Capital Scandal, ep. 08-10
This drama is a very odd combination of revolutionary politics and trendy drama romance sequences. Amazingly, this combination works for me, although I sometimes wish there were more revolutionary politics. But then Wan is cute and wins me over.
I am such a marshmallow at heart...
Spoilers learn about revolution
"Teach me about revolution, and I'll teach you about love" is now my favorite line ever!
The series got extremely dark for a while, given Yeo Kyung's interrogation and torture, and then it somewhat randomly goes back into trendy drama mode when Yeo Kyung tries to get closer to Su Hyun to spy on him and Wan argues the spirit back into her. Like I said, it's an odd combination, and I'm not quite sure why it works on me. Part of it may be that I need some of the fantasy veneer preserved even as I love stories of heroic resistance, of having models that aren't glorifying colonialism and imperialism, of an equivalent to steampunk squee that also undermines colonization.
I kind of wish there had been more consequences to Yeo Kyung's interrogation and torture, but I am also not sure they could do it while keeping it a sort of trendy drama. And also! Her confession to whom she thinks is Wan but is actually Su Hyun, which is of course witnessed by Wan except he thinks she is talking to Su Hyung! I am always impressed by how dramas can maximize the angst involved for all parties.
I am also impressed by how it's the woman who is inspired by revolutionary zeal while the man is getting into it only out of love for her. I love how Yeo Kyung will not be moved from her politics and that it seems like Wan will have to remake himself to be worthy of her. And kdrama hero hooks have set in, and I now think Wan is the most adorable thing ever. This is what happens when the hero is manipulated into begging his estranged stepmother for help getting the woman he loves out of prison. And when he is completely devastated when she says he is nothing to her, even after he cheers her up after her stint in jail. He volunteers for a spy mission to keep Yeo Kyung out of danger! And he covers for Su Hyun multiple times, even in front of Yeo Kyung and Song Joo! And! Su Hyun gets drunk just so he can tell Wan that he misses him. The slash, it writes itself.
I am still so conflicted about Su Hyun! Unless the drama is going to do a sudden reveal-and it does not seem to be that kind of show-he really is working for the Japanese, but just doing his best to not be sadistic while he's doing so. And he treats Yeo Kyung as he would his little sister! Wan makes me goofily smile and draw hearts on the screen a la Han Kyul from Coffee Prince, but Su Hyun feels like a slightly more grown-up crush.
Well, as grown-up as I get?
But omg. His conversation with Song Joo about maybe being friends, and her reply about possibly meeting friends over guns later, thanks to politics! And then they do, and he shoots her! And she shoots at all of them and motors away!
See, are you not impressed? I have gotten this far and not yet gone on about how she is STILL THE BEST THING EVER.
That said, I am almost 100% certain she and Su Hyun will come to tragic ends, possibly while killing each other. (Do not spoil me!)
And finally, Song Joo and the manager really run the worst spy operation ever, but that's ok. I will handwave that they let Wan listen into their Sekrit Planning Meeting on purpose to trap him into volunteering. I also love that even though Yeo Kyung is rescued by guys a lot, it is frequently due to Cha Song Joo behind the scenes manipulating everyone so that she can get Yeo Kyung rescued.
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I am such a marshmallow at heart...
Spoilers learn about revolution
"Teach me about revolution, and I'll teach you about love" is now my favorite line ever!
The series got extremely dark for a while, given Yeo Kyung's interrogation and torture, and then it somewhat randomly goes back into trendy drama mode when Yeo Kyung tries to get closer to Su Hyun to spy on him and Wan argues the spirit back into her. Like I said, it's an odd combination, and I'm not quite sure why it works on me. Part of it may be that I need some of the fantasy veneer preserved even as I love stories of heroic resistance, of having models that aren't glorifying colonialism and imperialism, of an equivalent to steampunk squee that also undermines colonization.
I kind of wish there had been more consequences to Yeo Kyung's interrogation and torture, but I am also not sure they could do it while keeping it a sort of trendy drama. And also! Her confession to whom she thinks is Wan but is actually Su Hyun, which is of course witnessed by Wan except he thinks she is talking to Su Hyung! I am always impressed by how dramas can maximize the angst involved for all parties.
I am also impressed by how it's the woman who is inspired by revolutionary zeal while the man is getting into it only out of love for her. I love how Yeo Kyung will not be moved from her politics and that it seems like Wan will have to remake himself to be worthy of her. And kdrama hero hooks have set in, and I now think Wan is the most adorable thing ever. This is what happens when the hero is manipulated into begging his estranged stepmother for help getting the woman he loves out of prison. And when he is completely devastated when she says he is nothing to her, even after he cheers her up after her stint in jail. He volunteers for a spy mission to keep Yeo Kyung out of danger! And he covers for Su Hyun multiple times, even in front of Yeo Kyung and Song Joo! And! Su Hyun gets drunk just so he can tell Wan that he misses him. The slash, it writes itself.
I am still so conflicted about Su Hyun! Unless the drama is going to do a sudden reveal-and it does not seem to be that kind of show-he really is working for the Japanese, but just doing his best to not be sadistic while he's doing so. And he treats Yeo Kyung as he would his little sister! Wan makes me goofily smile and draw hearts on the screen a la Han Kyul from Coffee Prince, but Su Hyun feels like a slightly more grown-up crush.
Well, as grown-up as I get?
But omg. His conversation with Song Joo about maybe being friends, and her reply about possibly meeting friends over guns later, thanks to politics! And then they do, and he shoots her! And she shoots at all of them and motors away!
See, are you not impressed? I have gotten this far and not yet gone on about how she is STILL THE BEST THING EVER.
That said, I am almost 100% certain she and Su Hyun will come to tragic ends, possibly while killing each other. (Do not spoil me!)
And finally, Song Joo and the manager really run the worst spy operation ever, but that's ok. I will handwave that they let Wan listen into their Sekrit Planning Meeting on purpose to trap him into volunteering. I also love that even though Yeo Kyung is rescued by guys a lot, it is frequently due to Cha Song Joo behind the scenes manipulating everyone so that she can get Yeo Kyung rescued.
Comment | Read Comments | Link