It’s always good to orient ourselves with a timeline, especially when the time is disjointed like in these Eps 9 and 10.
But before we come after this kdrama director with pitchforks for this confusing timeline, I’ll give you three (I’ll limit myself to three) possible reasons WHY writers and directors often deliberately choose to have a non-sequential, non-linear approach to kdrama.
First, it’s to simulate the experience of the characters. In our kdrama, for instance, Lee Gon is constantly switching back and forth between worlds and time zones. Korean is an hour ahead of Corea, and No Man’s Land (NMLand) has altogether a different flow of time.
Second, it’s to blur passage the time. In our kdrama, we’re talking eternity. The usual divisions of time like days, weeks, months, and years don’t apply in an eternity. Seriously, think about this: what’s a day when you have infinite time?
What does “I’ll see you next week!” mean when our time is endless? Should I be happy that I’m seeing you next week? Or should I be sad? Is that too long of a wait or too short? Am I seeing you too soon or too late? What is a week when we have an eternity?
Do you see what I mean?
The usual time segments like seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, centuries are our own human efforts (or “constructs”) to measure time so we don’t get lost IN time. Even cavemen marked time on cave walls with tally sticks once they realized that sun and the moon can be used to count days.
They probably needed to know when the 6 o’clock news was on.
That’s why the “No Man’s Land” (NMLand) of Lee Gon petrified me. Mathematically, Lee Gon defined it well. It’s neither 0 nor 1, so it’s the infinite numbers between 0 and 1.
But if you’re in liberal arts, you’ll understand NMLand better as a limbo. A limbo is that space between two spaces. Time doesn’t exist in limbo, but you do get stuck in limbo. Personally, I’d rather that you give me heaven or you give me hell, but don’t trap me in limbo…or a quarantine.
If you’ve seen “Goblin,” you can compare No Man’s Land to that frozen tundra where Goblin ended up in after he died. He was stuck there till EunTak called him out, accidentally, with her birthday candles. Time didn’t exist in there, too. I said he was only there for a few minutes (because Gong Yoo didn’t have a frost-bitten nose) but to the outside world, he was gone for 10 years.
And for those who didn’t read my Red King’s Dream, I said NMLand reminded me of a Salvador Dali’s painting, “Persistence of Memory” (1931).
My interpretation of this painting doesn’t vary greatly from the mainstream art circles. This painting shows the artist’s dream state. You see that thing in the middle in the painting that looks like a dead bird?
That’s actually an unopened eye. You’re looking at the eyelashes of the artist, and the artist is showing us the disconnected images he sees in his dreams.
But then, why are the clocks melting?
The clocks are melting because in our dreams all our notion of time melts away, like butter or wax that’s being heated. There are no seconds, minutes, hours in our dreams. They all blend together. We lose total sense of time as we sleep and dream.
Also, in our dreams, we RELIVE our memories. The memories of the past exist as if they’re happening for real. In fact, when we dream, our memories are not technically “memories” yet.
Why?
Because we have no idea that we’re only reliving the past. The memories feel like new. When we dream, we re-encounter our memories as if the experience is all fresh and new.
Do you understand what I mean?
That’s why this scene reminded me of that Dali painting.
This scene or this LANDSCAPE is “beyond” the real world. It seems as if we’ve entered Lee Gon’s DREAMSCAPE. This land isn’t explainable in a logical and rational manner because it’s beyond real. Like a dream.
TE: What’s this place? Is it some kind of fourth dimension?
LG: I’m not sure yet. I guess we can say it’s something between 1 and 0 in my world and yours. This is a place that cannot be explained scientifically. (Then, he talks about the balloon.)
TE: If it’s not science, then what is it? Is it some kind of magic?
LG: It could be part of a legend. Time flows differently here as well.He said that this place has no wind, rain, sun, and time but it’s real.
source: Protected link: Red King’s Dream
And the third reason why writers and directors deliberately confuse our sense of time is to prepare us for a non-linear storyline.
I’ve written about this before, so I apologize to the regular readers/posters of this blog.
We live in a linear world. We’re accustomed to a beginning, a middle, and an end. We encounter this linear world every day. We wake up, drink coffee, eat, work, drink wine, then we sleep. When we read a book, we expect a beginning, a middle, and an end. When we travel, we expect a starting point, a highway, and an end point. In romance, we expect a beginning, a courtship, and a happily-ever-after. In life, we expect birth, childhood, adulthood, and death.
We live in a linear world. That’s our reality.
Hence, if the writer creates a fantasy world — which goes beyond reality — the first thing she’ll attempt is to break our expectation of a continuous time in a linear world. She’s going to do what fairy tales have preconditioned our minds to believe. Didn’t you notice, fairy tales often begin with “Once upon a time”?
An aside: as a child, that opening line would upset me because I always wanted the exact year to “Once upon a time.” To humor me, my father would throw random time like, “Year 1500 of the Turnips” or “13th hour” or “February 31st,” and I’d be content.
Anyway, in our kdrama, the writer KES throws a convoluted time in these last episodes because she’s getting ready to throw us for a loop. A time loop or a time travel.
That’s why I didn’t mind at all the confusing goings-on in these episodes. I thought the blurring of the time was in keeping with the narrative of the story. It made sense.
That being said, it would still help our understanding of the story if put the events in these episodes in a linear fashion, and I’m going to do that with my usual ramblings (or the “detour”).
This is my interpretation of the story.
Thursday, December 26.
I assume that their last chicken date was by the Han River. (In Corea, PM Koo’s husband was asking for a Christmas pardon).
TE: Hey, where are you? I’m here by the —
LG: (dropping his coat on her shoulder) I’m here, too. Next to you. Right here.
Stop! Let’s appreciate the romance of that word.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Let’s appreciate Lee Minho…errr…. Lee Gon.
Knowing that they’ll soon be separated in this story, little words like that “yeogi” takes on deeper meaning. Please include this word in your Korean dictionary (and, while you’re at it, delete that contrived “oppa” from your vocab, lol).
“Yeogi” means “here.”
Note: This is “Yogi Bear.” He’s not “yeogi.”
The interesting thing about “yeogi” is when you have two people living apart, for instance, TaeEul is in Korea, and Lee Gon is in Corea, then they obviously have two different “yeogi.” TaeEul’s “yeogi” is in Korea, and LG’s “yeogi” is in his kingdom.
But when LG said, “I’m here, too. Next to you. Right here,” he was essential re-defining what his “yeogi” was. It meant “next to TaeEul.” His “yeogi” meant BESIDE TaeEul.
The implied context here is that, no matter where he is, his center is where TaeEul is. He can be in the next city, parallel world, or another universe entirely, but his “yeogi” is and always will be where she is. He’ll be the one to close the gap, and move next to TaeEul.
TE: You found your way easily. This is a popular dating spot. I guess you came here often in your world.
LG: Of course, I’ve been here.
TE: I knew it. With whom?
She’s funny when she becomes jealous. I think LG intentionally gives her the wrong impression first to test her reaction. Then, after he sees her riled up, he clears the misunderstanding.
LG: People from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The mayor, directors of Seoul —
TE: (she got the point) Let’s eat. Couples in the Republic of Korea spend time near the water like this. When they break up, they push each other.
He looked at her suspiciously, then she grinned. That’s what they do as a couple. He teases her and then she pays him back. She just warned him that she’d push him into the water if he teased her like that again.
LG: This is pretty nice. Alcohol, stars, water, chicken, and jealousy. Everything is perfect.
My comment: I really wish he’d stop bringing up this jealousy thing. King Arthur’s Camelot was ruined because of jealousy. Wait! I’ve to discuss King Arthur next.
TE: Eat up and regain your strength. And have a good trip. You said you receive administration reports every Friday. And today’s Thursday.
LG: (surprised) You remembered that?
Of course, she would remember that because she connected it to IU, the singer. Years ago, IU had a hit song called, “See you on Friday.” It went like this:
He’s probably busy on Monday
Tuesday seems too soon, don’t you think?
Wednesday feels kind of awkward
I don’t like Thursday for some reason
This Friday. How’s this Friday?It’s too hard to wait till the weekend
Time, please go faster, I want to rush the clock.
Each minute, each second is so sweet
What is this man?
I can’t help but to fall in love
All day, my heart rides on that clock hand
Getting closer to you with each tickThis Friday. How is this Friday?
Although there isn’t a movie I really want to see
Although there isn’t anything I really want to eat
…
It feels like something’s come over me
What is this girl? I can’t help but love her
Let’s meet this coming Friday
Take all of my heart on that day
Closer, closer, come closerCredit: PopGasa
That’s why TaeEul remembered that he had to go back every Friday. She couldn’t help remembering that he was leaving her to meet the Prime Minister Koo. So she protested.
TE: What kind of condition is that? Do you realize that you’re a bad boyfriend?
Now, when she said “condition” she could be referring to two things here:
A. his weekly appointment with the PM Koo. She was jealous that LG had to meet with her every Friday. He was a bad boyfriend because he was leaving her for another girl.
B. Or the two stipulations he asked of her, that is, “Don’t tell me not to come and don’t tell me not to leave.” She thought they were preposterous, but she went along with them anyway.
I say, she was really referring to B. And I believe he caught her double meaning, too, because he looked down.
Having voiced her complaints, she quickly switched back to talk about their cooperative investigation.
TE: I’m risking punishment for leaking the case info by giving you this. But I think the answer to this is in your world. He’s dead in my world.
LG remembered him as the new stable hire, the son of the master Lee Guyong.
LG: I already know the answer. I’ve met him in person before.
TE: You met Lee Sangdo? Lee Sangdo is alive?
LG: I’ll take care of this. I’m giving you a job, too. I’m leaving Yeong here and taking Eun-sup instead.
TE: What do you mean?
LG: Lee Lim is here right now in the Republic of Korea.
TE: Then you shouldn’t leave. If he’s here right now.
LG: I should go and guard the path between our worlds. He must be caught in my world. That’s why I’m leaving Yeong here. If worse comes to worse, the only one who can kill him in this world is Yeong.
TE: So this was really a matter of life and death.
LG: (taking her hand in his) I’m sorry about causing trouble in your world.
TE: (hugging him) I was pretending to be okay, but I’m not. You’ll be back soon, right?
See that? I knew it! His two stipulations bothered her. She was going along with them because he requested her but really, her heart must be breaking everytime he left her.
LG: I’ll be back soon. It’ll be like visiting the next town over. That’s how quick I’ll be.
Note: This is prophetic irony. Any kdrama veteran would know that their future reality is going to be different from what he just said here. As it is, in Episode 10, when he unexpectedly showed up at her gain, she said, “It took you a while this time” to return to her. And he answered, “Because I had to come from far away. I realized that I never even gave you a single flower. That’s why I crossed the universe for you.”
From his promise to “be back soon,” she was now wondering, “What took you so long?” And from from just being “the next town over,” he was now crossing a whole”universe” to get to her.
Later that evening of Thursday, December 26, he and Eunsup (ES) crossed over to Corea. I’m explaining the confusion surrounding portal and this No Man’s Land in another post.
I’ll post the link here soon. >>>>>
When the reached the palace, one of the first things that Lee Gon did was to order Mr Seok the bald assistant to do a few things.
LG: Sub-Captaint Seok, what I say from now on is top secret. First, place guards around the bamboo forest starting today, until I give further orders. And arrest anyone who appears. Be aware especially of a man in his 70s.
Now, as soon as he said “man in his 70s,” Mr. Seok’s eyes shifted to the right. Now, I *personally* don’t subscribe to the theory that an individual glancing to the right (as opposed to the left) indicates dishonesty. But in kdramas, that’s probably an acceptable trope. Anyway, I’m giving you warning to regard Mr. Seok with a skeptical eye. He seems shady to me, especially when he said that the bookstore didn’t exist.
LG: (continues) Secondly, bring me all the security footage taken near the events I attended last year. As soon as possible.
Intermission: Can I just say that when Lee Gon demonstrated how to properly address him as “Your Majesty,” I involuntary SAT UP straighter in front of my laptop?
Goshdarnit. I almost saluted him, too.
My forefathers who fought for our independence against the Kingdom of Great Britain would have denounced me as a traitor.
Thursday, December 27.
Speaking with Lady Noh.
Lady Noh: There must be a lot of work to catch up on. You should go now.
LG: Why do you keep telling me to go? Why aren’t you asking me anything? I was going to tell you everything (pause) if you asked me where I was.
Lady Noh: Hmm. I already know. I know where you’re going. You’re chasing your destiny, aren’t you? This is a secret between you and me, right?
LG: (Nods)
To refresh our memories, this is what they said more than 24 years ago.
Lady Noh: Even on a night like that, a baby is born. Isn’t it great?
She was talking about the night of the King’s assassination. As tragic as it was, an auspicious event, the birth of a white foal, happened on the same night. She glanced him. I thought she was gauging his reaction, whether she should bring it up or not.
LG: That night, I heard the sound of a flute. Do you think it was the sound of the Manpasikjeok?
Lady Noh: No way. The Manpansikjeok doesn’t many sound, Your Majesty.
LG: That’s not true. I definitely heard it. (she looked worried) That’s why I went to Cheojongo. I couldn’t hear anything because the flute was so loud. I couldn’t hear the gunfire.The foal galloped near them.
Lady Noh: (sighing) I didn’t know you remembered everything because you never mentioned what happened that day.
LG: I held onto two things that night. (Lady Noh looked at him) I’m asking if one of them is in the whip you are holding.But her hands were inside her gown so how did Lee Gon knew? She looked dismayed.
LG: (continuing) Also whether or not you have the other one. (He wasn’t referring to the ID by name.)
Lady Noh: (closing her eyes and nodding) That’s right. I’ve been keeping it secret. And I brought it to give it back to you despite my fear. What an odd thing it is. Something that is silent yet makes a sound. And something that cannot be identified yet exists. Which is why I wish you’d forgotten everything.
LG: Is this a secret between us?
Lady Noh: Yes, Your Majesty.
LG: Do you think it’s here? The secret why I survived that day.
This is what I wrote about her almost a month ago. I thought she was an interesting character even back then: The Old Court Lady
I also like what she told the Prime Minister Koo.
Koo: What’s His Majesty’s type?
Noh: What’s with this blunt question?
Koo: You seemed busy.
Noh: You seemed busier, Prime Minister Koo. You only have a year until your term ends.
Koo: A year is more than enough. Don’t you know that I was married and divorced in just a year? With your help, just half a year would be enough. Give me some hints. What can crush His Majesty’s heart?
Noh: The normal question would be, “What makes his heart flutter?” Yet you’re asking what can crush his heart. Talk about a violent love. Has His Majesty ever shed tears in front of you? Even just once? That is why I refuse to help you.
Prophetic words again. We saw him with teary eyes here.
And he shed a tear here.
She’s been reading the Azaleas book of poem by Kin Sawol.
My House
At the base of a distant hill, the edge of a field
hard by the short of the broad sea,
I shall build it, my own house,
and put a wide road out front.
Those who go by, some
might stop in, then go on alone.
The day will turn dark at the rise by the white rapids.
I shall stand at the gate and wait.
From shadows growing light as dawn birds cry,
the day turns bright and still,
the morning comes sparkling,
and I look at each one who passes, wondering
Might it be you? Might it be?source: https://books.google.com
This poem is straightforward.
The persona in the poem is building a house with a wide road. A wide road is more expensive to build than a narrow road so when the persona says that he’s building a wide road, it means no expense will be spared to welcome the awaited guest home.
People may drop by and leave. But he’s waiting only for one person. He’s so excited at the thought of the person’s arrival that as soon as day breaks, he’s already waiting at the gate. He doesn’t wait indoors but outdoors.
But the intriguing part of the poem is that he doesn’t even know who he’s waiting for. lol. He looks at the face of each passerby and wonders if she’s the one. If she’s the one meant to live in the house that he’s already built.
Now, if I relate this poem to Lee Gon (and hey! I’m warning y’all that I’m not a literary person), I interpret it as Lee Gon searching for TaeEul all this time…or should I say through ALL time because he’s the eternal king? It reminds me of his amazement when he found her for the first time. He looked at her ID and wondered if it was her. Could it be her? Could what he thought was impossible actually become possible?
In a sense, that’s the reason he rides his horse Maximus from one end of the world to another. Against all improbabilities, he’s found TaeEul. And he’ll do anything in his power to ensure Lee Lim doesn’t destroy the two worlds. That’s why he waits at the gate.
Now, for a lighter relief….
The password was hilarious: J and then 13 zeros.
J0 000 000 000 000
Lee Gon couldn’t believe he was outsmarted by Eunsup. His bent head struck me as hilarious. He looked…well… defeated.
To be continued.
“Intermission: Can I just say that when Lee Gon demonstrated how to properly address him as “Your Majesty,” I involuntary SAT UP straighter in front of my laptop Goshdarnit. I almost saluted him, too.”
😂 You made me laugh with this but I do agree. I laughed at those scenes with Eunsop. He even said Tony referring to the mask and puts his hand up. 😂
Oh that poem is a sad one but you yeah it’s totally understandable. From the next town to a universe, that says a lot.
I wasn’t kidding. I almost said, “Yes, sir!!”
But Eunsop’s sudden voice change had me laughing, too.
I know you weren’t kidding because his voice was in total command. I can imagine you sitting upright straight away. LMH did good there. 🙂
Thank you,i like your interpretations about the drama especially the king.Waiting for the next chapter
@pkml3 Have yet time to read this but at a glance, I feel that we are on the same page with regards to the way events are deliberately un-chronological. I tried to say something similar but was ‘rejected’ LOL. I continue to accept the scenes as given by show without any rancour. And like I said to @WEnchanteur, I also take it as a challenge. I’m enjoying this show inspite of the discomfiting jumps back and forth. 😄
THANK YOU for clarifying TE’s “condition” bit. I thought it was an odd translation but now it makes sense!
Been reading along for quite awhile & the posts have been such a good read! @packmule3 thank you so much for clarifying about IU (I was so puzzled when TE mentioned that at the KU building), as well as the “condition”. I also loved that he mentioned “yeogi”, i thought it was such a contrast to their mtg where he was on his way to call her on a payphone, when TE asked if he’s really here, he said something the lines of “not entirely”?
Anyway I think I can identify with some of the lyrics to the IU song. Can’t wait for the weekend to be here… so that we can find out what happens to TE. 😆
thanks for this. I liked the non-linear timeline and the fact that between the end of an episode and the previous scenes there’s something we don’t see and are only shown in the beginning of the next episode.
I didn’t stop to think why I liked this, but yep, it prepares us for the time loop/jumps.
What I couldn’t understand in episode 10 is this thing:
After LG figures it out that LR does not age, he looks at the time, and says there are 10 days until new years (when he’s needed to make a public appearance) so he has about 5 hours to look for stuff in the land between 0 and 1.
LG: “And another thing I missed is the only place I can find LeeRim’s obelisks.”
And I thought finally he figured out that LR probably won’t use the same portals he is using and is useless to guard the portal he uses in Corea.
But then, after he returns and times stop he goes straight to his portal. That is fine, he has to check if LR exited there or somewhere else. He just suspected LR might use other portals but he didn’t know for sure.
But what he thinks there makes no sense to me:
“What is it that I’m missing here? Had guarding this bamboo forest been enough, we would have already met. He too would have had his guard on the other side. Our gateways are different.”
And he exhales as if he’s just had this revelation. As if he hadn’t thought of this before.
But how come? Didn’t he suspect this days before? When he went in between portals to look for LR’s obelisks? Isn’t that what he was referring to?
This scene left me really confused.
“An aside: as a child, that opening line would upset me because I always wanted the exact year to “Once upon a time.” To humor me, my father would throw random time like, “Year 1500 of the Turnips” or “13th hour” or “February 31st,” and I’d be content.” Packmule3, your father sounds like a creative, humorous man. We’re blessed he raised creative, humorous you.
Hah! DAR. I already kinda guessed that.
I did note that when TE met with LG at the picnic site by the water, she was wearing the same outfit she wore at ES’s discharge-from-military party. I take that as a clue it is the same day, which gives us some more timeline, assuming (which could make me wrong) that ES’s party is on the same day as his discharge.
One day before Eun Sup’s discharge:
-Sin Jae visits the grave of Ji Hun, LG’s ROK doppelganger.
-Sin Jae remembers watching TV in KOC, showing the child king mourning.
-Sin Jae is seen my Ji Hun’s mother.
-Ji Hun’s mother has her driver (LL minion) follow SJ to the Jongno Police Station
-At 6pm, SJ meets ES at the police station, sees him with JY’s phone; sees photo of JY & LG in KOC military uniforms on phone.
-SJ goes to LG’s hotel room to investigate.
-SJ remembers his mother leaving him in front of the shop with the TVs showing coverage of King Lee Gon mourning.
-SJ finds in LG’s coat the true autopsy report on the LL body double; report is in envelope labeled The Kingdom of Corea Royal Court with the plum blossom logo.
-SJ is caught by JY and a fight ensues. SJ sees JY’s face is the same as ES’s, but realizes he’s not the same person due to his actions (excellent fighter).
-SJ confronts LG and remembers his name, Lee Gon. LG acknowledges his identity and says he must be SJ’s king.
-SJ leaves LG & JY, going to TE. SJ tells her he’s met ES who’s not ES (JY), then walks away before TE can tell him what she’s seen and experienced.
-SJ goes to look at the house he lived i before his ROK family went bankrupt.
-SJ remembers LL approaching him in KOC and promising to find his mother for him. Remembers his mother crying and calling him Sin Jae as he woke up in a hospital bed.
Day of Eun Sup’s discharge-from-military party:
-Attendees of the party are Squad Three and Officer Yoon Gyeong Ran from the forensics. All are off work for the day. Noticeable due to his absence is Sin Jae.
(That is why I believe this is the day after his confrontation with LG.)
-During party, time stops. At the same moment, LG is in his hotel room washing his hands.
-LL is back in ROK, being driven past Seoul Arts Center. Time on clock tower is 11:46. It is daylight.
-LL’s chauffeur/main ROK henchman gives report: female police officer (TE) visited Care Center, Jang Yeon Ji in jail (for murdering her roommate), Kim Gi Hwan (restaurant owner) disappeared. Implication is that LL was in KOC when all these events transpired.
-Nighttime. LG is wearing the same shirt he wore when washing his hands and time stopped. He’s looking at the burner phone he confiscated from the KOC traitor/ROK restaurant owner. The phone rings, LG answers, and there’s silence. The caller is LL. LG quotes part of the inscription on Four Tiger Sword; tells LL he knows he’s in ROK.
-TE and LG meet at a picnic table by a bridge and water. She says it is a Thursday, so she expects him to go back to KOC for the every-Friday administration report from PM Koo.
-TE gives LG a photo of Lee Sang Do and a file on his murder, thinking LG may find info in KOC.
-LG recognizes Lee Sang Do as the new hire at the stable.
-LG tells TE he’s leaving JY in ROK and taking ES with him to KOC, because LL is in ROK. LL wants to guard the portal in KOC and catch LL.
-ES cuts his hair.
-JY gives ES his KOC Driver’s License, and ES gives JY his ROK Resident Registration Card. This sequence is shown as JY’s memory after he tests for an ROK Driver’s License (since ES never passed).
-LG and ES arrive in KOC. ES is holding a red balloon. With them is the KOC traitor/ROK restaurant owner.
-LG gives top-secret orders to Sub-captain Seok to guard the bamboo forest until further notice and arrest anyone seen there; also tells Seok to collect all CCTV footage taken near events LG has attended in the past year. NOTE to @Packmule3: I believe Sub-captain Seok tells LG the reason for his side-eye to the right. He’d glanced at JY(ES) while LG was talking because, “Are you giving orders to me, and not Captain Jo?”
-LG tells JY(ES) to bring his laptop.
@Packmule3, I have not forgotten or ignored your request to work on character information. It is a huge task. I put many hours into the task, but then got distracted by clues regarding timeline. I’ve compiled character info into ep. 6, but haven’t tried to do any analysis. @Growing Beautifully (GB) does a beautiful job with that, so I’m thinking I should email you whatever raw compilation I have by tomorrow, giving you permission to turn it over to GB (if she’ll accept). You also have my permission to share my email with GB. You do have that on record, right? I don’t want to share it on this public forum.
Slow and steady wins the race, right? If that were always true, there’d be far less roadkill in the world. Right about now I’m feeling more like roadkill than Aesop’s tortoise.
Hi @Welmaris! I’m glad to read you. Kind of missed you, actually! I see from your post that you’re working on gathering the characters info. That’s hard painstaking work! I know because I was trying to catch all the moments when there were photos of family, but in the end I tried to record every photo.
I’m not sure what @pkml3 wants to do with the info. Maybe she just wants to put the characters together for us in 1 post so that we can stop going crazy figuring out who, when, how old, etc.
I’ll let her decide. However if you would like to send me the raw data, you can. I’d love to go through it to clear my mind on the characters. I have no issue with putting my email out here. It’s growingbeautifully88@gmail.com
Catch ya later!
@pakmule3, @Welmaris, everyone else, too, thank you.
Welmaris, far from roadkill, you are more like the fabled camel who gets the heavy load because you are capable.
@GB
I think I know what you mean. I hope.
Just come to the work, simple, be open-minded, and take things as they are. More like art than drama.
Of course I did a few, I never question myself when I watch it. Ordinary spectator. It’s only after the episodes that I take stock of “why I don’t like this or that”.
But if I just have to remain contemplative, I don’t immerse myself in the story. I don’t live the emotions. And I can contemplate something interesting, not boring. If I do that in front of TKEM, I fall asleep and forget to read the subtitles. If I was able to take things so poetically, I’m sure I would have liked Goblin too.
I’d rather directly watch a Dali painting, or an experimental film, at least it doesn’t take 16 hours, and it will be more stimulating.
Besides, it’s quite a scabrous mix, because the drama still respects the codes of what it’s supposed to bring: action, romance, suspense, comedy, etc.
And TKEM has difficulties in fulfilling this contract, a tacit contract made with the spectator.
Funnily enough, this contradicts what the screenwriter said in an interview. I don’t have the exact text in my memory, but basically she said that she was not there to make art but to please the audience (good ratings, therefore). And also that a script that was not understood by the public was a bad script. She may have changed her philosophy since then, LOL!
Otherwise, you know my tastes, oriented towards strong emotions, anything addictive, striking. Big twist plot, hectic rhythm, shock directing, no filler, essential scenes and characters, no disgressions (except for comedy reasons). Not necessarily action, this applies in other genres. I like what is effective, and getting good at it is difficult. Really difficult. I don’t have the passion to write a blog like Packmule3. If I were to write a blog like hers, I would certainly focus on that aspect. The problem is that I haven’t really cracked the mysteries of this kind of drama. I can do it intuitively, but analyzing it seriously and finding the evidence is something else. I listen to French podcasts of guys who talk about it. On dramabitches, among the various articles, you can find things that can be used for this kind of drama. Quite simply because some of the tricks used by writers can be used for any kind of drama.
So I’m very badly placed to like TKEM from the start, apart from the fantastic theme, parallel worlds/time travel. While I like logical stories and TKEM is very logical, I can’t get the thrill out of it either. Badly arranged situations and probably lack of punch. It’s a miracle that I’ve managed to find this drama interesting, in doing so I’m not cynical, and I look without a preconceived opinion. The romance, the comedy helped.
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If the core of the “non-chronological” scenes are those relating to the “cliffhanger” then the next episode is a “recap back to the cliffhanger”. I don’t have a problem with that. Other dramas do that. And by the way, we understand intuitively and quite easily. Finally, it’s always a risk if at the beginning of the episode, you don’t quickly understand that you’ve gone backwards.
But the other isolated scenes that are out of sync, when there’s no way to see clearly, it’s painful. But I don’t have negativity when it’s understandable enough. Episode 15 of Memories of the Alhambra was crazy on that level. That must be my max, because there are still two or three flashbacks in the pile that I had trouble deciphering. But since all the scenes were flashbacks, at least I was warned. It didn’t just come out of the blue to generate a counter-impact. Like, “Suddenly it’s a flashforward, but I won’t know for eight episodes, and until then I’ve got the rest of the drama wrong because of it.”
Cliffhanger works best when it’s a suspenseful, action-packed, plot-twisting scene. Like the end of episode nine, for example.
However, to go back and go halfway through the episode to get back to that moment is too long. It has to be really interesting. Often, many scenes are not even connected to the cliffhanger scene. Going to the first quarter would be enough.
Using this process has another flaw, as do many cliffhangers. You decide the structure of the story, and what the cliffhanger will be. So, no choice, the whole episode has to be filled up to that point. It’s very difficult when the story is full of twists and turns and a lot of situations linked together. In TKEM it’s easier because the drama uses a lot of jumps from one situation to another, an off-center patchwork. You can put whatever you want on whenever you want, by exaggerating. However, to reach the cliffhanger, you have to tell something interesting, not drag. Sometimes I feel that if I removed the boring scenes from this drama, the cliffhanger would arrive 25 minutes before the end. In fact, there would be time to tell what was reported in the next episode. ^^
Add to that another problem. Well, not for me, but for many other viewers, who have difficulty loving the romance of drama.
Often, the cliffhanger is a scene of romance! Since this scene is “advanced” (or we can take it as a flashforward), what happens between the characters accelerates the romance even more. Of course, this will be developed in the next episode, and the cliffhanger scene repeated. All this should give even more strength to the romance. But I end up doubting it. Already because in the next episode, there will be lots of uninteresting scenes to get to the middle of the episode. Then, the spectators record strongly in their memory the cliffhanger scene, which doesn’t explain why the lovers got so close so quickly. And maybe that’s how memory works, it’s mostly that which will be retained in the end.
💋Muah! 😍😘 I’ll use this instead. Will repost this and add my comments. 💋💋💋
@Growing Beautifully (GB), it’s 3:30am here in my neck of the woods, so I’m going to get some sleep. Tomorrow I’ll send you what I have, finish the last bit of ep. 6, then tackle ep. 7. If we divide and conquer, it’ll go faster. Anyone want to volunteer to comb through ep. 8? Ep. 9? Ep. 10? We’re looking for character information such as name, birth date or age, references to relatives, doppelganger, date of death, place of residence, etc. Any time the writer tosses out a fact about a character, try to snag it. It could be spoken in dialogue, or shown on a form or ID card.
I’ll do episode 9 tomorrow @Welmaris 🙋🏻♀️😊
Hi @Welmaris I received your email. It’s wonderful work!!! So meticulous and just what I needed LOL. I will go through Ep 10 for the Character info. I will append my notes to your nice list, in a DIFFERENT colour so that it will be easier for @pkml3 to figure out if anything got duplicated or is missing. She’ll be getting another list from @agdr3 too and will need to compare them. I hope I can be as thorough as you. 😆 Take care.
Oh shit…
I’ve just been violently assaulted by ideas !!!
I shouldn’t have started analyzing stuff about this drama. I was thinking about everything that’s wrong, and the criticisms of the other viewers. And then… (Sighs)
I came up with a draft synopsis that would have made the drama more appealing.
Nothing definite, but…
How can I put it… I can feel it… I feel it very strongly!
😀
The rhythm of the story would be more intense, of course.
What happens episode 10 in the drama should happen episode 5 about.
And a lot of events are totally different.
The ideal would be to manage to keep the best of the drama, and to replace what is painful with a new exciting and hectic storyline. I also have a major idea that will make the sentimental story more credible for half of it.
However, since I don’t know the end of the drama, I don’t know at all if it would be compatible. Maybe there would be things to adjust.
Hi @WEnchanteur, I see that the analyses and writing bug has bitten you. I am very eager to read a synopsis that makes all the events in the show fall in place.
What occurred to me as I re-watched Ep 1, is that, that interrogation is what comes after Ep 10. It is the results of that interrogation that LG needs, in order to indict LL for the first murder of King Lee Ho. A synopsis would put events in their proper order.
And yes, to your other post about your interpretation of what I meant by watching the drama as is and accepting what it offered.
Hope to read your synopsis. 😄
Alternative synopsis, The King: Eternal Monarch.
Episode 1, and some overall ideas.
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***** Episode 1. *****
Beginning: Unless you find something suitable for the first scene, this…
First scene removed.
No voice-over, everything’s taken out, and the drama starts with the scene at 03:08.
(I just re-watched, it fits)
Wide shot of the palace with the subtitle “Kingdom of Korea”.
Lee Lim looks at the sword, his henchman arrives.
HENCHMEN – The King is in Cheonjongo.
LEELIM – Let’s go. What I covet is there.
The scene in the palace with the King’s murder is preserved.
The media scenes, search too, in shorter form.
Lee Lim is seen in the bamboo forest with the flute piece.
However, he is not seen opening the gate. Or rather : we don’t see the gate.
Instead, frightening atmosphere, noises, and worried Lee Lim’s face, witnessing something threatening. In reality, it’s the gate opening, but it could be something else, something that could threaten his life. Which will then logically lead the spectator on a desired false trail.
No scene with Lee Lim in the Republic of Korea. Except for the last scenes of the episode, there will be no scenes taking place there.
Scenes with the young crowned king, mourning, meeting with Jo Yeong. Preserved but shortened.
Scene where the corpse of Lee Lim is found. The broken bones. Scary shot on the corpse’s face, eyes wide open. As if he had lived an instinct of terror before he died. (This links to the scene where Lee Lim is frightened in the bamboo forest. Here, I slightly change the personality of the character, I would make him less “imperturbable”).
No scene at the morgue showing cheating between Lady Noh and the old prince. Old prince deleted from the story, by the way.
No scenes with Lee Lim and the Saltz Man. In my version, Lee Lim is supposed to be dead, so we won’t see him until there’s a huge Plot twist. Of course, this won’t happen episode 10, but before that! If there are any details to be given about whether he’s building an army or recruiting people, it will be seen afterwards in a not too long recap flashback. Rather, the focus will be on action, and the execution of his plans, with betrayal, covert agents on mission, plot-twist in the palace, and direct threats. Potentially a paranoid atmosphere. An enemy agent is at work! He doesn’t get stupidly arrested in a harras after an endless boring investigation.
Here, the drama’s about 15-20 minutes instead of 35.
Transition to be made between Lee Gon as a child and Lee Gon as an adult.
Subtitle: 22 years later. (and not 25, as in the drama).
The first scene will show Lee Gon looking at his badge. Lady Noh despairing that the King doesn’t find a wife. She knows about the existence of the badge. She will ask him:
LADYNOH – You spend your time looking at that badge, did you fall in love with that woman, so that no other woman would interest you?
LEEGON – It’s just a picture, how can I fall in love with a picture?
LADYNOH – In that case, pick a woman. A woman who cares about you.
It goes on and on with PM Koo in her plane.
Several scenes are fired or changed places until the meeting with PM Koo in the harras.
Lee Gon then returns to the palace and catches Lady Noh placing her paper talisman. The scene ends with a sharp remark by Lee Gon.
LEEGON – That kind of superstition has never worked.
Just then, Jo Yeong arrives.
JOYEONG – Majesty! I’ve got news!
LEEGON – … ?!!
Jo Yeong takes an object out and shows it to the King. We can’t see what it is, but the King suddenly has an expression of intense surprise.
Next scene, a book signing (book fair).
A woman, a writer who recently became famous thanks to her book. (I don’t have the details yet, but there will be a relevance to what she writes).
This woman is Luna, but not at all the one seen in the drama.
In the queue, from the back, a man with his book (the photo of Luna is prominently displayed on the back of the book).
Luna writes nice dedications, is very warm with her audience.
The man introduces himself to her, and you can see him, of course, it’s Lee Gon.
Then, I don’t have all the details, but part of the episode is going to tell a credible love story. There will be some time skips. It can be a succession of scenes showing their happiness and love with a voiceover of Lee Gon.
Luna is not the woman Lee Gon was looking for. He just falls in love with Luna naturally. She’s a sweet, receptive, sensitive woman. The kind of woman who’s easy to fall in love with. The real dream woman. She has a form of intelligence in the literary field, just like Lee Gon in the mathematical field.
This takes place under the malicious gaze of PM Koo, of course jealous.
Eventually, Luna is crowned Queen. She gets pregnant by Lee Gon. It’s really just like a dream.
Except… Luna will get a devastating cancer. She will die without being able to give birth. A moment of terrible sadness for the King! This drama will have the viewer crying from the very first episode. ^^
Here, I remove all direct references to Alice in Wonderland, I remove the rowing race, the pursuit of the Luna-Lapin, and so on.
Everything from 44:00 to about 01:05:00 has been fired and replaced.
From a temporal point of view, we’re at +25 years. The love affair with Luna will have lasted 2-3 years maybe.
I have no idea why Lee Gon takes the flute piece and goes into the forest. It might have something to do with something mysterious Luna said to him before she died.
End Scene: Lee Gon is riding a horse in Seoul.
Tae Eul is in his car, but we never see her face. You can tell it’s a cop who gets mad at the man on horseback, and puts on a flashing light.
By the time Lee Gon meets Tae Eul on the esplanade, we finally see Tae Eul’s face appear. Subjectively seen by Lee Gon. Of course, an epic moment, slowed down, three times the face appearing, huge thing. Lee Gon is not imperturbable at that moment (expression of surprise!). Moreover, Tae Eul has her badge out already, and Lee Gon notices it.
Here, either, the rest of the scene can be pretty much the same. Either the cliffhanger takes place immediately. Why end up here? Because we don’t really know Tae Eul’s character, and it’s better to know her a little bit so you don’t get too surprised by her manner of speaking.
In that scene, Lee Gon is just a little less impassive. But the rough hug has to stay, of course!!!
***** Episode 2. *****
The beginning can start with a flashback, a few sequences with Tae Eul in the role of a cop. That way, we know a little bit about her character. Then it quickly follows with the scene on the esplanade. At the moment, I’m not sure about my move. I don’t know if the whole esplanade scene can work without knowing Tae Eul first. We’d have to rewrite the whole thing to test it.
——————————————————————-
Roughly speaking, on this first episode, I didn’t save that much time. On the other hand, the storyline is much more focused. I find it more interesting to follow the adventures of Lee Gon without being interrupted by additional scenes.
Having difficulty estimating the length of the episode, I don’t know if it’s too short. If it is, it should make it possible to develop a plot in advance. Around the PM Koo for example.
Spoiler: Luna’s cancer did not occur naturally. It’s murder by radioactive poisoning. Murder commissioned by the PM Koo. She’s a power-hungry bitch around here. This will be revealed later, as a hideous plot-twist! Like “The Last Empress” style, ah ah! She might also have already been replaced by Lee Lim, who knows?
There’s bound to be a lot of things that can happen. At this point in the story, Lee Lim has already placed pawns in the palace!
The main characters: Lee Gon & Luna, a bit of Lady Noh as an environment character, the PM Koo of course, the presence of Jo Yeong. Nothing more.
I focus on emotions, tragedy, feelings with Luna. All of that will give Lee Gon depth, and make it much more believable that he falls in love with Tae Eul quickly. Especially if Luna left him a mysterious will (I don’t know what yet). Something like “you’ll meet me again, in another life, take care of me, don’t let me die”.
Luna died for good in the first episode. There won’t be any disconnected scenes with her afterwards, in fact. One character less, that’s what winning is all about! There, Luna will have been really useful, within a storyline. There may be correlations between this Luna and the rest of the plot. (I don’t know what, since I don’t know the end of the drama, and I don’t know what could stick to it).
All the crap about Lee Lim is gone. Scenes that were disconnected. Lots of minor characters, too. All this junk is going to be permanently kicked out of the following episodes too (phew, that’s going to breathe!). Even if Lee Lim won’t be seen, this will be compensated by the fact that he will appear and confront much faster in the rest of the story. I don’t see the point of showing a bunch of scattered scenes with a villain with whom there is no direct conflict or confrontation. Add to this that in the drama, after 9 episodes like this, the supposedly grandiose encounter falls flat! All this for nothing.
Later, Lee Lim will make a revelation (flashback), all his cruelty will be concentrated at once. How he murdered his doppelganger, the king’s look-alike, and his son. Lee Gon will take it all in the face, it will be brutal and intense! Or an investigation in ROK will uncover the disappearance of these characters. I don’t know the role of the ROK king’s mother. But since this character has been useless so far, he didn’t deserve to appear. If necessary, it will be introduced later.
Of course, Lee Gon will suffer the timestop following Lee Lim’s moves. Lee Lim is therefore a character totally in the shadows, acting in secret from both Lee Gon and the spectators.
——————————————————————-
Voilà! 😀
Don’t ask the impossible of this draft synopsis.
I wrote it and translated it in two hours, including ideas attack.
Just a lot of ideas that fell through and had a bit of consistency.
A kind of vision that removes everything that weighs down the drama and makes it impossible to memorize, to understand. That would allow you to be immersed in the action without being interrupted or bored all the time.
@WEnchanteur, Amazing what you managed in 2 hours to streamline the arc. Will this be a story of LG’s efforts to reunite with the lookalike of his wife, Luna? So his decisions and actions will be determined by this, until he realises to his horror that he has been blind to the evils LL has engendered in TE’s world and in his own?
Will the fantasy element concentrate only on or mostly on just the flute and the portal so there will be frequent worlds’ travels? Since you remove the other legends, then will it be the legend of the sword and how it helps LG close the portals of the worlds that will be the main legend? It will be good if LG gets teams to help him, one each in both worlds, somehow linked and working together. The ‘Signal’ element can still be used to good effect.
On the romance – I envision a couple of episodes of push and pull between LG and TE, and a quadrangle or love with PM Koo on the KOC end and Shin Jae on the ROK end. While coping with Koo’s murderous machinations, a new disturbance will arise and investigations will lead back to the ‘dead’ LL.
I guess the main mystery will be how LL re-emerges after being dead and what he is really after. Will hints of his evil plans be given along the way to the viewer to whet curiosity? So not everything hidden, but something to tell us that there is more than an inter-world love story here.
A wrap up within 12 episodes is nowadays so rare. Perhaps you can manage within 10 – 12 episodes. It will be a succinct tale, cohesive, clear and strongly told and to the point. 😃
GB, 😀
Your reaction makes me laugh, because by asking questions, in fact, you’re just imagining the rest of the story. You should write everything down and keep letting the ideas come !!!
I can’t find anything on important points, because the drama is not over. So I don’t know the final logic of the mechanics of the drama. Besides, there are too many points that I haven’t understood yet. And again, it would be useful to reread all the Packmule3 articles.
What I’m proposing at the moment is very whimsical, and you shouldn’t take it all too seriously. It’s just enthusiasm and fun to let ideas appear. Right now, any consideration too serious would hinder this creative process. The principle is to have fun. And it can easily take several months, having lots of ideas every day, before something starts to come together!
Here in the proposed ideas, it is likely that several will be removed or modified. You should already have more ideas for the whole story, and then go back to what is shown at the beginning. So, find as many things as possible, key scenes, and powerful pieces of plot, and then organize them all into a story.
Luna -> Tae Eul.
Yeah, it’s a little bit psychologically scary. Lee Gon is predisposed to fall in love with Tae Eul because she physically resembles Luna. That, combined with the ID badge, should solidify this story.
– Of course, someone who’s nitpicking will always be able to object that it’s a fake form of love because she’s different in personality. Unless they’ve been through this, no one can say.
– This will make the encounter even more fun, since Tae Eul is the opposite of Luna in terms of personality. So Lee Gon will have to make an extra effort to accept it. Maybe he’ll have doubts. Instead of loving her unconditionally at first, he might also become angry with her at times.
– Luna’s character must contain secrets. Something to do with the main plot. There must be things that Luna never revealed to Lee Gon. Things she knows he’ll learn someday. So there’ll be flashbacks to what Luna was hiding, things that make the viewer go “Aaaah!” Like “shock revelation”!
– Since I anticipate the problem of Luna’s transition to Tae Eul, that’s why Luna’s will must be strange. See the sentence I quickly wrote. Luna wants Lee Gon to meet Tae Eul and continue the love story he had with her. It’s as if she died and was reincarnated as Tae Eul.
– The script could introduce a new element: a kind of psychic connection between the doubles, from one world to another.
All I can say is that I would do everything to give the story as much dynamism as possible. The background of the story is impossible to find at the moment, apart from a guiding philosophy.
On the form:
– Focus on the main couple.
– Eliminate as many secondary characters as possible, to keep only the essentials.
– Do not insist on the secondary characters. Keep their background, but without the need to show so much on screen. Example: PM Koo’s mother has no interest, except to show that PM Koo has no respect for class differences and innate privileges. She might as well have been killed in the past because of that! Flashback… It would also prevent Lee Gon from stupidly dropping off her umbrella at home. ^^
– No minor character has scenes of its own, and does not need to be memorized. He becomes an “environmental character”. There to give the heroes the line, with no other life of their own.
– Avoid the “parachuted into a situation with unknown context” type of narration. It is inevitable that this happens, new contexts must be discovered, but without exaggeration.
– Avoid the “jumping from one situation to another” type of narration. The number of parallel frames must be reduced, otherwise the spectator can no longer follow a storyline that has a following.
– Make any slightly complicated narration understandable (flashback, flashforward). In short, avoid the puzzle game based on the confusion linked to the realization, to better highlight the enigmas specific to the story. If a detail needs to be noticed, insist, or double the lines of understanding with other evidence- Since everything is more understandable and there is no longer a systematic technique of “I come out of nowhere unexpectedly in a scene”, keep Jokers at this level.
– A Joker: it’s a scene that will use the technique you see in the drama, but only exceptionally. So the scene will be highlighted, and not be confused by yet another scene without context. The rare and strange side of the scene should immediately alert the spectator to the fact that what he sees is disconnected in time, and produce the artistic effect you like so much 😉
– Don’t insist on situations or characters with a minimal purpose. And even, simply get them out of the drama.
– Example: I fired the old prince. Typical example of a boring character, who has isolated scenes for himself alone, on top of that. You drag him around like a ball and chain throughout the drama and he ends up dying while no one cares about his death, the spectator or Lee Gon. If Lady Noh had been the victim, it would have had a more serious effect!
– Remove or radically transform scenes whose main purpose is to give information but which are of no interest. Example: police investigations. In addition, one spends one’s time forgetting the thread of the investigation.
– Whenever information needs to be delivered during the drama, do it in the context of the action! Within a storyline that moves forward! Or comedy scenes, scenes that are interesting for itself. It’s difficult, you inevitably fall into utilitarian scenes from time to time. You don’t want to see them again on the screen, and you don’t even want to read them again in the script!
On the background.
– I will use the fantastic process and its rules to produce incredible plot-twists or strong emotions. It’s hard to say what without knowing everything, you have to wait until the end of the drama. But I would have no hesitation to modify or add unknown rules.
– Keep the best of the drama, among others: the first half of Episode 2, the situation between Eun Sup and Jo Yeong, the sentimental scenes where Lee Gon and Tae Eul meet, Tae Eul who loses his badge and gets the real badge.
– If we look at the progress of the main plot of the drama, episodes 1 to 9, what really happened? Well, not much… No plot that progressed and caused a big change. Rather a very slow arrangement of characters and situations, with the evolution of the romance. Well here, it’s the opposite !!! And romance must be tested by dangers, not just calm and relaxed encounters.
– Other legends, like the sword: no idea, I don’t know the meaning in the drama yet.
– I would limit police investigations. It’s a style that I don’t know much about either. The risk is to reproduce what happens in the drama. The follow-up of the investigations is so fragmented that it is difficult to remember who and why we are investigating! Sometimes the investigation starts, and I don’t know if it’s a continuation of the previous case, or a new case!
– A more apparent thread: the investigation could be linked to a big company. A cheabol. Of course, he’s a Lee Lim pawn. I find it odd that Lee Lim hasn’t consolidated a position of power in ROK. Here it would be. Going up against a big company is more exciting than tracking isolated suspects here and there. It can lead to confrontations, where Tae Eul gets tossed around like a piece of garbage. Maybe the “saltz man”, absent from my story at the beginning, could by chance be the look-alike of that ROK cheabol, who was killed and replaced ?!
– Love quadrangle. It’ got to be said, it’s very effective! Besides, it lacks the classic scene, where when Tae Eul and Lee Gon kiss, Sin Jay watches it from afar, helpless. LOL! It would also be nice to have Tae Eul completely drunk, and Lee Gon piggy-backing her, especially since she is worn on the drink. 🙂
– As far as dooplegangers are concerned, I’ll prefer situations where one of the two doubles is already dead. This avoids having too many characters to confuse on the screen. But it would be interesting to keep the duality for an important character, easy to track.
– For Lee Lim, I don’t know all his motivations in the drama. He’s not immortal because he’s actually cheating just by staying in No Man Land. Is he looking for true immortality? At first, he accuses the King of incompetence. After seeing the world of ROK and his best technological advance, does he think he is a better ruler than the former King and Lee Gon? There’s too much unknown data on the drama to decide. I can’t figure out all of his ambitions, which makes it difficult to find the story here.
– During the first few episodes of the drama, something must happen. An agent of the palace must act! At least one of them is stealing Tae Eul’s badge. But it would still be funnier if something serious happened. Trying to kill the King to take the flute? But does Lee Lim know that the flute is in the whip?
– The motives of the agents are obscure, but it is incredible that Lee Lim manages to corrupt so many people, all with a link to the palace. Besides, my version doesn’t show that. So we need a phenomenon that facilitates this. Hence the idea of a psychic link between the doubles of the different worlds. A sort of rule, when an individual exists in one world, the individual in the other world is his opposite in terms of personality. People who are faithful to Lee Gon have a maximum chance of being faithful to Lee Lim in the other world, according to this principle. However, exceptions must be made: Eun Sup and Jo Yeong are compatible. Why them? And Tae Eul, too! One possible reason: It’s because Eun Sup is close to Tae Eul. So Tae Eul is the main exception to the rule, as well as those around her (by the way, Na Ri must be eliminated from the drama, or else it’s secretly a character who hates Tae Eul in ROK). Why is Tae Eul the exception? I don’t know, but there’s a secret connection with Luna for example. Maybe they were both plunged into a coma during their childhood? The psychic connection was revealed to Luna, but Tae Eul doesn’t remember it well. That connection prevented the antagonism from taking place? Then Eun Sup must have been close to Tae Eul for a long time. For example, it was Tae Eul who facilitated Eun Sup’s admission to do his military service as a trainee at the police station. This psychic connection would also explain why the characters have hallucinations when the gate opens.
– So, in the world of ROK, Lee Gon might meet someone he knows in QOK. Since he doesn’t know the rule of psychological reversal, he thinks that person is sympathetic at first sight. It’s an agent of Lee Lim who’s acting. Maybe he’s connected to that big company I mentioned. Is the man met during the investigation? He’s going to try to kill Lee Gon. Suspenseful scene where while Lee Gon thinks he’s on a friendly date, the man will pull out a gun!!! At that moment, the viewer doesn’t know that there are doubles. So, surprise, plot-twist ! 🙂 At this stage of the story, it will be impossible to make this man talk of course. The existence of Lee Lim will not be revealed. On the other hand, Tae Eul will be able to focus on that big company. Maybe that company is the cause of other suspicious disappearances? It could be a security company with a lot of armed guards. A good environment for action and fighting.
Other ideas in bulk:
Final separation of Tae Eul and Lee Gon.
There’s bound to be a tense moment when the story makes you believe that the two characters will be separated forever.
The two lovers must witness the moment when they see themselves separated. And they must know that it’s related to the fantastic phenomenon and its rules.
Maybe Lee Gon lost his piece of flute? No idea what triggered it. However, it will work fine. A big bunch of tears!
It takes a plot-twist to solve this unbearable situation. For example, Lee Gon finds out that he can travel through No Man Land instead of the gate. If he manages to do it without needing his piece of flute, there must be a reason. I don’t know what it is, but it can be added to the rules of the fantasy mechanism.
Confrontation between Lee Gon and Lee Lim in No Man’s Land.
They are alone here, no cheating. In this dimension, as much as it throws up.
Palpable tension, two enemies, first a dialogue, then it will degenerate into a brutal confrontation. One holds his whip, the other his umbrella. One expects a kind of duel with these two objects instead of swords. But when it comes time to fight… (Careful, sloppy dialogue written out of thin air).
LEE LIM – You didn’t think I was going to fight with an umbrella?
Lee Lim pulls out a gun!! Shit! Suspens! Lee Gon is done for!
What the hell… Slow down, eye-popping effect, big style…
LEE GON – You either?
Surprising the spectator, Lee Gon also pulls out a gun!
Mexican stand up !!! The two enemies point their weapons at each other. In another dimension !
And if you want to… “Cliffhanger”… 🙂
At the same time, they act, (slow motion), Lee Gon hits Lee Lim’s arm with his whip.But Lee Lim does the same thing by hitting with his umbrella. (Spectacular slow motion to follow this improbable and extreme moment). They both lose their revolvers, and are finally forced to fight with these two objects. Whip and Umbrella.
But the fight won’t really take place, because from the first pass of the weapon, the two objects collide like swords. Immediately, an unexpected phenomenon occurs, caused by the joining of the two pieces of flute.
I don’t know what exactly, but the two enemies are ejected out of No Man Land, end of the confrontation.
Consequence: It can be something huge. For example, the portal becomes obsolete to go from one world to another. This caused a fracture, and the ends of No Man Land merged with an area of each of the two worlds. Perhaps a dangerous and irreversible phenomenon has been set in motion?
Another idea (not necessarily compatible).
The scene happens around episode 7 in this version. (well, I don’t know…)
All the comedy scenes between Jo Yeong and Eun Sup were used. Eun Sup is in the world of QOK and replaces Jo Yeong, who helps Tae Eul in ROK.
Lee Lim staged a coup. While Lee Gon returned to QOK, leaving Tae Eul in ROK with Jo Yeong. So he can’t rely on their help.
There’s a strange atmosphere in the palace.
Lee Lim’s agents are taking action. Many guards loyal to Lee Gon have been killed. Action, gunfight!!
Lee Gon ends up trapped in a heavy and tense scene. In his personal office for example. Surrounded by Lee Lim’s agents. And there… drum roll, watch out, big impressive thing…
Lee Lim then makes his appearance (Wooooo), he controls the situation, and Lee Gon is in a very bad position. Suspens, is Lee Lim going to kill him here?
Yes, but not without a lot of nice things and an intense verbal confrontation. Lee Gon might reveal some of his secrets, horrifying to Lee Gon. How he killed his family in ROK for example.
Lee Gon wants the flute! He doesn’t know it’s in the whip.
It’s also an opportunity to introduce an abominable event for both Lee Gon and the spectator.
Lee Lim kills Eun Sup! Something flashy, shot in the head, in slow motion. Body falling in slow motion. As a joke… “Big Nooooo” by Lee Gon. An opportunity to show Lee Gon losing his way. (Hoping Lee Min Ho can do that, LOL). Tears and anger. Hate even more, Lee Gon has an even greater reason to want to take revenge, to kill Lee Lim. But here, the problem is that he’s the next on the list to die.
Note: As all the comic potential of Eun Sup has been exhausted, the character is no longer of any use, except to die horribly to hurt the heart of the viewer, who has capitalized a lot of affection towards the character. I know, it’s disgusting, but that’s how you make a character’s death important. 🙂
Lee Lim questions Lee Gon. While his faithful henchman (the saltz man) goes to punch Lee Gon, Lee Lim says to him:
LEE LIM – No, not the face.
Lee Gon gets beaten up without getting his face damaged (that’s something…). He doesn’t reveal anything (he’s the hero anyway). But Lee Lim is going to find out by himself. He examines the whip. He slightly takes out the tip, and sees that it is the flute. Game over.
Is Lee Gon going to die horribly murdered right now?
Well, no!
First, Lee Gon wants a reliable ally to exercise power in QOK. PM Koo is the right person to do that.
The plan is to arrange the royal wedding.
Lee Gon is not okay with that. We must find a way to force him to do so. Threaten to kill Lady Noh, drugs, anything. We’ll have to come up with an idea for that.
Here, I don’t know PM Koo’s motives. Does she only want power? Or does she want to be queen but keep Lee Gon alive because she’s still in love? In that case, her goals will conflict with those of Lee Gon, who wants to murder Lee Gon after marriage.
The royal wedding is taking place. The perfect time for a spectacular scene.
Tae Eul lands with Jo Yeong and allies. Plot-twist! What’s this? Why is that? Cliffhanger, answer at the beginning of the next episode, LOL!
Lee Gon sawed his piece of flute in half, and gave the other half to Tae Eul! That’s why she was able to go through the gate and come to his aid. If Lee Lim had been less foolish, he would have taken the flute piece out of the whip ENTIRE, and would have noticed it.
Possible resolution: Lee Lim will run away of course. This is the end of the intrigue involving Lee Lim’s secret agents in the palace. PM Koo is not arrested. Lee Gon has no evidence that she was in cahoots with Lee Lim. Maybe there’s still one agent left in a high position. The best twist plot to terrify the viewer later in the story: Lady Noh has been replaced!! New plots can develop, based on time travel for example.
The Yoyo Boy.
My version has a bug. It doesn’t allow the yoyo boy to appear as in the drama. So either scenes will have to justify his appearance or the character is removed from the story.
But if the character is kept, this:
Yoyo boy is not a god.
He is the embodiment of destiny, yet he is just an ordinary child.
The child doesn’t know that he is the embodiment of destiny.
It’s as if destiny chose the child by saying “It’s you I’m going to use to provoke the improbable events of the story”.
So he is a 100% innocent character, he doesn’t understand anything about what is happening. He just sees people passing by and feels like he has something to do with them, without knowing what.
I do this because I don’t want to add MORE of a theme about a mythology based on gods. It’s messy enough as it is, in terms of accumulating themes.
The whole thing sounds like a weird mix between “The Last Empress”, “Signal”, “Inception” and “Fringe”. 😀
@WEnchanteur, I like this: “But the fight won’t really take place, because from the first pass of the weapon, the two objects collide like swords. Immediately, an unexpected phenomenon occurs, caused by the joining of the two pieces of flute.” Great image and ironic.
@Fern,
It’s just luck. An idea happens instantly, and sometimes something nice is in it. Other times, we don’t know, it can stay mundane, or become good once it’s developed. Or another idea comes in a few days or even a few weeks later and it’s grafted on top of the mundane idea, and that’s the right thing to do.
For example, something that I didn’t realize, but which further consolidates the romance. I’ve just analyzed it by rereading it.
Since there was a psychic connection between Luna and Tae Eul, it also explains why Tae Eul is in favor of falling in love with Lee Gon.
While Luna and Tae Eul are in a coma, some kind of encounter may have occurred on a psychic level.
Tae Eul might remember that later in the story. A very moving scene.
The two little girls are in an imaginary garden, and they are talking or playing with each other. Tae Eul might ask Luna who the boy of her dreams is. She answers something simple and childish about fairy tales. “Prince Charming.” Tae Eul answers that princes and kings don’t exist anymore. Luna answers that it does. Tae Eul says, “in that case I would also like to meet a prince”… “or not, even a king.”
We can imagine other flashbacks of their astral encounter.
In the end, they are about to come out of the coma, and the last encounter will be very sad, because they have to say farewell. They had become true friends.
I can feel the emotional potential of this very strongly.
@Fern @WEnchanteur I’m enjoying this almost as much as the show we have LOL. Had me laughing at the bits I skimmed. 😀 I’ve no time today to read in detail. Catch ya later!
@WEnchanteur, perhaps you could pass your concise revised screenplay on to someone who might make it into a film in French. I would love to see it.
Ugh! It’s really impossible to call it screenplay. Just a few random ideas light years away from producing anything. There’s no point in that, except to have a bit of fun and imagine if the drama could have been more lively.
I won’t even have the patience to make a fan fiction out of it. 😀
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