There were so many interesting things to observe about that moment in the barley field that I’m going to devote this long post on that short scene.

Hahaha. Sit back and watch me obsess over trivial things…

First, live by the sword arrow, die by the sword arrow.

Every time I saw Mooyoung assassinate someone with his arrow, I wondered if karma would kill him one day. Sure enough, this episode began with him aiming for WonDeuk with his arrow, and ended with him getting pierced with arrow.

Second, didn’t you wonder why WonDeuk arranged to meet her at the remote barley field? Why in the middle of those stalks of all places when an accessible site, like the village green, would have been more convenient?

To me, barley fields are always associated with lovers’ rendezvous, primarily because of these:

a) the song “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. The lyrics went “Kiss me out of the bearded barley, nightly, beside the green, green grass…”

b) Sting’s “Field of Gold.” The song talked of making out in the field of barley. “See the west wind move like a lover upon the fields of barley, Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth among the fields of gold.”

c) that kiss scene from the movie adaptation of EM Forster’s “Room With a View.” In the film, Lucy leaves her straitlaced aunts and her restrictive world (or the metaphorical “room with a view”) and STEPS INTO that view, that scenery, that landscape of romance, the barley field, where she’s kissed passionately.

Kisses and barley fields. They go together like peanut butter and jelly, and pizza and cheese. I bet WonDeuk was expecting an intimate moment too after giving HongShim her present.

Third, the shoes. They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but for this bitch, shoes are my soulmate sole mate. 🤦‍♀️

Do you know why I found his gift of shoes endearing?

It’s because he could have bought himself a pair of boots instead.

Remember? He was mad about not having comfortable shoes to wear. He hid and ran whenever that town official came to retrieve those boots he kept from their wedding ceremony.

Now that he had money, his first purchase was a pair of shoes for HongShim. It’s a far-cry from that time when he strolled into the market street and bought fine things all for himself, and none for his wife.

She’s become his priority now. Not only with shoes but with her well-being as well.

It showed when he pounced on her to protect her from the flying arrow. Although he had been getting flashbacks of being attacked by a sword and targeted by arrows, his instinctive reaction was to save her first. He didn’t think of his own safety. Also, look at the way he landed on his back. He could have easily tackled HongShim to dodge the arrow. Instead, (thanks to the stunt coordinator, of course) he twisted himself in midair so she wouldn’t land on hard ground. Lol. I could see that Do KyungSoo’s training as kpop dancer came in handy in this scene and the fighting scene in the forest.

Fourth, his promise to buy her another pair of shoes with real cherry blossoms next time. I dislike it when he makes promises like this (and the one later about staying by her side forever) because it sounds ominous. But this promise ties in very well with the petal showers in Episode 1. Remember, I told you about the significance of walking on a flower path? Well, wearing shoes with a floral design is another way of walking on a flowery path — because the flowers are already stitched onto her shoes.

Fifth, the hand.

Spot the difference?

He moved his hand from her wrist to her shoulder without fumbling, without once glancing back. His eyes were steadily looking ahead, searching for their attacker. But he knew where she was the whole time.

What’s the big deal?

It showed his physical awareness of her. He’d always been keenly aware of his physical surroundings. Remember that maid in Episode 1 that he punished for smiling at the birds? He knew exactly which maid was walking out of step with the others, and he identified her location, “Last maid on the right column.” Previously, he was only acutely sensitive to things that caused him discomfort. But now, his fine senses have become attuned too to people he loved.

Sixth and last, she told him not to leave and to stay with her, and he acquiesced. I hope people didn’t get the wrong idea that she was a wilting flower or that she was scared for her personal safety. No. She was fearful for him. Just like in the forest when he rescued her, she understood that she wasn’t the target but WonDeuk. She was protecting him by making him stay with her.

But her request reminded me that they were living together on borrowed time. I don’t think we can remain oblivious to their looming future and impending separation. Pretty soon, she’ll want him to stay but he won’t be able to yield to her wish.

And that’s the sad part about this barley field. It was supposed to be romantic because, you know, it was a lovers’ assignation. But it was poignant because we know that WonDeuk’s and HongShim’s moment together was fleeting. Once he regained his memory and once he returned to the palace, that place would have to be locked away in his memory, too, and forgotten — like he had a double-amnesia, or reverse amnesia.

And that’s why I think the barley field was meaningful. To me, it’s carpe diem. The barley field, with it’s golden stalks, is a reminder that these days are their golden days. These days are to be treasured and savored exactly because they’re ephemeral, briefly there, then gone forever.