Ever since Reply 1988, I’ve trademarked this: I ship scripts, not couples.™
There’s an shipping skirmish about Manwol’s past love: whether it’s the Captain of the Guards or Yeonwoo that she was romantically .
Well if it’s any help, my vote goes to the Captain. In Chansung’s dreams, the Captain was singled out for a close-up like this. When director captures one of the guys in this fuzzy shot, you betcha that he’s a romantic interest.
Manwol’s banter about the price of his handsome face was her way of flirting with him.
And he’s the guy that Chansung was referring to here because
he’s the guy Chansung saw teaching Manwol how to write her name.
From the start, I considered Yeonwoo to be Manwol’s closest friend or her sibling.
For instance, in that moonlight scene, Yeonwoo was seated apart from them and playing soulful music on his instrument. If he had been in love with Manwol, then he should have been playing out-of-tune. lol.
However, Yeonwoo was dearest to her because they were partners in their crime together. They had each other’s back. She blew the whistle to break up the fight between Yeonwoo and the Captain. And Yeonwoo rescued her from the Captain after the quicksand escapade.
Remember the dialogue when she was looking for the Inn of the Moon and the Old Woman said she couldn’t go there?
OW: You can’t go there. That’s where the dead go. Like the ones over there (glancing at the spirits behind her). How many souls did you bring in this coffin?
To me, Yeonwoo was one of the dead people. When he died, she most likely lacked the will to live on.
MW: They were killed because of me.
OW: Who else did you kill for the sake of the dead?
MW: (drawing her sword) Shut up and tell me where to go.
To me, the “who else” the Old Woman referred to here was the Captain. It made sense to me that the Manwol killed the Captain to avenge the death of Yeonwoo and her dead comrades. It wouldn’t make sense that she killed Yeonwoo and her gang for the sake of the Captain. However, she didn’t want to talk about the retaliatory killings she committed. It pained her to talk about those kills probably because she felt guilty or betrayed.
It also made sense to me that the shadow creeping up behind her was the Captain’s spirit, not Yeonwoo’s.
But it was Yeonwoo’s name that Chansung first discovered. He’d fallen asleep on the metro going home and he dreamt of the scene when Manwol was hiding in the shack and sparred with the Captain. Manwol saw Yeonwoo being taken away by the guards and the Captain promised to return him to her.
Which he did.
Manwol shouted Yeonwoo’s name a few times in Chansung’s dream. Once in the shack,
and then again when they were reunited by the Captain.
That’s why Chansung woke up remembering his name. He said, “Yeonwoo. One of their names was Yeonwoo. He was in Jang Manwol’s gang.”
Of course, that’s my interpretation of the events. It’s only the fourth episode so the script can still change.
Now, regarding that leaf.
A leaf drifts down and falls on him while he’s sleeping. Manwol saunters in.
MW: This punk keeps making my garden look more and more hideous. (kicks him. she sees his bruised knuckles and scolds his sleeping form.) No one told you to chase after a ghost without getting any sleep. You don’t even have much time left as a sane man. It looks like you’ll waste your precious time sleeping. (kneels down beside him) What a shame. But it’s all your fault. Even though I really liked you, I hate that you can see into me. (reaches out to pluck the leaf from his shoulder but he wakes up)
CS smiles. He had been dreaming. In his dream, she was leaning with eyes closed against the giant root of the tree. She was smiling. A leaf slowly drifted down to land…on his shoulder!
MW: (defensive) Why are you smiling?
CS: Did you come here so we could sleep together? Are you happy now that you watched me sleep?
I find this funny. He was dreaming of her sleeping beneath the tree while he himself was sleeping beneath the tree, too. So yeah, I would consider them sleeping “together” at this point.
MW: You saw me in your sleep again?
CS: Are you curious?
MW: Sit down. I’ll tell you what you were like in my dream.
CS: (coldly) This is what I hate. I should be telling you to shut up, or that I’ll rip your mouth open. But I thought about sitting down next to you. I hate my thought in that split second.
I like her honesty.
MW: (plucking the leaf from his shoulder) You held out for over 1000 years but you let go for a second. (shows her the leaf) I won a tremendous moment.
He means he’d take her confession as a compliment — or a breakthrough and a milestone — that she almost yielded to her instinct to sit with him. For a split second, she wavered, and she lost her habitual asperity.
MW: Yes, this change means a lot to me, and you’ll have to pay for it. You agreed that you’re the one who complicated your own life. (pointing at him then stabbing at his face with her pointer) Whatever happens to you, it’s all your fault.
CS: If something happens to me, I’m sure you’ll protect.
Later, he studied the leaf and remembered his dream. I had asked y’all what’s your take when he said, “Did it come from a dream? That split second from Jang Manwol.” To me, one of the problems with the Hong sisters’ drama is that their wordplay deliberately creates confusion as if to encourage viewers to think for themselves.
The general opinion here is that Chansung was wondering whether the leaf that fell on him was the same leaf from Manwol.
But I like @Growing_Beautifully’s interpretation. She explained it succinctly:
It felt that Chan Sung considered that split second when Man Wol thought of sitting with him to hear his dream, was related to the leaf he saw in his dream. He saw the leaf falling but not reaching Man Wol, and instead he awakens to find it on him.
If a leaf was a split second from Man Wol’s past, falling from her time into his, then it was a sign of the merging of her time with his, the bringing of her past into his present dreams.
It occurred to me btw that it was a good gift that Ma Go gave to CS, since it gave him data about MW that she’d never have shared voluntarily.
I noticed that CS carried that leaf with him and took it out almost like a talisman in Room 13 and tucks it in next to his heart in his jacket. Since leaf was part of Man Wol’s Tree (part of her 2nd self), keeping it close to him was like being beside her to be protected by her.
Yes. I also think Chansung was referring to that split second when Manwol’s hesitated, and almost gave in to his invitation to sit down beside him. In a heartbeat, she almost warmed up to the idea of sitting with him.
To me, that’s what he meant when he asked, “Did it come from a dream? That split second from Jang Manwol.” He was unsure whether she felt an unconscious desire (or repressed wish, lol) to sit in HIS company and spend a moment with HIM under the tree.
You see, although she admitted to changing her ways for him, she resented it. Sure, she was warming up to him, just like the tree was sprouting leaves. But he was still uncertain if it was him in particular or merely a dream (or memory) of an idyllic past that he’d awakened in her, that caused the change in her.
When he entered Room 13 and became spooked, he took out that leaf from his pants’ pocket and transferred it to his breast pocket. Yes, he was reassuring himself that Manwol had begun to care enough for him to protect him.
Knowing that he had the leaf with him, he became brave enough to investigate the noise in the wardrobe. If Manwol didn’t burst into the room and call him, he would have opened the wardrobe.
MW: Gu Chansung. You shouldn’t look. (laying a hand on his shoulder) Don’t let her hear you breathing.
CS: But I hear – (turning to look behind him)
MW: Don’t listen.
CS: What’s the matter? (turning his head)
To stop him, MW kissed him.
At this point, I would say that the dream ended. lol. That split second of indecision from Manwol became a full minute of resolve to protect Chansung from harm. In kdrama, nothing says love like a purposeful kiss.
***************
Heads-up: I’ve chosen my next fluffy Cdrama. Go Go Squid.
That’s a nice expansion of my overly succinct thoughts @packmule3!! Lovely to read. LOL, yes they managed to sleep together over 1,000 years apart. Pity it’s only CS who gets to ‘see’ it. I wonder if MW dreams … maybe her life is so barren that her dreams are too dull or non existent?
👍
What’s the point of dreaming when she can’t establish personal relationships anyway? I’d rather not dream if my dreams can’t materialize. I’d be one giant lump of frustration.
I’m curious to find out what the issue of the Wardrobe Ghost is. She can’t be entirely evil since she was allowed entry to the HdL.
I think we covered pretty much everything in Eps 3 and 4, right? Waiting for this weekend.
Perhaps MW has Inception like powers – to share or at least see another person’s dream? “Inception” was my reaction during the let’s sleep together bits.
For me, dreams are especially useful when one is unable to reach for the dream. I can dream of sailing around the world, or of flying amongst the stars, and do and find it useful in melting away that lump of frustration.
I didn’t watch “Inception” although I remember the buzz about the ending. The spinning top, wasn’t it? Or was it a Hanukkah dreidel? My book/movie club analyzed whether the hero had returned to reality or was still dreaming. I got to listen in because the gathering was at my house. lol.
But yes, I agree. She can probably see the dream by entering the dreamscape. Boy! That would be a special skill set she got there.
I don’t know about sailing around the world. Have you been on cruises? I can last two days without seeing land but anymore than that, I get anxious. The vast open sea unnerves me. But I distract myself with the entertainment on board the ship.
Speaking of stars, I laughed at that scene when the astronaut kicked our Manwol. I didn’t think that was possible: to kick her hard enough to send her flying to the moon.
I didn’t watch Inception, but it would be something if she could share the dream just by sleeping next to the other person. But it would also be an invasion into his private ‘headspace’.
I thought that was a great ‘send off’ for Man Wol, being kicked back to Earth, I thought, rather than to the moon. Annoying bug that she was, got flicked off good and proper! 😆
🙂 That was wishful thinking on my part. I want her to fly to the moon.
That actor who played the astronaut was a riot in “Abyss.” I find funny guys absorbing.
BTW, do you think it was Chansung who cancelled the Jaguar reservation in Ep 3? I suspect it was him because he doesn’t like her over-spending. He went behind Manwol’s back to cancel the delivery. I like that he’s asserting himself and not being a doormat.
BTW, do you think it was Chansung who cancelled the Jaguar reservation in Ep 3?
Yes. 🙂 He knows that she’s a spender. I would love to have an all black limitless credit card. LOL!
I agree that the Captain is cute.
How are you enjoying the show, @Agdr03? Didn’t the ghosts scare you? I’m glad you’re here with me. 🙂
The meetings today tired me out. Honestly, New York City tires me out, lol. I’ll call it an early night. (but it’s past midnight here already)
Yes, the Captain IS a cutie-patootie, right?
There was this scene, in Episode 3 if I remember correctly, when MW accidentally slashed his face and he pointed at the gash, asking, “This? What are you going to do about this? The price of my face is high. What punishment are you going to receive for this?”
She answered, “What a shame! The young lady at the Yeongju Castle so adores your face. How will you seduce you now?” He answered, “Do you think she only adores my face?”
That made me to wonder what he meant by that remark.
Definitely, she must admire him for doing his job and protecting her. He’s the captain of the guards after all.
Then, she must enjoy his conversation, too. He said that when she was bored, he’d talk to her.
But was he ONLY teasing Manwol and being cheeky when he said, “Do you think she only adores my face?” Or was there truth to it?
To me, he implied that he had other PHYSICAL features aside from his face that the Princess adored. Like… his BODY. (gasp!)
You and me, seriously! 🤣
YES! I clearly remember that conversation! I thought like you, he was referring to something else and I was like rawrrr. 🤣 Lucky Princess! Bwaahahahha
Have a good night sleep. I am really enjoying this show considering it has a lot of ghosts in it which really scares me. 🙂 But I just close my eyes slowly now when the music and the scene becomes scary like when the ghost in Room 13 comes out of the monitor. 😱
Have you noticed the ost for MW/Captain and MW/CS? It’s the romantic one and again, I have to say that I love kdrama ost, it’s amazing what music they come up with. I can say that the only cdrama ost that I like is the Meteor Garden 2018 one. 🙂
Catch you later! 🙂
Ha! I forgot to turn off the notification button on my cellphone and your comment woke me up! lol.
Sooo…that was your impression, too? That he KNEW — and was proud — that it wasn’t only his face but also his body that the princess “adored”?
Tsk. tsk. Yes, I’m liking that OST. It’s the Taeyeon song, A Poem Called You. I’ll purchase it on itunes tomorrow. Hope it’s available.
Gnight!
Music might be another misdirection on the part of the show … play romantic music so us poor sods think that’s the couple that’s supposed to be the OTP, but pull the rug out from under our feet later, like maybe she kills that cutie. Heheheh! or should I say Bwahahahah!
Nooooo! Don’t let it be! @Growing Beautifully 😆 That’s probably why it’s called, A Poem Called You? 😱🤦🏻♀️😂
So sorry for waking you up @packmule I hope you’ve had a good night sleep. Yes, the Princess ‘adored’ Captain’s body/parts. 😉 😂
I’m about to watch episode 6 now. ☺️
Watch out for the Escapee-Ghost-from-the- Wardrobe! She’s going to be a bad ghost.
Going on my morning jog now.
@agdr03, I can’t recall where but I think you mentioned that you love the OSTs of kdramas. I do too… yes, better than those of cdramas. The only cdrama that I bothered to get the songs of (although the show itself is only so-so) is The Brightest Star in the Sky. It was about the music industry and had some nice sentimental pop songs, plus rap.
Until today I cannot get enough of Goblin’s OSTs, especially the instrumentals. I listen to them while I drive.
I’m about to go to sleep ☺️ Yeah, she’s very scary and now killing humans?. I wonder why it didn’t look like she’s getting the ‘healing’ while she was at the hotel?
Oh I just love MW’s honesty in as much as she can’t say that she’s jealous but she says things when it counts. Like saying that the beach is beautiful because your here. I like that beach scene. That autograph will be put on a frame. CS is doing everything in making MW happy. Hopefully in the end when MW is finally happy, it won’t be CS turn to be sad.
@Growing Beautifully, kdrama ost have always played a big part in my love for kdrama. 😊 I can’t really say which is my favourite though. I have the shuffle play on Spotify when I drive so I can skip songs incase I’m not into it. 😊 I’m sure that cdrama ost that you mentioned had great songs. The Meteor Garden ost has a few English songs and they were perfect for the series.
I just posted something for YOU.
Goodnight!
Thanks! I’ll reply tomorrow.
Have a great day! 😊