Empress Ki Episode 7 Recap

The episode starts with Seung Nyang getting cornered by Ki Se and him grabbing her, smelling her and declaring that it’s just what he thought: she’s a girl. She tries to blow it off, but he grabs her and rips her shirt open to reveal her bound chest. She punches him in the nose just as Byung Soo arrives with two other soldiers. She quickly holds her shirt shut and Byung Soo’s just about to slap her when Ki Se remarks, “Not bad. For a girl.” So many reasons why this statement is wrong. He’s laughing. 'Cause he’s got a filly to break… 

Byung Soo looks at Ki Se, trying to process what the man just said: A girl? The guy that ruined his life, is better at everything that him, is actually a girl? That he probably bunked with. Who has seen him peeing. Is a girl? Ki Se orders the soldiers to dress her up pretty and bring her to his tent. And my skin crawls. The soldiers drag her off, with her protests, and Byung Soo just stares after them, still trying to process that Seung Nyang is a girl.

Byung Soo drags a bound Seung Nyang into a tent. Some other soldiers shove some women in. Byung Soo orders them to give this guy... He stops and grimaces and then tells them to give Seung Nyang some clothes. Scenes of them brushing her long flowing hair (which I guess she kept hidden), sticking on a delicate hair pin, applying makeup, including lipstick (that all women dragged off to become concubines just happen to grab when forcibly taken from their homes) and dressing her in an elegant *white* outfit. Not some other color but white that isn't prone to showing dirt at all and needs no ironing either. After applying the makeup, it’s almost like Seung Nyang’s given up. Byung Soo enters and looks at her, still not believing she’s Seung Nyang.

Ki Se waiting in his tent, drinking, chilling in some studly robes. Byung Soo announces that he’s come with Seung Nyang. Ki Se’s looking particularly smug and triumphant as he tells Byung Soo to bring her in. When they enter, he stares at her, basically transfixed. She does look quite nice in the outfit, although in this light it looks pink. Byung Soo has to snap him out of it. Ki Se clears his throat and tells Byung Soo to shove her to her knees. Because this all isn’t humiliating enough. Byung Soo does and Ki Se tells him that he can leave. Byung Soo does, but not before giving Ki Se a look.

Seung Nyang looks to her right and there’s two crossbows that just happen to be in the tent. Maybe even one of them was the one Ki Se used to kill her mother. Ki Se goes and squats beside her. He compliments her beauty with a “very nice.” Not at all taken in, she looks at him, almost defiant, and asks him what's on his mind. He smiles at her, cocky, and stands. Then he describes how he goes fox hunting and the ones who eat what he feeds them while they’re in the cage, he kills, but the ones that hold out, growling, snapping… those are the fighters and they make him want to break them. He says tame, but he really means break. 

We see Byung Soo outside the tent, listening. Ki Se announces that Seung Nyang will be his concubine in Daidu. Byung Soo gasps and covers his mouth in horror. Then he runs off. Back inside, Ki Se tells Seung Nyang not to let herself be tamed, because the moment she does, he'll skin her alive. She doesn’t say anything but notes that he’s holding a bottle, so he gets in her face and gloats about her not being fun. She looks at him and confidently asks why she would be scared of an annoying little nothing like him. She’s smart to picks at his insecurities, because despite his bluster, I think he really feels like that, since all his power is basically because he got it from his dad, and the men he commands, I’m sure his insecurity niggles at him that they fear and obey him not because of him but because of his dad.

Ki Se laughs like he’s pleased at her fight. But she adds that his dad is El Temur. He tells her not bring his father up. She tells him that no one would fear him. If not for Daddy. He tells her to shut up. She tells him that he’s a disgrace to his father’s name. He yells for her to shut up and throws down the bottle, which shatters. And this is exactly what she wanted, so she could get a piece and but through the ropes that bind her. He pulls her to her feet by her dress’s collar and yells that pretty or not, he'll kill her if she keeps this up. She replies that he should, because death is better than having a nothing's hands all over her. He punches her, knocking her to the floor, and she grabs one of the shards.

Byung Soo’s still realing. Seung Nyang’s going to be Ki Se’s concubine? If Ki Se falls for her, Ki Se'll have his head. In another tent, Wang Yoo finally wakes up, with Seung Nyang’s name on his lips. He goes to find her, since she’s not there, but the two guards stop him. Byung Soo enters, looking a little desperate, but then tells the guards that they can go. Once they’re alone, Byung Soo asks Wang Yoo if he knew that Seung Nyang is a girl. Wang Yoo looks stunned and replies, “He's a girl?” Byung Soo tsks at him and tells him that Ki Se is having his way with her as we speak. It takes a moment for Wang Yoo to get over the shock of it, but then he shoves past Byung Soo to go and rescue her. Because it’s okay for him to like her now!

Back in Ki Se’s tent, he’s pulled Seung Nyang up by her collar. He growls that he can put up with a lot, but not trash talk about his father! Wait, weren’t you paying attention? She wasn’t trashing your father; she was trashing *you.* He dares her to say it again. Her response? To head butt him. She’s gotten her hands free and quickly grabs a crossbow and levels it at Ki Se. Who she should now shoot. Who would know he was dead? You and Wang Yoo could be long gone before anyone discovers him, especially because they all know he’s in there defiling you. But, no, she asks for two saddled horses. She tells him he has till the count of three, or he’ll get an arrow just like he gave the King. She starts to count and Ki Se spits that if he dies, her king dies. Flashback of Ki Se killing her Oma. Which is why you should just shoot. Instead she starts to quake.

Ki Se thinks it’s because Seung Nyang’s afraid for her king. He starts creeping forward, ignoring her when she tells him to stay back. He dives for the crossbow and she fires too late. But he’s able to knock it out of her hands. Come to think of it, why did he have a *loaded* crossbow just lying around. Stop, you’re getting distracted from the dramatic scene! Ki Se throws her on his bed and pins her down, kneeling over her. He growls that Wang Yoo isn't her lord, he is! She protests that he’ll never have his way. He proceeds to try to kiss her (among other things) but she squirms and generally fights his advance. He’s only stopped by the appearance of Wang Yoo, who pulls him off of her and then punches him across the face, knocking him out.

Seung Nyang sits up and Wang Yoo looks around for a weapon. Although there are other things he could use… Wang Yoo spots a candlestick and is going to club Ki Se to death. Seung Nyang grabs him to hold him back and she begs him not to. Because that makes sense. He spits that she needs to let him go, because *Ki Se’s dead!* And I do mean SPITS. Lots of spittle flying. He’s able to throw off her arm, but she grabs him around the waist, which makes him pause. All the while the dramatic music is playing! She tells him that she’s wished him dead a hundred times, to pay him back for my mother. As he looks at her, she begs him.

And is persuaded. But that doesn’t stop Wang Yoo from smacking the bed next to Ki Se's head with the candlestick. He looks at the filth that he just spared. Then he turns to Seung Nyang and tells her to come with him. He takes her by the hand and leads her from the tent. And outside are probably ALL the guards plus Byung Soo and Ja Hae. So couldn't the rest of the Korean prisoners now run? And Wang Ko and Cham. Cham announces the obvious: that Seung Nyang is a girl. Wang Ko looks completely shocked and remarks that she’s just full of surprises. This scene is witnessed by Jeom Bak, who was doing recon. Since he already knew that Seung Nyang is a girl, he’s not shocked by that, but he knows it’s bad because she’s wearing a dress.

Wang Yoo’s Mighty Men Camp. (This is what I’m calling Shin Woo, Moo Song and Jeom Bak: his Mighty Men.) They’ve asked Bool Hwa how he survived. And they’ve lit a fire, so they must be far enough away from the main camp that they don’t have to worry about the light being seen. Bool Hwa tells them that he took an arrow off Daechong Island and was saved by some fishermen. Moo Song asks him why he’s there. He replies that it’s to save Seung Nyang and kill Byung Soo. Because he hates the traitor as much as we do. Shin Woo says that they’re there for the same reason, even though the king told them not to. He starts to get emotional as he says that they’re worried about him. Aw, Shin Woo loves his king.

Jeom Bak arrives and announces that those scum are going to kill the King and Seung Nyang! Bool Hwa clamors that they have to do something. Moo Song’s somber because there’s only four of them. Shin Woo wonders what would happen if they set fire to the camp’s tents. In the confusion, they could save them. And then Wang Yoo and Seung Nyang can declare their love for each other. And I just realized: Shin Woo and Moo Song don’t know that Seung Nyang’s a girl. Or did Jeom Bak tell them? The others like this idea.

Back at the camp, Seung Nyang and Wang Yoo have been bound and are now tied, back-to-back, to a post in a tent. Wang Yoo thinks about how she pulled him when he was delirious with fever and thinks that it’s hard enough *for a man* to do, much less for a girl. Seung Nyang finally broaches the subject, telling him that she’s been lying to him. She asks him if he’s disappointed. His face says that it nauseates him a little that she would think he would be disappointed by the truth. He tells her, “Not hardly.” And he’s thinking: because I love you and now it’s okay to have these feelings! Or maybe I’m projecting. No, that’s what he’s thinking. She’s clueless and tells him that she’s still the same person and she’s still his servant. Wang Yoo doesn’t say anything, but his face says a lot: that he’s grateful for her loyalty, grateful for *her,* that he can’t believe that she’s in this mess, that he didn’t protect her, that he wishes things were different…

The Mighty Men get to work. Bool Hwa kills a guard by snapping his neck. Because it’s really an easy thing to do: snap someone’s neck. Shin Woo uses a dart gun to kill three guards. As they’re dragging the guards away, Jeom Bak marvels at how Shin Woo is able to do that and Moo Song replies that eunuchs are always full of hot air. Heh. Once in uniform, Shin Woo and Jeom Bak bluster their way into the supply tent, where they dump out the wine and set it on fire. And right after, they get caught by Cham. In the confusion, Bool Hwa and Moo Song go after Seung Nyang and Wang Yoo but they get spotted by Byung Soo. And in the four get caught. Why they weren’t summarily executed, I don’t know, but then Wang Yoo wouldn’t have his Mighty Men and I would be very sad.

Daidu. El Temur slides a letter across the table to a seated Empress Dowager. Soon Yong is standing next to her. He announces that it’s the date for the wedding. Empress Dowager answers that the date is for *her* to decide as Empress. El Temur responds that there is much to do in the days ahead and these things can't be left to some fortune teller. He adds that the court must be appeased. She sighs, knowing that he’s got her, and concedes, but not without a fight. She announces that until the day itself, Danashiri must be trained as an empress. El Temur 'entrusts' his daughter to Empress Dowager’s instruction. He leaves. Soon Yong announces that this is a bad beginning and the Empress Dowager must push back. She replies that there's no need for all that. She has an empress to train first. And the tone in her voice says that she’s planning on tormenting her son’s bride quite thoroughly, all in the name of training. This should be fun.

Danashiri’s fast asleep. She’s woken by Dok Man who tells her that it’s time for her lessons. Danashiri flops up, irritate because it’s so early. Dok Man answers that it’s late. Danashiri huffs back that the Empress runs things here and she gets up when she wants. And you’re not Empress yet, sweetie. You’re just engaged, not married. He nicely answers that the Inner Court is run by the Empress Dowager. She can’t believe he just said that. The woman with him tells her that the Empress Dowager rises at 6 o'clock. Dok Man adds that all the other court ladies rise an hour before the Empress Dowager. And I would hate that. Danashiri tries to go back to bed, but Dok Man and the other woman steal her covers.

Next, Dok Man is making Danashiri walk on a straight line with a bowl balanced on her head as he announces that an empress is as graceful as a crane. No frivolity whatsoever. There are two ladies walking beside them, one holding the tray with the bowls, the other who places a new bowl on Danashiri’s head when the one before it falls and shatters on the ground. Every time one falls, Dok Man announces, “Again.” And by how she’s walking and flicking them off her head, Danashiri hates it. Finally she takes the bowl and smashes it on the ground, announcing that she can't. She won't! She stops off.

Now Danashiri’s stuffing her face. Dok Man tells to have some dignity, please. She replies, “Dignity-shmignity, I'm hungry!” She asks for more rice and is told that gluttony is expressly forbidden by the Empress Dowager. Danashiri sighs and rants that she’s tired of hearing the Dowager’s name! Dok Man immediately orders the servants to take the food away. Danashiri protests but Dok Man announces that it’s time to study decorum.

Dok Man has her recite what a woman is: First and foremost, a woman is chaste. Second, she is pure and honest. She knows her place. A woman's place is in the home, not outside it. Speak no evil, hear no evil. She does not spread gossip, nor does she listen to it. Danashiri’s doing pretty well until she reaches the part with the candles. She reaches to look at the book in front of her but Dok Man smacks it with a switch, narrowly missing her fingers. A woman lights candles at twilight! He tells her to start from the beginning. And then Danashiri throws a fit, ripping up the books pages while declaring that she won’t! Dok Man tells her that if she does not finish, she cannot be empress. She replies that he can just forget it, forget it, forget it, forget it!

Later Bong Chool, aka Gol Ta, is reporting events to Ta Hwan. He’s rolling. Gol Ta is surprised that Ta Hwan’s pleased and he replies that of course he is. Her leaving on her own is a good thing. Gol Ta replies that the Regent won't allow it. Ta Hwan wants to bet him a persimmon that he’s wrong. Gol Ta smiles and tells Ta Hwan that he thinks the two of them are meant for each other. Ta Hwan practically hits him at that idea. Ta Hwan tells Gol Ta to watch: with Danashiri’s temper, she’ll never finish the training.

In her room, Danashiri is grumbling about Dok Man bossing her around. Empress Dowager arrives. Empress Dowager brings up the training and tells her that court life is one of rules and regulations. More so for the Empress, so of course it's difficult. Danashiri thinks that they should change the rules. Empress Dowager might have set the Inner Court rules, but when Danashiri’s empress, things will change. Empress Dowager just looks at her and smiles, like a shark who is about to eat the girl alive. Then she tells Danashiri not to take it personally. Danashiri thinks that she started it. Empress Dowager tells the girl to get some rest and leaves. When Empress Dowager is gone, Danashiri vows to show the woman. As she’s leaving Danashiri’s room, Empress Dowager mutters, “Insolent.” She asks her maid to prepare what they discussed. The maid doesn’t like it and sadly agrees to obey. Empress Dowager declares that it's time she learned how they do things in the Inner Court.

The next day, Danashiri’s walking with Ta Hwan. He tells her that her face is beaming. She smiles and says that it’s swelling from lack of sleep. He tells her that in his eyes, she’s lovelier than these flowers. She smiles and thinks, “Hook, line and sinker.” Like she’s totally got Ta Hwan under her spell. Wow, she's vain *and* clueless. She replies that she doesn't care for these flowers. The landscaping is not pleasing to the eye. Ta Hwan replies that his late mother planted them herself. So I guess Empress Dowager is Ta Hwan’s step-mother. Danashiri’s genuinely horrified to have insulted him and apologizes. Smiling, he tells her that it’s fine since he’s not fond of the landscape either.

Danashiri asks Ta Hwan if she can ask a question. Of course. Because I want you to think that I’m in your thrall. She wants the truth. He replies that he never lies. Except when her dad tells him to. He’s being so pleasant to her right now. What is his game? She asks him if her really wants her as his empress. Smoothly, Ta Hwan tells her that he never wanted anyone else. She smiles at that answer, pleased. She asks him to promise to let her old staff to come be with her. Gol Ta declares that this is impossible. Then he gets uncomfortable because she glares at him.

Genially, Ta Hwan readily agrees and asks her if there’s anything else she wants. She wants him to ask if she feels like seeing him before he comes and sees her. Gol Ta looks at her, because of her pride. Ta Hwan just smiles and agrees. She also wants a formal proposal. He asks her how he should do that. She tells him that she loves flowers and wants him to make her a garland of the rarest blossoms. Of course he agrees. She leaves, certain that he’s eating out of the palm of her hand. As she goes, Ta Hwan turns to Gol Ta and tells him to strip her quarters of any flowers.

Baek Ahn and Tal Tal are riding for the frontier. Baek Ahn’s ticked because they’re bringing no soldiers with them. Tal Tal’s just happy they’re alive. Baek Ahn mutters that he should have just killed Ta Hwan. Tal Tal sighs.

Ki Se and the other baddies are trying to figure out how to handle things, since the tribute they were bringing with them has burned to the ground. Ki Se wants Wang Yoo to pay for it. Ja Hae warns that this could be risky, since El Temur likes him. This really frustrates Ki Se. But Wang Ko chimes up that they’re not without options. He suggests that they send Wang Yoo to the frontier to deal with the Turks, since Baek Ahn has been dispatched there. And if Wang Yoo has the good grace to die there, it's not their fault. Of course Ki Se agrees to the plan, since it means that Wang Yoo will probably die soon.

Ja Hae and Byung Soo arrive to take Wang Yoo away. Seung Nyang asks where they’re taking him. Ja Hae says that it a place worse than hell, a place of death. She begs to be allowed to go with him, but Byung Soo tells her that she has her own hell coming up. Ja Hae and Byung Soo smile, quite pleased with how she’s going to suffer. Wang Yoo reaches over and takes her hand and says her name. Crying, she begs him not to die. Wang Yoo’s trying hard not to cry as he vows that he will live and come back for her, so she has to stay alive for him. He’s ordering her to stay alive. She promises she will. And they drag Wang Yoo away as Seung Nyang cries.

Wang Yoo’s taken to Ki Se’s tent. Wang Yoo glares at Ki Se, who is smug as he tells Wang Yoo that there’s a long road ahead. Maybe even the road to his death. Wang Yoo wants to know what’s going to happen to Seung Nyang. Ki Se gloats and tells Wang Yoo that she’ll be a slave... to many men. Wang Yoo, whose hands are tied behind his back, lunges for Ki Se. He’s probably wishing that he’d killed the scumbag when he had the chance. Ja Hae wacks him in the gut with a sword. Wang Yoo promises that if anything happens to Seung Nyang, he'll kill Ki Se. Ki Se tells his brother to get Wang Yoo out of there. And the look on his face is slightly worried.

Ja Hae and Byung Soo are taking Wang Yoo to the Turkish border. The Mighty Men are coming too. The Mighty Men know they’re no longer heading to Daidu. Jeom Bak wonders if they’re going to kill them. Shin Woo tells him that the Yuan wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble if that’s what they were planning. And Wang Yoo’s face looks absolutely tortured as he imagines all the things that they’re doing to Seung Nyang right now.

Baek Ahn and Tal Tal reach the Yuan Western Border. As they arrive at camp, Baek Ahn declares that the men look more like beggars than soldiers. Tal Tal remarks that something is odd: the men are starving with no discipline. Baek Ahn agrees; it’s not that they’re losing, it’s because they can't help but lose. They’re greeted by the guy who’s been in charge, who announces that they’ve put together a banquet in Baek Ahn’s honor. Baek Ahn’s not happy, but hides it. He acts like he’s pleased with the officers and their graft. He tells them that all that’s missing are the women. The guy in charge (GIC) laughs and says that he’ll have some women brought over. Baek Ahn smiles and tells him that he had no idea there were men like him on the border. And I’m just waiting for Baek Ahn to cut off the cut’s head.

GIC laughs, thinking it’s a compliment, and tells Baek Ahn that he’ll get Baek Ahn anything he wants, just say the word. Baek Ahn asks for the guy’s sword. And here is comes. The guy’s clueless. Baek Ahn tells GIC that he’s been fighting since he was a child and has made his bed on the corpses of his enemies. GIC’s heard. Baek Ahn looks at the sword and tells GIC that a warrior's sword has a life of its own, but GIC's doesn’t even smell like blood.

Now the sword’s at GIC’s throat. Baek Ahn wants to know who GIC sold their weapons to. GIC’s confused. Baek Ahn growls that he’s not a patient man and GIC better answer or he'll cut GIC down and feed GIC to his starving men. GIC protests that it’s a misunderstanding and that he would never sell the weapons. Baek Ahn’s done and slashes the guy across the throat. His head doesn’t come off, but the guy is certainly dead. To drive the point home, Baek Ahn overturns the table – even though he’s wasting perfectly good food that the starving men could eat – and demands to know who’s next in the chain of command. All the rest of the officers immediately beg for their lives (by asking Baek Ahn to kill them).

Baek Ahn orders Tal Tal to display GIC’s head outside the tent. He growls that having no weapons is bad enough; it's impossible to win with no morale. He declares that he will take up his sword and cut away the rotten flesh. Tal Tal announces that first, they need to strengthen their forces. They’re going to separate the elite and use the rest as laborers and fodder in battle. Lesser provisions will be given to the lesser men and desertion will be met with summary execution. Ominous music.

Nighttime. Seung Nyang is tied up away from the others. A soldier starts to give her some food but Wang Ko orders him to stop. Squatting in front of her, he’s bitter as he tells her that he lost the throne thanks to her and so they'll keep you barely alive and she will know pain. He laughs with glee in anticipation of her suffering. Ki Se sees this and has her brought to his tent so she can eat. She tells him that he can keep his charity. Which personally I think is stupid. How are you going to live if you starve before you reach Daidu? Wang Yoo needs to have a living person to rescue, not a corpse, and you weren’t looking so good during the march.

Ki Se tells her not to make him angry. They’ll be reaching Daidu soon and he’s offering you a choice: slavery in the palace or life as his concubine. She scoffs at his offer and tells him she chooses slavery. He’s a little upset as he tells her that they'll work her like a dog until she dies. She replies defiantly that she knows. Mentally, she promises that his day will come, but first she’s going to kill his emperor.

Daidu. Ta Hwan is practicing the baby arrow and doing horribly. He mutters that it's strange because he did better on Daechong. He thinks of his lesson with Seung Nyang. His next shot is no better. He gets frustrated and stomps away.

Soon Yong is with the Empress Dowager, furious at Danashiri’s disrespectful behavior toward her. The maid comes in with a box. It’s what they discussed. Empress Dowager examines the contents and notes that it smells nice. Then she tells the maid to give it to Danashiri, exactly the way she instructed the maid to do it. The maid leaves and Soon Yong asks what was in the box. Empress Dowager just smiles slightly and remarks that even an Empress must bear an heir. Implication: what ever she's sending Danashiri will make her infertile. Whoa. That is cold.

Danashiri is smelling the incense that Empress Dowager sent to her. She really likes it. The maid tells her that the incense is a favorite of the Queen Dowager and Danashiri should keep it with her at all times for clear skin and a clearer head. The maid leaves as Danashiri sends her with thanks to the Empress Dowager. But after she’s gone, she tells Dok Man that the incense isn’t a gift, but a bribe, because once she’s Empress, she will run the Inner Court. Dok Man points out that as the eldest, the Empress Dowager will run the Inner Court. But Danashiri scoffs at that and says that it’s time for Empress Dowager to move on. Wow. She totally doesn’t know how the world works. Of course, it’s kind of understandable, given who her father is.

The tributes arrive in Daidu. And I’m struck by how few women survived the trek. They started with 300 and arrived with about 30. Dok Man is there to greet them and Ki Se is actually friendly to the guy. Ki Se points out Seung Nyang to Dok Man and tells him that she’s not for the palace. Dok Man thinks that means a courtesan house but Ki Se clarifies that he’s planning on taking her so Dok Man just needs to reject her. Dok Man gives him a look.

Seung Nyang looks at the vast Imperial grounds and thinks, “This is it? This is where you live?” She remembers Ta Hwan telling her that she’d have an estate as big as Koryeo and the highest office in Yuan when he became Emperor. And just at that moment, Ta Hwan arrives. Quickly Dok Man runs over and tells all the tributes to kneel and not to raise their heads until Ta Hwan has passed. Ta Hwan is, of course, being carried in a shoulder carriage. Seeing the tributes, he waves it to stop. He asks who they are. Gol Ta reports that they are the new concubines from Koryeo. Ta Hwan frowns and sighs that a man in Koryeo saved his life. The concubines made him think of Seung Nyang.

Pavilion of Women. The tributes are getting cleaned up after their long trek. Rumor is that concubines can receive a stipend or be made a servant. Another woman repeats a rumor that if they’re kicked out they go to a courtesan house. Seung Nyang’s face reads her dread, this life that she’s now condemned to. After they’re cleaned up, Dok Man comes to inspect them. There are three ribbons: red for the palace, blue for the courtesan house, and yellow for neither, where they’re just cast out. Empress Dowager’s maid orders them to disrobe. Not humiliating at all. But they’re not completely naked. When they get to Seung Nyang, the lady likes what she sees, until she sees the scar on Seung Nyang’s arm. Dok Man asks how Seung Nyang got the scar and then he looks at her hands. He realizes that she’s held a sword. She says that her father was a hunter. Dok Man decides she’s fit for the palace, even though Maid objects, because she’ll surely be a good worker if her father was a 'hunter.; And I think he knows that she’s lying about what her father did, based on the smile on his lips. And how is he going to explain this to Ki Se, since that skeeve wanted Seung Nyang for his own concubine?

Later, Seung Nyang is taken to the servants quarters. There one of the servants is getting massaged by three other women. The girl escorting her announces her and then later tells her to watch out for boss lady, Yeon Hwa. The woman was nearly an imperial concubine, so now she's full of spite. Yeon Hwa immediately decides to put Seung Nyang in her place and orders Seung Nyang to do the massaging. Seung Nyang goes ahead, not wanting to create waves.

As she’s massaging Yeon Hwa, Seung Nyang presses a little too hard. In response Yeon Hwa thinks it’s totally appropriate to slap Seung Nyang hard across the face. Seung Nyang looks back at her, ticked. The rest of the women crowd around and Yeon Hwa croons that Seung Nyang doesn’t know where she is to be acting like that. Yeon Hwa orders some of the other women to grab her. Yeon Hwa’s just about to slap Seung Nyang again when Maid arrives and announces that Dok Man is doing an inspection.

El Temur’s hearing about Wang Yoo being shipped off to the border and he’s not pleased. Wang Ko says that Wang Yoo insisted, to earn back his throne. El Temur likes Wang Yoo’s brass, snatching victory from death.

Western Border. A soldier announces that Ja Hae has arrived. Baek Ahn’s not happy. Wang Yoo and his Mighty Men observe all the dead men that are laid out, waiting for burial. They’re all from Koryeo. Baek Ahn asks Ja Hae why they’re there but Wang Yoo interrupts and asks to be put with his people. The Mighty Men are shocked at Wang Yoo’s request and Baek Ahn thinks that Wang Yoo’s just asked to be arrow fodder.

Now in a tent, Wang Yoo and the mighty men are assessing the situation. Cham and Byung Soo brings them rags to put on. The Mighty Men are offended for their king, but Tal Tal enters and tells them to do it: there's no rank or position here, just survival. Wang Yoo stands and tells his men that it's just clothes. Because he’s a real king, not just one that dresses up like one. Shin Woo cries, Byung Soo and Cham smirk and Tal Tal knows that Wang Yoo is a force to be reckoned with.

Nighttime. Yeon Hwa’s lackeys kidnap Seung Nyang and brings her someplace so that Yeon Hwa can show Seung Nyang who’s boss. Oh, you stupid, stupid woman. Yeon Hwa tells Seung Nyang to apologize. Seung Nyang refuses. Yeon Hwa goes to slap her again but Seung Nyang’s face says that Yeon Hwa will regret it. Yeon Hwa stops and then realizes that she’s not the one who should be afraid. She tells one of the girls to get her a whip. Seung Nyang laughs in disbelief.

Ta Hwan is out walking. Gol Ta worries that he’ll catch cold, but Ta Hwan says that he’ll keep walking. He hasn’t been sleeping well. A guilty conscience will do that. He notices the light on in the storeroom. Inside, Yeon Hwa’s started whipping Seung Nyang, gloating that the pain’s just starting. This is interrupted by Gol Ta and Ta Hwan, wanting to know who’s inside. Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan are about to come face to face and the episode ends.

Thoughts

One thing that has really been sticking out to me in the last few episodes is how diametric and polarized the characterizations of the good and the bad are in k-dramas, especially saeguks. I mean, in 'Empress Ki,' the bad guys are *just* bad. Ki Se's a rapist and murderer who enjoys brutality and violence. El Temur has no problem killing his own son if the situation arose. Byung Soo will betray anyone and anything to get what he wants. And Wang Ko - he's the most moustache twisting of them all.

And it's not just 'Empress Ki.' Take 'Gu Family Book,' for instance - its villain, Jo Kwan Woong, is one of the slimiest evil guys ever. Murders to get what he wants, enjoys rape, relishes torture. Just a evil man. Or take 'Faith.' Gi Chul was the main bad guy and he had no problem convincing a kid to poison himself. And Hwa Soo In just killed people for fun. Ja Woon was a letch. And Prince Deuk Heung was completely amoral.

It's not just the villains, but the heroes, too. Wang Yoo is stalwart and upright, willing to die for his people (not his throne). Choi Young's word was his bond and he was willing to be impaled as just punishment for breaking it. And Choi Kang Chi - even when he was gumiho'd out, he still was fighting for good. You could throw Gu Wol Ryung in there, too, because even when he was overcome by the curse, he still hated what he was doing. And the good gumiho, wow, he was awesome and so sweet.

So why such polarity in saeguks? Other dramas aren't quite so dramatic, but a lot of time the villains are pretty one-dimensional: in Rooftop Prince, the villain is almost cartoony in his villainy, especially toward the end. In 'Hundred Year Inheritance,' the EMIL is really evil and shows no remorse for her actions throughout 49 episodes of the show, but she's so over-the-top, it's hard to believe that anyone could really be like that. And in 'Shining Inheritance,' the mom, Baek Sung Hee, was basically remorseless to the last, although, again, it's hard to believe that someone would be that cold all the time.

But what could the reason for this difference be? Because it really stands out in the saeguks that the good guys are GOOD and the bad guys are BAD. Is it something to the ancient Greek idea of tragedy and catharsis, or the importance of fairy tales and monsters in helping children deal with the specter of the unknown? Do we like these types of shows because the good guys *are* so good, they do the right thing even when it's unpleasant, even if it might cost them everything, including their life? I would argue yes, because it continues our hope that people are good and will do the right thing.

This past week I watched 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' and that was something that struck me about Steve Rogers: he's willing to do what's right, even when it's unpopular, and he's willing to do it at the cost of his own life. Not all superheros are like that, but isn't that why we loved Harry Potter? Or movies where people risk their lives undercover to do what's right? Because they inspire us to not compromise our convictions with little white lies and the standard shaved here or there? Just something that I'm thinking about.

I know I usually just react to the show, but that's really been weighing in my thoughts, how two dimensional and evil some of these villains really are in 'Empress Ki,' to the point that it's almost annoying for me.

But my other thoughts about the show:

Oh, crap, that Ki Se knows the truth about Seung Nyang. Although shouldn't she just be going by Nyang now, since Seung Nyang was her boy name? Considering how power and corrupt he is, I don't relish the idea of him being able to control Seung Nyang's life, now that she's a girl.

And I can't wait to see her give a beatdown to that bully of a water maid - although how she's going to avoid seeing Ta Hwan, I don't know, since he's right outside the door.

Okay. As a side note -- it really kind of annoyed me that they expect us to believe that these poor villagers that got rousted from their homes unexpectedly had time to pack *makeup* and a rich, beautiful dress for their march toward concubine-dom. Yes, it was awesome to see how beautiful Ha Ji Won is, but it's a little much of a stretch for me.

It also was a little bit of a stretch for me to believe that she would just freak out when coming face-to-face with her mother's killer. I mean, this is The Jackal and someone with lots of military training. Why didn't she just shoot him or something? Why would she sit there and shake while she had that crossbow trained on him? So he could knock it out of her hands, of course. But it just seemed a little out of character for her.

And Ki Se is extra slimey because he doesn't have a problem with raping someone and relishes breaking their spirit.

Speaking of people knowing Seung Nyang's a girl -- Wang Yoo finally knows that his 'unnatural' affection is perfectly legitimate! Which is awesome, except our lovebirds are separated with Wang Yoo getting shipped off to the border to die unceremonially. Of course, we know he won't and neither will his Mighty Men, but still, they continue to pine for each other from afar. And why he didn't tell her how he felt in the tent before they were separated, or at least give her a hint that he liked her more than a friend, I don't know.

And I have to say that I love those Mighty Men. Especially Moo Song. That man is hardcore. And I love how fiercely loyal he is to his king, so much that he gets offended easily when people don't treat the king with respect. (Plus I love the guy playing Moo Song. He was in Hundred Year Inheritance and I've developed a soft spot for him after watching that show.) Love Bool Hwa, too. I think when I see loyalty, it inspires my affection. Only wish that they hadn't gotten captured, although what's going to happen to Bool Hwa, since he didn't get shipped off to the front but went on to Daidu? I do also look forward to seeing Moo Song and Shin Woo's reaction in discovering that Seung Nyang's a girl. I wonder when that topic is going to come up?

During the episode, Wang Yoo and his Mighty Men are shipped off to the front where Baek Ahn and Tal Tal are in charge. Isn't that convenient. Wang Yoo gets to be tormented again with the suffering of his people. And I predict that he's going to prove to be a king worthy of following by how he saves his people's lives. And I don't understand Baek Ahn and Tal Tal's strategy. He was ticked that GIC wasn't feeding the men, leaving them set up to basically be battle fodder, but he's basically doing the same thing. Doesn't make sense to me.

Seung Nyang ends up stationed in the palace and has had a few near misses in running into Ta Hwan, including the cliff hanger for the episode. I don't think that she's going to be revealed to him at the beginning of next episode. I anticipate that it will be dragged out a bit. And how is he going to make up for betraying his promise, breaking his word, and basically killing her father? That's a steep order.

Speaking of the Emperor, I really don't get his game right now. Yes, he's playing puppet king, but why be so nice to Danashiri? It's not like Dad has any real affection for her. She's merely a tool to bring El Temur power. Who is going to remain barren. I wonder if that's going to be something reversible. Although right now, Ta Hwan is practicing his own form of birth control, abstinence. I continue to really like this kid, but I look forward to him growing up and becoming a man. And I wonder how much of the series will take place after the coronation at the beginning of the series.