the waning of wol
This is an edited re-post of my criticism of the character Heo Yeon-woo, originally posted at Soompi two days ago. Unfortunately, many of the more vocal posters in the MoonSun thread seem to think that pointing out certain flaws in a well-loved drama is wanton bashing.
This is, of course, not true. I love MoonSun as I have never loved a drama before (except SKKS). I love the un-sageuk, pseudo-fairytale plot as much as anyone in Soompi, and I actually enjoyed the unpopular episodes 11 to 13. This little fusion confection sucked me in from the get-go as no drama (save, again, SKKS) has ever done before. Sure, the storytelling has its flaws, and those flaws did become more apparent as more episodes went by, but I accepted them all, rationalizing them as perfectly acceptable in-universe and perfectly consistent with the way the characters were set up in the first six episodes.
The thing is, I cared so much for this show, for the characters, the story, and even for the actors, who were kooky and cute in the BTS videos even as they braved the punishing weather to entertain us viewers. Most of all, I cared for the main conflict - that of pursuing justice for Yeon-woo and her family. I cared so much because achieving this justice matters to everyone on the show, good or evil, in-the-know or not-in-the-know. I cared so much because the main characters wanted it so badly, I felt it.
The problem is that Yeon-woo herself does not.
Hwon - and by extension, the audience - is desperate to bring the truth to light, not only to right the wrong done to the woman he loves, but also to put the baddies in their place (prison, slavery, or exile) once and for all so he and everyone else can move on with their lives. However, Yeon-woo, the wronged woman herself, appears to feel no such desperation. For a brief, shining two episodes, she was an empowered woman, brimming with indignation over what was done to her and her family. And then these last two episodes happened and I wonder where that awesome, awesome woman went.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that she fears for her brother's well-being, and I would certainly have found it odd if she didn't waver. Blindly following the straight and narrow without thinking of others can be heartless, after all. But it seems to me that the cause that matters so much to everyone matters so little to her. Righting the wrongs done to her and her family seems to be a matter she can easily drop because she fears conflict for her brother and for Hwon. Yes, yes, I get that Yeom being married to that brat Min-hwa has certain complications neither Yeon-woo nor Hwon can ignore, but it's as if she just easily let her cause go. Not only that - she urges Hwon to do the same. Pulling a sudden 180 from Queen Badass to this whimpering woman and repeatedly urging him to bury the matter is just pathetic.
Yeon-woo is asking Hwon to do what his father did: let the baddies go and stick to the status quo. Not only does this imply that she would rather Hwon remain surrounded by the baddies than struggle for something he views as a necessity for his vision of Joseon, this also goes against everything she was supposed to represent. Heo Yeon-woo was "killed" because she represented a change in power, the removal of the Yoons. What happened? Yeon-woo is now someone who would rather see the man she loves remain a puppet, herself a mistress locked in a cupboard, and her family obliviously cohabitate with the girl who helped bring about their downfall rather than announce her presence and perhaps give them peace of mind.
I don't even think Yeon-woo is one with Hwon anymore regarding the future of the country. As teens, they were both progressive in their ideas, even if Yeon-woo's are rather abstract. But now:
Hwon: I must right what was done to you. I will find out and expose the truth. (Much help will be appreciated, thank you.)
Yeon-woo: Bury the truth and save yourself and my family the trouble. (I don't deserve such attention, Jeon-ha...)
Your father KILLED HIMSELF because he thought he killed you when he didn't because of what the baddies did, you pathetic little shrimp. Have you forgotten that?
*takes deep breath*
Yeon-woo's pleading happens just as Hwon remembers what his vision as Joseon's king really was: one where he rights wrongs and makes no deals with devils like Evil Dowager Queen. In a matter that is a big deal in this show, she and he are at odds. Just as he turns to the loftier goals of his happier childhood, she abandons her own ideals and begs him to do the same.
How in the world are they compatible?
I blame the writers and PD for this tragic turn for what was once a promising character. Han Ga-in isn't the best actress in the world. Her performance could've been more nuanced, but she was brilliant in scenes where Yeon-woo was written brilliantly as well. Otherwise, the script does her a disservice by making her speak endless platitudes and flattery to the king. The lines sound really awkward in subs, and sometimes it shows on her face, too. I can't really blame Han Ga-in when she's forced to say something like, "I will blame myself for being alive."
Good God.
Another point: Yeon-woo has never seen herself as Hwon's equal, and this has influenced all of their interactions. He is unrestrained in his love for her, but it seems as if she is always holding back. I've already mentioned the meaningless flattery ever since they became an unofficial couple. Somehow, I find myself shipping them less now that they're together.
The MBC hullabaloo has put the drama on hold, although I hear filming scenes with KSH in it is wrapping up as I write. Han Ga-in, though, has freed up her schedule to film more scenes if necessary. Does this mean Yeon-woo gets her mojo back? Please, writers! I need my Badass Queen back!
This is, of course, not true. I love MoonSun as I have never loved a drama before (except SKKS). I love the un-sageuk, pseudo-fairytale plot as much as anyone in Soompi, and I actually enjoyed the unpopular episodes 11 to 13. This little fusion confection sucked me in from the get-go as no drama (save, again, SKKS) has ever done before. Sure, the storytelling has its flaws, and those flaws did become more apparent as more episodes went by, but I accepted them all, rationalizing them as perfectly acceptable in-universe and perfectly consistent with the way the characters were set up in the first six episodes.
The thing is, I cared so much for this show, for the characters, the story, and even for the actors, who were kooky and cute in the BTS videos even as they braved the punishing weather to entertain us viewers. Most of all, I cared for the main conflict - that of pursuing justice for Yeon-woo and her family. I cared so much because achieving this justice matters to everyone on the show, good or evil, in-the-know or not-in-the-know. I cared so much because the main characters wanted it so badly, I felt it.
The problem is that Yeon-woo herself does not.
Hwon - and by extension, the audience - is desperate to bring the truth to light, not only to right the wrong done to the woman he loves, but also to put the baddies in their place (prison, slavery, or exile) once and for all so he and everyone else can move on with their lives. However, Yeon-woo, the wronged woman herself, appears to feel no such desperation. For a brief, shining two episodes, she was an empowered woman, brimming with indignation over what was done to her and her family. And then these last two episodes happened and I wonder where that awesome, awesome woman went.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that she fears for her brother's well-being, and I would certainly have found it odd if she didn't waver. Blindly following the straight and narrow without thinking of others can be heartless, after all. But it seems to me that the cause that matters so much to everyone matters so little to her. Righting the wrongs done to her and her family seems to be a matter she can easily drop because she fears conflict for her brother and for Hwon. Yes, yes, I get that Yeom being married to that brat Min-hwa has certain complications neither Yeon-woo nor Hwon can ignore, but it's as if she just easily let her cause go. Not only that - she urges Hwon to do the same. Pulling a sudden 180 from Queen Badass to this whimpering woman and repeatedly urging him to bury the matter is just pathetic.
Yeon-woo is asking Hwon to do what his father did: let the baddies go and stick to the status quo. Not only does this imply that she would rather Hwon remain surrounded by the baddies than struggle for something he views as a necessity for his vision of Joseon, this also goes against everything she was supposed to represent. Heo Yeon-woo was "killed" because she represented a change in power, the removal of the Yoons. What happened? Yeon-woo is now someone who would rather see the man she loves remain a puppet, herself a mistress locked in a cupboard, and her family obliviously cohabitate with the girl who helped bring about their downfall rather than announce her presence and perhaps give them peace of mind.
I don't even think Yeon-woo is one with Hwon anymore regarding the future of the country. As teens, they were both progressive in their ideas, even if Yeon-woo's are rather abstract. But now:
Hwon: I must right what was done to you. I will find out and expose the truth. (Much help will be appreciated, thank you.)
Yeon-woo: Bury the truth and save yourself and my family the trouble. (I don't deserve such attention, Jeon-ha...)
Your father KILLED HIMSELF because he thought he killed you when he didn't because of what the baddies did, you pathetic little shrimp. Have you forgotten that?
*takes deep breath*
Yeon-woo's pleading happens just as Hwon remembers what his vision as Joseon's king really was: one where he rights wrongs and makes no deals with devils like Evil Dowager Queen. In a matter that is a big deal in this show, she and he are at odds. Just as he turns to the loftier goals of his happier childhood, she abandons her own ideals and begs him to do the same.
How in the world are they compatible?
I blame the writers and PD for this tragic turn for what was once a promising character. Han Ga-in isn't the best actress in the world. Her performance could've been more nuanced, but she was brilliant in scenes where Yeon-woo was written brilliantly as well. Otherwise, the script does her a disservice by making her speak endless platitudes and flattery to the king. The lines sound really awkward in subs, and sometimes it shows on her face, too. I can't really blame Han Ga-in when she's forced to say something like, "I will blame myself for being alive."
Good God.
Another point: Yeon-woo has never seen herself as Hwon's equal, and this has influenced all of their interactions. He is unrestrained in his love for her, but it seems as if she is always holding back. I've already mentioned the meaningless flattery ever since they became an unofficial couple. Somehow, I find myself shipping them less now that they're together.
The MBC hullabaloo has put the drama on hold, although I hear filming scenes with KSH in it is wrapping up as I write. Han Ga-in, though, has freed up her schedule to film more scenes if necessary. Does this mean Yeon-woo gets her mojo back? Please, writers! I need my Badass Queen back!