kdrama: Faith, eps 7-8
I have come to the conclusion that Gongmin's loudmouthed advisor is a spy. with very very few exceptions, everything he says is either terrible advice or "support" that actually publicly undermines Gongmin. But every time he's on screen, I want to shout "BUT WHY DO YOU EXIST!" But Gongmin himself is steadily improving. (Lately he does well and then something that COULD mean someone likes/respects Choi Young better or otherwise threatens his ego happens and it sends him on a downward spiral.) Also, shallowly, the Goryeo robes are exceptionally striking on Gongmin and Noguk, and Noguk with her hair down kept making me go "...you're so pretty..." Though, at this point, her bandage is obviously still there just to highlight Choi Young's superhuman healing powers.
Gi Cheul certainly does love being evil. And bragging about how good at it he is. His tormenting and manipulating the poor little ex-king was one of the more brilliant pieces of villainy I've seen*. I anticipate his inevitable horrible death. And yet, he's still so very entertaining sometimes? Mostly with Eun Soo. I admit, I'd be all for his falling for her as long as there wasn't a hint of reciprocation and they didn't try to spin a "redemption" angle.
But I unironically and unconditionally love Soo In more than I should. Initially it was rather like Yoon Ji Min's assassin in Chuno where it was just a general character type thing and a more shallow aesthetic fondness (both actress and character design) but she's turning into a very interesting character, and a lot of that came out with Eun Soo, who she seems to think she has an epic sismance going with (at the very least, Eun Soo is the most entertaining thing that's happened to her in years). She seems to be less evil and more chaotic and sticking with those who let her indulge it, and I'm pretty sure she simultaneously wants to jump Gi Cheul's bones and literally roast him. I suspect Flute Boy is the same with the "more chaotic than evil" bit, but he's had zero develoopment so far. It's like his whole purpose is to be striking. Which he does do quite well, but I think the only real bit of personality he's shown so far is that odd little comraderie moment with Soo In where she was complaining in public and he covered her mouth with a handkerchief. (I gather he gets to hear her complaints quite regularly and the objection was to the "public" part. I suspect I'm going to ship them if he ever develops a personality.)
The problem I'm having right now is that, naturally, I want her to be safe and safely far away from Gi Cheul and his plots, yet this whole thing is so very ENTERTAINING (I mean, seriously, she made them shots and is making Gi Cheul WORK to win her over despite having no intentions of giving him an inch.) and people get so much character developmwnt through their interactions with her and become so much more entertaining while reacting to her. But when the Wudalchi (I adore all the ones who have been given names and personalities even though the only name I remember is Choi Young's) walked in with their shiny new armor, I kept thinking she needed to just dive into the middle, then Gi Cheul would never get his slimy mitts on her again.
I like Choi Young a lot, yet...don't have much to say about him? But I'm deeply amused that someone has aquired a list of fangirl kinks and is obviously making sure every item gets a checkmark. Fake love confessions? Check. Following in secret? Check. Lots of carrying? Check. Sleeps on her shoulder? Check. Surrenders when he could win to save her**? Check. Catches her when she falls? Check. Saves everything she gives him? Check. Gets stabbed by True Love? Check. Chains? Check. Jailbreaks? Check. Interesting sleeping habits? Check. Repeated vows to protect her? Triple check.(Angsty past doesn't count, he's a sageuk hero.) Also, I see he paid a visit to Dong Soo's hairdresser in the preview. I approve.
BTW, Dr. Jang is to terribly smooth and efficient. I can't help but think that if Gongmin could fire his cabinet and replace them with Dr. Jang, all his problems would go away.
*We will not spend time on that, because it's terribly depressing and I'm sure no one wants me to get into it and so remind them of figuratively have their hearts ripped out and stomped on.
**Randomly: Loved how when Gi Cheul said to make Choi Young kneel, all the soldiers thought he meant them but he was smirking and ignoring them because he meant Soo In, who was all "Chill, I got this."