an ode to the peons of the princess's man

Jul 11, 2012 17:59

Behold the finest, most skilled characters in this show: the servants. The ones who do most of the reconnaissance, who do most of the delivering of forbidden messages, who risk their lives and limbs for their masters but remain unappreciated not only in-universe but also by the audience.

Seriously, Eun-geum, Ja-beon, and Yeori have got to be among the most badass characters in The Princess's Man and I haven't seen a single praise for any of them. They should have their own shown about the badass servants of the Joseon elite, ala Kuroshitsuji but without demon butlers. I would so watch that show.







I've always loved a decent master/lackey dynamic where the lackey spends most of his time being the sour supporter/voice of reason who is nonetheless staunch and steadfast in his support for his master. I love a master/lackey relationship that is less abject servitude and more Don Quixote/Sancho Panza. One of my favorite relationships in The Moon that Embraces the Sun is the stodgy uncle-wayward nephew relationship between the king and his chief eunuch. I'm glad we get three here. While Eun-geum's and Ja-beon's relationships with their masters lack the refreshing frankness Yeori enjoys with Se-ryeong, I love that they've all crossed the class barrier and have become best friends and closest confidants to their masters.

Eun-geum was a court lady who followed her mistress into slavery. She didn't have to. If what Se-ryeong says to Yeori is true, Eun-geum (and Yeori) could've left Princess Gyeong-hye and gone back to her old position. But no, she chose to follow her mistress. And let's just go over the times she (a) snuck the princess out of the palace, (b) spied on the police for news on various prisoners, and (c) gathered news on people Suyang was actively hunting down. When Gyeong-hye was trying to send her away, she firmly (but affectionately) states that she's sticking with the princess until the day she dies. If that's not true friendship, I don't know what is.

Despite being a lieutenant with barely any lines, I appreciate Ja-beon's existence. More than Seung-yu and Jong ever were, Ja-beon is Myeon's best friend and confidant. He knows how conflicted the guy is over the choices he's had to make. I don't think Ja-beon has ever given Myeon advice, but I don't think that really matters. He's the only named character who hasn't judged Myeon, who has shown that he's willing to at listen. I hate Myeon again after episode 23, but I'm happy he has Ja-beon there for him and both of them die next episode, oh happy times.

In my humble and totally not-expert opinion, Yeori is the best character in this show, bar none. She upstages everyone in sense, loyalty, and sheer bravery. She's like Eun-geum, but braver, wittier, more sensible, and a hell of a lot more snarkier. She's not afraid to scold her mistress, to tell Se-ryeong when she's being stupid, and to throw small tantrums while getting the job done (but gets the job done, nonetheless). That picture above is when she's being interrogated by Myeon and Ja-beon when Se-ryeong goes missing. That look of indignation is just so... so bamf. People were saying afterwards that Se-ryeong was so daring, running off on that horse to find Seung-yu. Yeah, but who eavesdropped on Myeon's plans? Who found a horse for Se-ryeong to escape on? Who stayed behind to face the wrath of one crazed soldier with no qualms of murdering her? Why doesn't anyone give Yeori a prize for HER courage?

The best thing I love about Yeori is that she's not Se-ryeong's servant; she's Se-ryeong's sister. And I think this extends to the other two relationships as well. IMO, this is the kind of relationship The Princess's Man did best.

Now I want to watch a show starring Yeori, and it doesn't exist :(

kdrama, the princess's man

Previous post Next post
Up
[]