Another solid (relatively) episode. Phew! I was thisclose to dropping this sageuk last week because of the half-assed writing and execution of HongShim’s confusion over WonDeuk’s identity.

But I’m glad I explained it to my 8 blog followers and readers.

Noteworthy things:

1. The reunion of MooYeon and YiSeo/HongShim. I’m glad the writer didn’t prolong the siblings’ reunion, but I also understand how his appearance in HongShim’s life actually  complicates matters MORE than it solves anything.

In fact, his presence in her life heightens  the viewers’ suspense because in any moment, he can show up, invited, mind you, at her hut, thus endangering WonDeuk/Lee Yul at a moment’s notice. The clock is ticking to MooYeon’s advantage but to WonDeuk’s great disadvantage. WonDeuk might not be able to live 100 days if HongShim’s assassin brother successfully hunts down his quarry.

2. Is Prince Seowon the baby’s daddy?

Nope. I don’t think so. Although he IS being set up as the prime candidate because he consistently shows concern for sister-in-law’s well-being, the Crown Princess said something odd in her confrontation with her father, Minister Kim.

MK: Who is it? Who’s the child’s father?
CP: Do you really think I left him alive? We share the same blood, Father.
MK: No, you couldn’t kill him. No one in my surrounding has died recently. There’s no way it’s anyone who isn’t within my reach.
CP: Since I caused all of this, I’ll resolve it myself. Please give me some time.
MK If I don’t hear of a notice of death, I’ll take care of it myself.
CP: You must have a lot of free time. Your duty is to get rid of the Queen and Prince Seowon. I’ll make sure to fulfill my duty so please focus on your own.

See that? If Prince Seowon was her child’s father, it didn’t make sense that she reminded her dad to get rid of him, too. She said that SHE was going to take care of the child’s father. It would appear like double jeopardy for the Prince, lol. Minister Kim going to kill him first then SHE’s going to kill him next.

Also, consider Prince Seowon’s age. He’s 16. If I were the writer, I wouldn’t want to deal with statutory rape in my kdramas.

3. The Amnesia as a Reboot for the Crown Prince, Lee Yul.

I’m convinced that if it wasn’t for this amnesia, the Crown Prince was on his way to becoming a petty tyrant.  Had he become a ruler, his primary concern would be his “comfort” and vengeance for Yoon SiYeo and himself. For 16 years, he grew up resenting his position but enjoying the privileges.

Remember when he was a child, he memorized this line from the Four-Character Elementary Lesson? “How could a child born of love not be a dutiful child to his parent?”

He definitely was a child born of love. His mother doted on him, and his father was a lenient father. His father had told him to go play, “because becoming smart will make the king hate (him) and put (him) in danger.”  Even back then, his father worried greatly about his survival.

But because of the bloody coup, he learned to despise is father. He wrote as much, “It’s disrespect and disloyalty. Ever since I came to the palace, my resentment toward my father has never waned.”

His revulsion for his father’s role in the massacre of HongShim’s family made him waste and squander the incredible power his position had bestowed upon him. As I’ve said before, he could have spent this time doing service and good deeds in memoriam the dead.

This is what many recappers of this drama don’t see and don’t understand: before his amnesia, the CP was a jerk.

Here’s the real deal on Lee Yul.

Now, with this amnesia, however, he was given the opportunity to rebuild his character from scratch. It’s a virtual reboot. Without his intense hatred for his royal position that he gained by bloodshed, he was learning how badly the people needed a wise and compassionate ruler. The people were being abused but they had no one in power to listen to them or to turn to for help.

For instance, WonDeuk’s interaction with the common people in this episode made him realize that many problems of the poor folks were exacerbated by their illiteracy. They were being taken advantage of because they couldn’t read.

Also, he was seeing first hand that some of the royal edicts and demands, like the sable tribute and the marriage which he personally decreed, caused hardship on the people who had no choice but to obey.

Last, he was seeing first-hand and up-close the abuses of those people in power, like Lord Park and the Mayor.

In essence then his amnesia was a godsend because it gave him time and space to acquire a different mindset other than that of a resentful son. His amnesia would make him a better ruler, that is, a ruler with a purpose other than revenge and his personal comfort.

4. The budding romance.

lol. This I will have to tackle this in another post.

5. His self-worth.

This is another very interesting concept in these past episodes. Did you notice it? It always amazed him how his value fluctuated according to the situation. lol.

In the palace, he was useful for his useless-ness.  Meaning, as long as he didn’t do anything to disturb the status quo as predetermined by Minister Kim, he was valuable.

But out in the real world, he was useful only when he was contributing to the village.

Sometimes he’s not even worth a wink at the diner,
sometimes he was worth a piece of yukjeon (or pancake),
sometimes he was worth 2 puns (for digging up a ring in a dung vat),
sometimes he was worth 3 jeons (for his copywriting work),
sometimes he was worth 20 yangs (as a pretend lover),
sometimes he was worth 30 yangs (his humiliation as the town’s Totally Useless Man),
sometimes he was free (for reading the documents for the villagers), and
sometimes he was worth a hug and smile from HongShim.

His value was determined by his useful contributions. Hopefully, when he returns to the palace, he’ll bring this valuable lesson with him so he won’t be satisfied anymore with simply squandering his days moping and whining about how uncomfortable he is.

6. The drought.

Again, where is the @#$@# drought??

My fan-o-meter for this episode:

Keep up the good work, show.