wang Yoo tells Wang Ko not to invoke their people to hide his own greed. But Wang Ko is on a roll: The people of Koryeo are wasting away. They have long since become skin and bones. Soon even their bones will be full of holes. Until they collapse en masse. Like a rotted corpse. And the corrupt politicians who exploit them, like yourself, Wang Ko, they had nothing to do with it. Like taking extra taxes so the people starve or murdering a woman’s husband when she won’t sleep with you. Those were for the good of the people… Wang Yoo’s about had enough. He angrily yells that Wang Ko shouldn’t act like he doesn’t know *who* made them that way.
Wang Ko then has the nerve to say that he also loves Koryeo’s people, that fattening the body requires more than words, it needs substance. That’s something that is quite beyond Wang Yoo. Which totally kills me. But that’s how a twisted evil mind works. Wang Yoo tells him that he can forgive his siding with Yuan, but not his contempt for Koryeo. Wang Ko shrugs and starts to leave. Wang Yoo tells him to remember which nation he serves, because disloyalty deserves no mercy. And I don’t know why he doesn’t just have someone assassinate the guy, or behead him right then. But then, that wouldn’t be honorable (the assassination) and it would have political fallout (the beheading). There’s plemty of proof that Wang Ko’s a traitor, but then Wang Yoo would be ignoring his father’s pardon. And we all know that Wang Ko’s still around by the time Seung Nyang marries Ta Hwan, because he was there at the wedding. Wang Ko just smirks like Wang Yoo’s honor is idiotic.
Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan are practicing archery. Ta Hwan *hits* the target and is really proud of himself. Seung Nyang replies that he definitely *hit* it. Ta Hwan retorts that all this isn’t easy and she should do less talking and more shooting. She pulls out her bow, which Ta Hwan has never seen before, and laughs at what a backwater hick she is. He shuts up when she hits a bull’s-eye. She tells him there should be less bragging and more shooting. Ta Hwan throws down his bow in frustration and walks off.
Later, he’s relaxing in a hot bath – because his life is physically so hard – but he can’t relax because he’s thinking about Seung Nyang. He lets out a cry of frustration, because he just can’t beat the guy! He groans as if he’s in physical pain. And for some reason it’s important that he at least show he’s better than Seung Nyang in *something.* And this is why Seung Nyang’s going to end up being the first friend Ta Hwan’s ever had, because she doesn’t bow and scrape and please the way everyone else does. And she’s shoved his face in a pile of horse crap, too.
Seung Nyang arrives and enters and immediately hides her eyes, because evidently she didn’t realize he was naked. She puts down the clothes for him and tries to leave, but he stops her. He slides around so that he’s facing her in the tub and waves his feet in the air, telling her to massage them. She has no choice but to do it, so she backs up and sits so she can’t see anything and proceeds to give him a foot massage. While she’s doing that, Ta Hwan realizes that there’s something else he can do well and tells her that he knows he can beat her at riding. She can’t stifle how she thinks that’s funny. That gets him mad, that she’s laughing at him. She tells him that she was reared on a horse. Of course, that means nothing, because no one rides better than the Mongols! She tells him that she has the blood of the Koguryo; no one can beat them at riding.
Ta Hwan thinks he’s finally found *something* that he can beat her at. He slides over to her and proposes a race. Shocked, she looks over and immediately averts her face because he’s *right* there. He wants to do the race, two horses, just him and her. She doesn’t want to. He tries to goad her by asking if she’s scared. Sarcastically she answers she is and she loses. But Ta Hwan doesn’t want to let it go. He starts begging: he’s not ordering, he’s asking. He can’t live like this, all cooped up. He wants to gallop, feel the wind in his face! And he’s really funny as he imagines riding on the horse, shutting his eyes and throwing wide his arms. Can’t she just get him out of there for one day?
Seung Nyang tells him that they still haven’t caught the assassin. Ta Hwan grabs her hand to plead, pulling her toward him, which makes it really hard for her to still face the other direction so she doesn’t get a glimpse of the royal jewels. He starts whining but she replies, hiding her face with her hand, that he can hold a knife to her neck, it’s still a no. So Ta Hwan throws a splashing fit in the tub. Ta Hwan stands up, really frustrated. Seung Nyang turns around with a ‘what now?’ look on her face, only to have to replaced with a ‘he’s naked and standing up!’ look. She quickly turns around. Ta Hwan declares he’ll just kill himself, then, and submerges himself in the tub… Only to come up a few seconds later, hacking.
But the next thing we see is the two of them on horseback. They race on the beach to an overturned boat. And halfway through the race, because he’s losing, he jumps from his horse onto her, grabbing her – freak out face because a man is holding her – and then pulls her off the horse into the water. There’s a little bit of fighting between them and then Seung Nyang climbs up on his shoulders and throws him into the water. As she pins him down, he starts to laugh. She makes a face and stands up, asking if that’s how he’s going to win: using tricks over skill. He replies, sitting up, that he can’t beat her, what can he say. She replies that he can say no more races.
She starts to walk away when Ta Hwan says, “Abababa. Father.” He’s not smiling anymore and the burden of the constant threat of death, it shows through all his facades. He tells his father that he doesn’t want to die, he wants to go home and avenge his death and his own exile. Then he gets mournful as he asks his father how he could leave him. Then he starts to cry and starts screaming into the ocean his father’s name. And it’s the first time, during one of these emotional scenes that I’m getting a little misty. And I cry easily. Ji Chang Wook has done a really good job of making me like this spoiled kid and I feel for Ta Hwan’s pain over his father’s murder, especially since he can’t do anything to bring the killer to justice. As he’s yelling, Seung Nyang looks at her parents’ rings and sadly thinks about her own father. Could she be reconsidering her stand?
Wang Yoo, Moo Song and Shin Woo arrive on the island. Wang Yoo asks after the Prince and Sungnyang. Bool Hwa is cagey, alerting Wang Yoo to something being up. Ooops. I wonder if she told anyone that she was going to be taking the prince for a ride.
Back at the beach, Seung Nyang announces that they lost a horse. She tells Ta Hwan that they need to get back. He sighs and says that it makes sense, since he’s surrounded by enemies. Then he tells her that *if* he lives to be emperor, he won’t forget her. She doesn’t care about this. She tells him that if he *does* rule Yuan, he should stop using Koryeo for concubines and eunuchs. Since he’s been torn from his family... perhaps to die in a faraway land... Now he knows what that’s like. Ta Hwan’s now being bleak and asks if he’s even going to leave this island alive. Seung Nyang replies that for the good of Koryeo, he must. He tries to tell her about who’s hunting him – he’s cruel and merciless.
Wang Yoo arrives at the beach. And as he rides across the sand, I appreciate the fact that the people riding horses actually *look* like they’ve done it before, like they’re skilled at it, instead of us being told they’re horsemen and then I get to watch them flop up and down… Once he reaches the pair, he immediately lays into Seung Nyang: Have you lost your mind? Off on a joyride with an assassin about? Seung Nyang begs Wang Yoo’s forgiveness, but Ta Hwan sticks up for and covers for her again, saying that it was his order. Wang Yoo shouldn’t blame Seung Nyang. Then he acts like everything’s normal, announcing he’s hungry, so they should go. He climbs up on the remaining horse.
Wang Yoo asks where the other horse went. Seung Nyang tells him it ran off. Wang Yoo sighs and climbs on his horse. He tells Seung Nyang to ride with him. And thus begins a pissing match. Ta Hwan orders her to ride with him. Seung Nyang ultimately decides to ride with Ta Hwan, saying that it will inconvenience His Majesty. Ta Hwan looks quite pleased that he won that one. And Wang Yoo looks a little bit ticked that Ta Hwan rode off with his dongsaeng.
Later, Wang Yoo and Seung Nyang are having tea. He tells her that the assassin can’t be far and she needs to be on her toes. She needs to be careful whom she trusts. The subject turns to Ta Hwan, with Wang Yoo remarking that he’s odd. He asks if there’s been any problems. Seung Nyang smiles slightly and says that it’s interesting. Wang Yoo remarks that that’s a good thing. Wouldn’t want your dongsaeng bored. She mentions that Ta Hwan isn’t eating properly, so Wang Yoo agrees to send a cook from the royal kitchens. Then she mentions his clothes. So Wang Yoo agrees to send a seamstress. Although I haven’t seen anything wrong with anything the guy’s worn so far. It’s not like he doesn’t have a ton of clothes changes.
Back in Ta Hwan’s room, Soon Yong enters. Immediately Ta Hwan flops over and says Seung Nyang’s name and is disappointed that it’s the old man. Soon Yong announces that he will stand guard tonight. Ta Hwan demands Seung Nyang. Which makes sense since she can kill people with a sword and all Soon Yong can do is protest vigorously. Soon Yong reluctantly tells him that Seung Nyang is with the King and won’t be coming tonight. Wow, that sounds really suggestive… Ta Hwan worries that Seung Nyang’s going to be reassigned. Soon Yong thinks it’s better if Seung Nyang’s reposted, because Wang Yoo has her watching Ta Hwan’s actions. No love lost there. Ta Hwan announces that he’s grown fond of Seung Nyang. When Soon Yong hesitates, he announces that he’ll go get Seung Nyang himself.
Seung Nyang finishes her cup and announces her leave. Wang Yoo tells her to stay there tonight. Freaked face on Seung Nyang. And I would be, too, since that means sleeping in the same room with the guy you’re attracted to. Wang Yoo asks why she’s surprised. She stutters that the assassin is still out there and she cannot leave the Prince’s side. And already you’re losing her, dude, by your own design no less. Wang Yoo plans on sending someone else to guard the prince, so she can relax. She almost looks like she’s wavering when…
Ta Hwan’s outside and asks if she’s there. Wang Yoo’s face flicks irritation. When she answers in the affirmative, he asks to come in. Permission granted. Ta Hwan saunters in (that’s the only way I can describe his Imperial walk, where he tries to look kingly) and announces that he could use a drink. He plops down right next to Seung Nyang, shoving her over slightly so they share that side of the table – a fact not missed by Wang Yoo who knows the kid is staking his claim – and offers her some tea, for all her hard work. She declines so he goads her that she’ll let the King pour but not him. She replies that she’s on duty. So maybe it’s liquor then in that tea pot. Ta Hwan, enjoying making her uncomfortable, notes that she needs Wang Yoo’s permission, then. Wang Yoo practically rolls his eyes and he tells her to drink. She does, after saying it’s with his permission.
As Ta Hwan pours, he tells Wang Yoo that the king has good men. Then, he puts his arm around Seung Nyang, freaking her out a bit, which Wang Yoo notes. He looks a little disturbed over her discomfort. Because he likes her, even though he still thinks she’s a boy. Ta Hwan – still with that arm around her – asks Sungnyang to come with him, if he ever gets back to Yuan. He’s smiling, a smile that would melt a girl’s heart, and Seung Nyang looks at him shocked. Understandable, since she’s constantly besting him and doesn’t put up with his crap. I’d be surprised, too.
And here’s where Ta Hwan shows that he knows how to play the game, when he’s not freaking out. Ta Hwan goes, “Ah, you need permission for that, too?” Almost sarcastically. He turns to Wang Yoo and tells Wang Yoo to give him Seung Nyang. Seung Nyang chokes on her drink. Awkward looks from Seung Nyang and Wang Yoo. He clears his throat and says that even if he forced her, she would never leave. Significant look between them. Ta Hwan, still talking to Wang Yoo, looks back at Seung Nyang and asks Wang Yoo why he would say such a thing.
Seung Nyang clears her throat and announces that it’s late. She excuses herself and leaves as Wang Yoo’s face falls. Cause he was planning on hanging with his dongsaeng and he really misses her. Ta Hwan calls after her to wait for him. His face says he’s very pleased because he got his way. He thanks Wang Yoo for the drink and leaves, with a cocky little gleeful smile on his face that he gets when he tortures her. Wang Yoo exhales heavily and he’s definitely uneasy. He reaches over and chug some of the liquor and asks himself why his insides are burning when he’s had his fill? Because someone’s honing in on your woman and you’re clueless that you like her! Of course, you still think she’s a man, so it’s understandable.
Daidu. Baek Ahn and Tal Tal are brought before El Temur, who tells them it’s time for them to fix their mistake. El Temur’s sending them to Daechong to attack Ta Hwan. Baek Ahn’s appalled that El Temur wants him to be an assassin, but El Temur announces that he doesn’t want assassins, but soldiers. His plan: disguise their men as Koryeo soldiers. His sons are offended that El Temur’s going to trust these two with the job, so El Temur tells the boys to kill every living thing on the island. If it sees, if it hears, nothing can be left alive. That’s the only way to turn this on Koryeo. And this man is just plain evil.
News is sent to Wang Ko, who declares that El Temur is a terrifying man. Cham and Byung Soo are there and are privy to the plan. Byung Soo’s confident that no one suspects him as the assassin.
Wang Yoo is carrying out inspections of everyone. He’s just asked to search Ki’s personal things. They’re out in the courtyard, so there’s Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan in the distance. He’s trying to learn the split arrow and is failing miserably. When he sputters his frustration and kicks the ground, Seung Nyang laughs. Wang Yoo looks at her a little wistfully. Which his men notice. Ki looks at her wistfully, too, which no one notices. She suggests that he give up trying to learn. He protests that if a wisp of thing like her can do it, he’s going to learn. She gives him the same lesson she gave Wang Yoo, which of course gives Wang Yoo flashbacks, and his insides burn.
Later, Wang Yoo is playing the geomungo, trying to relax. Seung Nyang arrives, to his surprise. She comes and sits besides him and is more flirty that normal as she asks him why he’s angry that she’s with the Prince. This feels off. Is he fantasizing here? Wang Yoo sputters that he just deson’t like Ta Hwan, is all. Boy, he looks uncomfortable. She’s flirty as she says that she doesn’t believe him. He looks over at her, feigning offense. She just smiles coyly and blinks at him. He tells her, “Don’t smile like that.” She leans forward, practically seductive – this has *got* to be a dream! Man, dude, you’ve got it bad! – and asks him why she can’t smile. She smiles even more coyly.
Wang Yoo sputters that he said to knock it off. She giggles at him and he looks like his head is going to explode. Which is understandable because she’s supposed to be *a man.* Wang Yoo sputters that it’s an order. No more smiling! He tries to look away, but Seung Nyang slides closer and really smiles coyly at him. He’s quaking as he tells her stop. She bites her lip as if trying to decide something and then comes closer. She pokes him, flirtily and he drops his pick. Then he screams, “Stop!” and wakes up out of his dream. I knew he was dreaming! There’s no way she would act like that! Shin Woo and Moo Song are there.
Shin Woo asks him if he’s all right and he tries to shake off his little fantasy dream of Seung Nyang. Because he still thinks she’s a man. He tells them to go get some rest. Shin Woo pleads with Wang Yoo to forgive their failings. Moo Song chimes in that they didn’t realize how painful all this is for him. He asks them what they’re talking about. Shin Woo’s practically crying as he spits out that Seung Nyang is a man. They totally know their king and I am rolling. Wang Yoo tries to play it off, but Shin Woo’s practically crying as he says that they can find him the sweetest lil' babydoll in all Koryeo… but a MAN...? He covers his mouth, not believing that he uttered it aloud! Moo Song hits his leg and drops his head in shame at failing the king so.
Wang Yoo looks at them like they’re crazy. Not that he *just* wasn’t have a dream about her or anything, that they heard. Shin Woo weeps that the king is interested in a man of all things?! A horse would be better? Wang Yoo sputters, denying it. Moo Song shakes his head and waves his hands and begs his king not to be shy, since it’s not Wang Yoo’s fault. They’re to blame. I guess for not meeting his manly needs or something. That’s so weird. Wang Yoo’s now indignant over what they’re thinking! They sigh in relief, which infuriates Wang Yoo even more – because he *does* like her – and he starts throwing things at them and demanding they get out. He sputters over their suggestion as they leave. Even though you just had a dream about her, dude.
Wang Yoo, Shin Woo and Moo Song are meeting with Commander Ki and the other men out in the courtyard. Ta Hwan is spying, worrying about Wang Yoo taking Seung Nyang with him. The Inju detachment will stay there, but Seung Nyang’s been assigned to the capital. Because Wang Yoo wants his dongsaeng back. Wang Yoo notices Ta Hwan, who lamely tries to hide, and Wang Yoo sighs. He tells Seung Nyang to attend to her duties to the Prince. Friendship should not cloud her judgment. A little jealous are we? Shin Woo and Moo Song exchange a look. They’re still not conviced about Wang Yoo’s feelings. Because they know their boy. Byung Soo grimaces, jealous and angry that Seung Nyang’s getting what *he* deserves. I wonder if he’s going to try to kill her when the attack comes. Wang Yoo and Co. leave.
Later, the squadron, with Byung Soo leading them, is practicing. Byung Soo does a swing and grimaces because of his arm. Bool Hwa and Ki appear, Ki holding a pot in his right hand. Ki tells him that the pot was found in his room. It’s elm root bark for treating wounds. Ki demands an explanation. I was thinking he was going to have Byung Soo hold it to show the weakness in the guy’s arm. Byung Soo starts to get indignant and asks if Ki is accusing him of being the assassin. Bool Hwa replies, grabbing the wounded arm, that they’re just asking about the root bark. Byung Soo grimaces in pain.
Noticing the grimace, Bool Hwa asks Byung Soo what’s wrong. Byung Soo rips his hand away, and there’s blood on Bool Hwa’s hand. Look between Bool Hwa and Ki – because he’s the assassin! Their trusted friend. Ki demands Byung Soo explain. Byung Soo still pretends he’s loyal and tries to get out of explaining. Ki insists. Byung Soo says that he was hurt in training. Bool Hwa asks him if he thinks they’re stupid, but Byung Soo’s already planned for this and managed to get one of the soldiers to ‘hurt’ him in training. Byung Soo acts offended, but Ki’s not quite convinced. Because it is quite convenient.
Later, Byung Soo is ruminating as he’s treating his arm. One more day. By tonight all of them will be dead. At sea, El Temur’s ships are coming. Baek Ahn tells Tal Tal they have to take Ta Hwan’s head this time. Tal Tal can’t believe El Temur’s audacity. Baek Ahn stoically says, “Clutch a viper to your bosom, sooner or later it will strike.” Lovely sentiment. But true. You can’t change a viper’s nature, no matter how nice it looks or acts. That’s why you just need to kill it instead of just telling it that disloyalty will not be tolerated.
Both of them now believe that El Temur killed Yesun Temur Khan (Ta Hwan’s father). They repeat what El Temur told the current Khan: Ta Hwan has to die before the Emperor does. Otherwise it’s assassinating the Emperor and that’s something that even El Temur can’t blatantly do. Even though he did it with Ta Hwan's father... Ki Se and Ja Hae come in and announce that they’re making landfall. Baek Ahn isn’t worried and they treat him like poop on their shoes. Ki Se reminds Baek Ahn that his life or death depends on today. Baek Ahn replies that he will repay Regent El Temur for all he’s done. And I wonder what that really means, since Baek Ahn owes his life to the guy that El Temur murdered.
Byung Soo sneaks out of the fort to meet up with El Temur’s men. He tells them about the layout of the fort. Since Ta Hwan’s quarters are near the north side, Ki Se and Ja Hae will storm the north gate, while Baek Ahn will take the south and side gates.
Back at the fort, Bool Hwa urgently reports to Ki that Byung Soo is gone. He didn’t show up for his shift. Now they know he’s the assassin. Ki tells Bool Hwa to find Byung Soo, but they’ve realized too late and the attack has begun. At least Wang Yoo and his guys have left. I’d hate to think of *everyone* in danger.
Soon Yong somehow thinks it’s a good idea to go outside during the attack. Maybe his quarters were on fire. There’s a lot of flames flying at the moment. He comes across Baek Ahn and demands to know what’s going on. Baek Ahn holds a sword to Soon Yong’s neck and tells him to take them to Ta Hwan if Soon Yong wants to live. And I have a feeling that Soon Yong would rather lay down his life than see his Prince killed.
Seung Nyang is leading Ta Hwan out of his burning quarters. They see the soldiers in Koryeo uniforms. Ta Hwan can’t understand why they would want him dead. Seung Nyang replies that they’re not Koryeo soldiers. Ki Se appears and both of them freak out. They are most definitely *not* Koryeo soldiers. Seung Nyang runs with Ta Hwan up a hill to one of the fort’s walls. She shoots any soldier who starts to approach. She tells Ta Hwan to get over the wall. Ta Hwan sputters it’s too high but then climbs over, using Seung Nyang’s shoulder at one point. Ki Se is furious that Ta Hwan’s going to get away.
Commander Ki is furiously fighting. He’s searching for Seung Nyang and screams her name.
Ta Hwan is still on the wall, telling Seung Nyang to give him her hand. She wants him to leave but he won’t go by himself. She’s just trying to protect your escape, dude, since her arrows are the only thing keeping them at bay. She shoves him over the wall, to where Bool Hwa and Ki are standing. Ta Hwan sputters that Seung Nyang is inside. Ki looks, striken, but orders the gates closed and barred, to lock the Yuan soldiers inside. He knows he could be condemning his daughter to death. Ta Hwan keeps screaming that Seung Nyang is still inside!
As the gates are barred, Ki yells over the wall to Seung Nyang to hurry and get over the wall! I love Dad. She answers that she hears him, but she’s surrounded by a bunch of men. Ki Se sends his brother off after Ta Hwan. Ki Se tells her that he’s going to rip out her heart with his own hands. She recognizes him and tells him that he killed her mother. He’s clueless. She throws down her sword and dares him to rip out her heart. As Ki Se goes to swing at her, because he doesn’t have a problem killing someone unarmed, she kicks him in his goods and uses his bent over frame to climb up the wall.
Seung Nyang meets up with Ta Hwan and Ki. Significant looks, particularly between father and daughter. They’re going to escape out the back gate when Baek Ahn arrives, with Soon Yong as his hostage. Baek Ahn announces that if they surrender, they’ll be spared. Resist and they will all die. They just want Ta Hwan.
Ki announces that they fight to the last man. If they die, they die as men of Koryeo! His men shout that they are with him. Lots of fighting. And I wonder how they know who they’re fighting, since everyone’s dressed the same. How do they know they’re not fighting someone on their side? Ki tells Seung Nyang to take the boat over the hill and take the Prince off the island. Seung Nyang protests that she won’t leave without Ki. He tells her to obey her father. He screams at her to live, as she tries not to cry, and she must live to protect Ta Hwan. It’s his final order. And again, I actually feel a little choked up at that part, to my surprise. As Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan get away, Ki watches them go and apologizes to his little girl. Another choked up moment. Then he fights anew to give his daughter a chance.
Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan race through the woods with Baek Ahn and Tal Tal in pursuit. They get to the beach and Ta Hwan falls, his heart is about to burst. He gets up and they reach the boat. As they’re trying to push off, Baek Ahn and Tal Tal arrive. Baek Ahn asks for a crossbow. Seung Nyang sees the shot and takes the arrow for Ta Hwan. But they can’t get the boat into the ocean.
Baek Ahn and the rest run up. He compliments Seung Nyang, calling her a wisp of a thing. He takes out a knife and throws it to the ground. Baek Ahn tells Ta Hwan that his long journey ends there. He should take his life and maintain the honor of the Imperial house. Seung Nyang grabs the knife and defiantly holds it as a weapon. Since she discarded her sword. Baek Ahn draws his sword. And then Ta Hwan does something I didn’t expect. He gets some nerve. Hints of things to come…
Ta Hwan steps out from behind Seung Nyang to face Baek Ahn. He tells Baek Ahn that Yesun Temur Khan chose him as his successor and that he is the Yuan heir. If Baek Ahn kills him, Baek Ahn will live as El Temur’s dog, but his clan will be cursed for killing an emperor. He tells Baek Ahn to kill him and drench his sword in dragon’s blood. It’s clear that Baek Ahn is wavering because he replies that a dragon without a throne is nothing more than a snake. Ta Hwan responds that his brother is dying and doesn’t have long. A little longer and he will ascend the dragon throne.
Baek Ahn replies, really torn between what his heart wants and what he knows he needs to do to survive El Temur, that if he doesn’t do it, someone else will. Ta Hwan declares that he’s not going to die because his grandfather’s grandfather, grandfather, Genghis Khan Temujin, protects him. That got Baek Ahn. Tal Tal reminds him that Ki Se will be there soon. But it’s finished. Baek Ahn and Tal Tal kill all the men with him. To Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan’s surprise.
After the men are dead, Baek Ahn steps forward and demands that Ta Hwan promise to live and show Baek Ahn who he really is. Majestically, Ta Hwan declares that heaven will not forsake a dragon. Baek Ahn drops to his knees and declares that Ta Hwan is his Emperor now and Ta Hwan should not forget his general. Tal Tal also bows. Then they help Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan push off from shore and sail away.
atching them leave, Tal Tal asks if Baek Ahn has any regrets. Baek Ahn replies that the moment the Emperor dies, that little fool will be take the throne, and if he must gamble, he prefers the winning hand. If Ta Hwan doesn’t die, he’ll be Emperor. ‘Nuf said. Ki Se and company arrives. Baek Ahn tries to play off the loss and Ki Se beats the crap out of him in frustration.
Back at the Capital, Wang Yoo is having a bad dream. He suddenly wakes, crying, “No!” Shin Woo is there. Wang Yoo declares it a nightmare. His late mother was surrounded by demons. Moo Song arrives and announces that Wang Ko left for Inju last night. Wang Yoo realizes what this means and orders that Jombak muster his men.
Back at Daechong, Wang Ko arrives and asks about Ta Hwan. Ki Se tells him that they found a fisherman’s boat. Ki Se doesn’t want to hear Wang Ko’s grumbling and orders his men to establish a base camp and search the area.
Ta Hwan and Seung Nyang are running through the forest, Seung Nyang clutching her arm from where the arrow hit. The Imperial Ta Hwan is gone and the freaked out Ta Hwan is back. He asks where they’re going. She replies: Kaegyong. That’s really far for them to run, all the way to Koryeo’s capital. Ta Hwan thinks it’s crazy. Seung Nyang tells him that Wang Yoo needs to know that he’s still alive. Ta Hwan sputters that Wang Ko has betrayed them. Nothing new for Seung Nyang. Koryeo isn’t safe. She makes them keep going.
A little farther and they come across Yuan soldiers and a captive Commander Ki. He’s bound and bleeding and can barely walk. Seung Nyang is horrified at this sight of her father. Wang Ko steps forward and Ki angrily sputters that Wang Ko sold them out to the Yuan. Wang Ko asks where Ta Hwan is headed. Not knowing that Ki would rather die that give up *his daughter.* Ki responds that Wang Ko disgusts him. Wang Ko announces that he’s going to take Ki to Kaegyong, but Ki won’t be able to talk, because Wang Ko’s going to rip out his tongue.
Seung Nyang weeps over what’s to come for her father. Wang Ko squats next to Ki and tells him that Yom Byung Soo will do all the talking, that they’re going to pin the attack on Ki. Ki demands that they kill him now. Wang Ko orders Ki’s tongue ripped out. As Ki is dragged away, Seung Nyang silently begs her father to look their way. And Ta Hwan gets to watch her weep for her father. Episode ends.
Thoughts
The plot moves forward, toward Seung Nyang ending up in Yuan as a concubine.
Part of what’s sad about this episode is that both Seung Nyang and her father got closer to really reuniting, only to have events keep them separated. And Ta Hwan knows what their relationship is. At least he does if he was paying attention. So he knows that she can relate to having her father cruelly cut down by ruthless, immoral men who crave power.
Byung Soo shows more of his disgusting true colors. He doesn’t have a problem betraying a man who was his mentor and friend, who granted him his trust, all so that he can get what he feels like is what he deserves. I wonder if a different actor could have made him sympathetic, but is that the aim, to make the villains sympathetic, because so far I don’t feel sorry for any of them. At most, they almost feel two-dimensional, all evil, no humanity. And Wang Ko is the most cartoony out of all of them, with all his moustache-twirling cackling moments.
Wang Yoo and Seung Nyang are, of course, true and noble in the face of all of this, but I think they could have gotten that message across even if the bad guys weren’t so terribly bad. I think if all of them were a bit more three-dimensional, I would feel more for all of them. The only people that have really moved me so far are Ta Hwan and Ki, because both of them aren’t so two-dimensional. Ki is defined by his honor and service, but that doesn’t mean you don’t see him waver at times, regret, hope or yearn.
Same thing for Ta Hwan. The kid is spoiled and pampered and has been catered to, which makes his attitute stomachable, but beneath all that is someone whose father has been murdered, maybe with him as a witness, and whose murderer is now gunning for his own life. What makes El Temur even more scary is the fact that he has the audacity to kill an Emperor and the power to get away with it. If I was Ta Hwan, I would be afraid, too. But this episode makes me think that we’re going to see not just a simpering coward that Ta Hwan’s been so far, we’re going to see an Emperor. He has the annoying strut down, but out on the beach was the first time where he sounded Imperial. I only wish he believe what he told Baek Ahn about being protected by the heavens. If he really believed that, he wouldn’t be so simpering, because he’d know he wasn’t going to end up dead.
I think I’m going to enjoy how Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan’s relationship develops. It cracks me up, the glee he gets when he tortures her. I don’t look forward to when they’re back in Yuan, because I think that will shift the power in their relationship to where it *doesn’t* need to be: with him in control and her just having to submit.
And when is her female identity going to come out? She can’t very well be a concubine if everyone thinks she’s a boy. Speaking of, Wang Yoo is cracking me up, as he’s in denial about his affections. Shin Woo and Moo Song are cracking me up, too, because they are struggling just as much thinking that their king might have homosexual leanings. Ah, the fun of girls disguised as boys... And didn’t I call that dream? There’s no way Seung Nyang would ever act like that in real life, not while Wang Yoo still thinks she’s a boy. Just like with her father, she thinks it would screw everything up to reveal her identity and she likes things how they are.
Next episode, we’re probably going to get to see Wang Yoo freak out over Seung Nyang being in harm’s way. And his men worry over their king’s ‘affection.’
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