Update:
@agdr03 tells me that Eps 13 and 14 will be shown next week. Whoops!
Yankee Doodle pigeon: The open thread
Dick Dastardly: me
Muttley: agdr03🙂
Thanks, agdr03.
The thread is now open for you, ladies.
Ooh! Ice cream!
The drama should be ramping up for the finale next week.
Enjoy the show!
Thanks you! ☺️ But I think we won’t see episode 13 and 14 till next week.
I can’t believe we’re down to the last 4 episodes.
Really? lol. You can tell that I’m out of the loop here.
Nah, all good. 😊 I’ve been out of the loop because I’m back to work even though I’ve been meaning to comment on DDSSLLS on the last two episodes.
This is our advance thread. 😊
I’ll make a correction.
I can always put this post back up next week, if it sinks down and disappears on the first page of blog.
Yup, you can do that or I can remind you if needs be. 😊
Hi @pkml3 and @agdr03, I’m also out of the loop. I never check in advance for whether an episode will air or not and am often caught by surprise that nothing is posted. Well it’s fine actually that Wed and Thur are free. There’s lots to do!!
Yes, either @agdr03 or I will remind you if this thread gets submerged.
(❁´▽`❁)*✲ﾟ*
Hey Ladies,
They showed a Special Episode that is available on Viki.com
The title is episode 13 but I guess they haven’t corrected the title.
See ya all in one week! LOL!
@Cleopatra 👋🏻
I’ll try to watch that special episode. Thank you. 😊
After the cliffhanger last week I wanted another episode today but I guess we will have to see just how much improvement in production they come up with because that’s what they wanted to do. 🤞🏻
@agdr03,
You are welcome! I will watch it as well this weekend! I saw that Yong Ji posted on her IG a video with Hwang Hee. Unfortunately I don’t know what they said.More likely about the Special Episode.
Yes, that’s what they said. Soompi posted a post about it too!
I do hope we get to see beautiful things. 4 more episodes until The End… *excited*
Thanks for the news on the special @Cleopatra. I happened to find the preview clips on it. I have to search further to see if it is posted in full anywhere.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/r2Zp-LPUfGw
Looks interesting in that LR is speaking to a new character, and is shown running and looking for the boy Kim Soo Ho. When He finds him, he asks him if he’s not hurt. The clips only show us Yoo Ri and Lee Rang, and a glimpse of Shin Joo. At first I wondered if it was meant to be part of the spinoff, but no. If this is ‘Episode 13’ then it looks like LR is back on his feet?
@GB,
I think that Lee Rang will be on his feet because Yu-Ri will ask for the Imoogi to take her life (?). The little boy is the reicarnation of Lee Rang’s Blackie. (If I understood correctly what you said about the boy…)
At the end of episode 12 there was a preview for episode 13 – not the special one. I found a video made by a fan about it with English Subs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAlmY4FM4HA
Thank you for the video you posted!
It was good for me that there was a hiatus before ep.13 and 14 because I finally got a chance to catch up on the last few episodes. I agree that it’s great that Ji Ah has finally found her parents. I also think that Lee Rang is changing (the signs were there all along) and may not die yet. I do think that Shin Joo may die. He made the pact with Granny Taluipa to ferry souls till eternity after death..that will make sense only if he dies. I’m glad that in spite of all the power Imoogi has, Lee Yeon does manage to outsmart him several times, though I agree with you all that the sides need to be equally balanced. Lee Rang needs more support to take out Imoogi’s fragment from inside Ji Ah without harming her. Taluipa has to be convinced to help more, as you all have said.
Didn’t get to watch the Lee Rang special episode arc. According to Soompi, there are 3 episodes from Lee Rang’s point of view. May watch them after the series is over. Don’t know if the special episodes are on Viki though.
Looking forward to tonight’s episode. Only 4 more to go!
Thanks for the reminder, phoenix. I bumped this thread up again.
Dear @Phoenix,
Good morning from my part of the world. Special Episode 13 it is on Viki.com last time I checked. Let’s see what happens tonight and tomorrow…
@Packmule3 Hello there! I have sent you an email. Did you get it?
Thank you @Phoenix and Queen! ☺️
I still haven’t watched the special episode. No time. 😩
@packmule3 Thank you for bumping this up 😊😊
@Cleopatra: Good morning! Thank you for informing that the extra episode is available on Viki😃 Will check it out.
Looking forward to discussing ep.13 and 14 with you, @GB and @agdr03🙌
@Phoenix & agdr03 (Hey there!)
I haven’t watched the Special either! I am waiting for the weekend to watch it!
So, don’t worry! We will have a lot to discuss!
While I was waiting for TOTNT to air, I started watching The Legend of the Blue Sea!
I really like it! Have you seen it?
@Cleopatra Yes, I have seen it. I like Lee Min Ho, so I watched it. It’s funny, though I don’t like Jun Ji-hyun much. It’s a cute drama to watch with no need for any analysis, which is refreshing sometimes😃 Enjoy!
@Phoenix,
I totally agree with you! I like that it is light so far. I have stopped watching “My love for another Star” for that reason. Although in this one she is better I have to say…LOL…
Hi @Cleopatra!
I liked Legend Of The Blue Sea ☺️ It’s one where I can rewatch incase there’s nothing else to watch or just to see LMH again. I think they were a good match here and the soundtrack are great! Enjoy! 😉
@agdr03,
I am glad you Ladies like it as well…What I enjoy the most, except from the sheganigans of LMH and JJH is the OST, which I cannot find in psysical copy! – That’s frustrating… *sighs*
Oh I’m not sure if the production released a CD for it or if they did maybe it might only be available in Korea. Sorry @Cleopatra.
@adr03 They did. I found out on Amazon that it is currently unavailable.
I am starting collecting the Soundtracks I enjoy.
It’s okay, as long as I am listening to it via Spotify and YouTube…
Oh bummer, it’s unavailable.
Wait, I’ll talk to LMH and tell him to make you one.
Jokes! ✌🏼😬😂
@agdr03 LMAO! Thank you for the thought! I laughted a lot!
You’re welcome, glad to make you laugh @Cleopatra. 😉
But don’t we wish we can talk to LMH? 😂
@agdr03 We all wish to talk to some -*ahem* good looking men…
I really like LMH, but you are first in the line, so I won’t interfere!
If only I could talk to Gong Yoo and/ or Song Seung Heon… *swoons*
LOL
Arg!!!I want to kick Taluipa so very hard right now…
*Me after watching Episode 13*
Me too, @Cleopatra🙌 I’m almost scared of checking out ep.14 now. But at least Lee Yeon has more support. I still hope we will get a happy ending somehow 🤞🤞🤞
@Cleopatra and @Phoenix
I wrote some notes on Ep 13, which I summarise here, … although maybe I should shelve them until I’ve watched Ep 14.
Off the top of my head, what struck me is that I hope LY really was just testing the waters and not losing the opportunity to get rid of Imoogi. If 1 Imoogi was so bad, isn’t it worse with 2? He could have gotten rid of one but he chose not to??? … BUT there’s the possibility of pitting one against the other which is interesting. I wonder if show will go that way.
Yes, and Yay! Fuller teamwork at last. I’m still in trepidation that the evil suggestions Imoogi planted in the good Shin Ju, Snail Bride and even Lee Rang, may crop up at the worst possible moment to hurt LY.
It’s true that Ep 13 is too soon to have a denouement, so I guess that yes, we have more twists in store.
@Phoenix, Don’t be…I don’t know if we have a happy ending in this lifetime for LY and JA, but I was thinking the following:
1. Taluipa doesn’t learn from her mistakes. She lost her son and she is eager to lose Lee Yeon too, for Balance – my a**. I don’t think she knows what she is doing. She is using the words: The Higher Good, but they are twisted. This is what she believes / suits her best in her sorrow. She did -so far- nothing to help Lee Yeon and Ji Ah.
I have finished the Bride of Habaek and our ML had an epiphany : What kind of God (Shin) you are if you cannot save one single person?
That is my question to the God like lady Taluipa who says that she will sacrifice one innocent person for the whole world. How to save the world, if you don’t know how to save one person…?
I don’t think that Taluipa will help. If someone does is the following person:
2. The fortune teller that has the LY’s Fox Bead.
I truly believe that the FT is not a MINOR God. It is a mere guess and I might be wrong, but I believe that he is Lord Hades himself. If someone can restore the Balance is a higher rank officer. If someone can truly help them, is the Fortune Teller.
3. The Fox Bead is significant. I don’t know what will happen, but somehow LY might retrieve it.
4. I am glad that Yu-Ri is alive.
5. I am really concerned about the messages Imoogi #2 Tae Ri said to all involved, Lee Rang, Mrs Snail Bride and Lee Rang!
*To Be Continued!
@GB We had the same thought about the messages Imoogi #2 said to LR, Mrs Snail Bride and to correct myself Shin Ju!
@Cleopatra
Yes, we both know that if those suggestion made by the evil Imoogi get played out, they can ruin LY’s plans. So far LY has shown no sign that he suspects that Imoogi could have compromised his other friends.
He has seen, after all, what Yoo Ri did to LR, and that his ‘part-timers’ almost killed themselves after Imoogi met them. He’s also seen how effortlessly Imoogi got people to just die or kill themselves, and this time (Ep 13) we saw so many people collapsing as they passed Imoogi. So I hope that LY has included in his planning that there should be a contingency, when his most trusted SJ, Snail Bride and LR act up against him.
As for Taluipa, I shake my head at her. She seems to only believe in fate and in letting it run its course, regardless of the consequences. She is supposed to ‘know everything’, but what good is that knowledge or fore-knowledge when she does not leverage on it to bring about some good, or at least to help improve a situation.
The only time she was a bit lenient was with Lee Yeon when he negotiated with her, and when she was sarcastic with Lee Rang, who impersonated LY, but let him go. By rights, she should have thrown LR into Hades or the Underworld, because he is a wanted ‘criminal’.
Your prediction that the Fortune Teller might be a great god who will help LY is interesting. From what I’ve seen so far, I tend to think that the show wants LY to be the main hero. All the saving and the smart plans are to be done by him. So I feel it’s unlikely the FT will do more than trade with the Fox Bead (everything with the FT was like a business transaction). The question then will be, what will LY trade for the Fox Bead.
The other reason I feel that the FT may not have much of a role, is that he was slated to appear in Ep 6 (on Asianwiki.com) and no other episode is mentioned with his name. Anyway, I do hope to see the FT again and know if he’ll something to help the good guys.
I want to know if LY can retrieve the Fox Bead and what it can actually do.
On the Urban Legends aspect – So far the main thing that this show has kept to with regards to the legend of gumihos, is that they want to be human. This is what my general research on gumihos says. However, LY seems to be the only one who cares to be human (because Ji Ah is human and can’t become immortal). Shin Ju and Yoo Ri don’t care to be human, and LR is half human but cares nothing for being fully human. So this show is re-writing legends.
@GB I am really frustrated about the lack of Divide Intervention so far!
I mean Taluipa is out of her mind. As you mentioned she only is tolerable with she negotiates.
As for the FT, I was thinking in the morning, who could really help Lee Yeon?
Since Taluipa is in her little world, who else could help them?
The Fox Bead is important that we know, and then FT came to my mind. I don’t know. As I said I might be wrong.
Still, I don’t like the concept –> Lee Yeon against everyone, since Imoogi #2 gave all those suggestions to LY’s friends. I truly believe that deep inside he suspects that Imoogi could do something like that. So far, for Imoogi #1 in Ji Ah’s body, he outsmarted him.
Since there are two Imoogis, maybe the part-timers could find something. I mean there might be an Urban Legend or as you said they could re-write one.
Still, we shall see what happens in the remaning 3 episodes…
Corrections: *When she negotiates
*remaining
@Cleopatra, I watched Ep 14 and it’s not going to be pretty going in to Ep 15. I’ve no time to think about the show this weekend, but the death count is pretty grim … and no one seems to really care.
This other worldly attitude of just letting the humans die is bugging me. The only thing about Taluipa that can be said in her favour, is that she only wants the people on the list to die as they ought, and not all the other random people that Imoogi keeps killing. That’s her rationale for getting Ji Ah to die quick.
The thing about the virus is hitting pretty close to home, with our pandemic always on our minds. Can I say that I’m glad the rate of infection and death is not quite as bad with the Coronavirus as it is with Imoogi’s virus!!
Let me know what you think of Ep 14.
@GB As always, really liked your analysis of ep.13. Can’t say I’m very happy right now as odds seems to be stacked against team LY right now. On another note, liked that bed scene though😛
I’m thinking if I should be overly cautious and avpid watching till ep.16 airs and I know for certain noone important dies 🙈🙈🙈 I’m cowardly like that😛
Oops seems I hit the comment button twice 🙄🙄 Please excuse!
I agree with GB and Cleopatra that FT is the highest deity so that would be Taluipa’s brother King Yeomra. Makes the only sense. I mean, why would any other underworld god carry around King Yeomra’s sword that I call Soulcutter (didn’t catch Korean name)? And why bring in any yet unnamed deity when we hear about King Yeomra every second episode? who is also a close relation to one of main players? So yeah, Yemora it is.
Speaking of oft-mentioned but not yet seen (or maybe seen under different name/title too), what everyone makes of Bok Gil? last 2 episodes intensly talked about Taluipa’s son and I have a sneak suspicion that LY begging Taluipa on his knees to give Ji Ah 3 more days is a reenact of Bok Gil pleading with his mom to spare his wife. So big question is, is Tae Ri Bok Gil? His name is fake and he isn’t a reincarnation (which we know Bok Gil cnanot become) and it seems that he planned to meet taluipa all along. Otherwise there’s no dramatic effect not to mention why they so pointedly talked about their son if he was never going to make a surprise return? Didn’t Granpa say that it wasn’t a coincidence that all relationships past and present are gathering in the same place? So their son reveal would be the missing link. Thoughts?
BTW, whatever the show does, jsut don’t kill LR and Yu Ri. I want LY to be happy but I really cannot warm up to Ji Ah. She just lacks the charm and charisma of other characters and that makes her far less endearing in comparison. The actress is very good but I feel she’s much more at home as Imugi than as the heroine who stole Mountain God’s heart. Don’t kill me. I care because LY cares but that’s really it. OTOH, the highlight for me is LY/LR bromance. So well written and they really feel like brothers. They are the reason I got hooked on this show. LR first and then his relationship with LY. And Yu Ri and Blacky of course duh we can’t forget Blacky.
@GB,
I just finished watching episode 14. You are right Episode 15 won’t be pretty at all. I cannot see the Light…yet.
It’s just a hunch, like FT being Hades, but we haven’t seen the whole picture yet.
I want to pipoint what the Elder / Taluipa’s Husband said to Mrs. Snail’s Bride: Everything and everyone is coming back together again.
That is a HINT. Don’t ask me about what. It is important though.
Also, to continue my train of thought and answer to @Anonymous, we heard another time in this Episode from Imoogi in Ji Ah’s body that the Fox Bead made him to be inactive.
Also, I checked again what the Fortune Teller said (Episode 7) to Ji Ah’s before he took her Fox Bead:
FT: “You were born with a very special Fate. The water and fire are at odds and the soil is rich. Gold will calm it all down. So, when you are surrounded by darkness, the moon rises in your sky…”
JA: “What do you mean?”
FT: “You have the Fox Bead. That’s your Moon.”
JA: “What?”
FT: “Give me your Bead. Even without the Moon, your fortune is full enough so…”
JA: “I will give it to you. I don’t believe in things like Fate.”
FT: “Alright. Our deal is complete.”
Ja: “What? Already?”
FT: “Your palm lines.Your palm lines (fate) have changed.”
So who represents: Water, Fire and Gold? Since the Moon is the Fox Bead and Darkness the Imoogi in Ji ah.
Do we know?
Will we know?
From Episode’s 15 preview, we go to see that the major characters will go to Granny’s. Imoogi #2, Lee Yeon, Ji Ah and maybe (?) Lee Rang.
From what we know 600 years ago, the final battle was between Lee Yeon and Au Eum / Imoogi #1. So we have the two Imoogi’s as one entity in the same place, even though Imoogi in Ji Ah’s body might be not active at the moment of the gathering.
So, History is repeating itself.
The new factor is Granny and Lee Rang. I truly believe that LR will sacrifice himself for Lee Yeon, as Ji Ah will try to do it this time as well.
To answer to @Anonymous, if Tae Ri is indeed Bok Gil, then it will be revealed in this episode. He will meet her, we saw that on the Episode 15’s preview. If he is, he might kill her for revenge for killing his wife in the first place all those years ago, but I don’t think, it will happen this way. Tae Ri doesn’t remember his life as Bok Gil,if that theory is true, so the recognition will be from Taluipa herself or her Husband if he returns back at the base.
I have a gut feeling that we won’t see Granny being killed by Imoogi #2.
Also, the dreamy-like ending of Episode 14, might means two things:
1. Lee Yeon and Ji Ah are together in afterlife.
2. It is Ji Ah’s dying wish, although I was not expecting to be killed from the Traitor / Plague Zero Patient.
So, this scene means something. I am pretty sure that there will be a twist @GB, as you said.
We have two episodes left, I don’t think we have seen it all.
We have to check which questions / hints are unanswered…
My speculation for 15 and 16 (cause they are Pt 1 and Pt 2 of the finale):
Resurrection – ever since child Tae Ri/Imugi resurrected the bird I expect this power to appear again in the finale. The show is too big on Chekov’s Gun to leave it without payoff. Imugi has the power of life as well as death. We are currently mostly seeing power of death, but since power of life exists, it will be used. I just can’t decide whether it’s going to be Ji Ah with full Imugi inside (her part doesn’t have powers, only Tae Ri does) or Yeon with full Imugi inside or Tae Ri given hints of his softer side (bird, little girl, that he didn’t hurt the kitty badly, what he said to Soo-Ho when he was hiding in the closet was basically talking about himself).
FT is King Yeomra. Makes no sense otherwise. He was mentioned too many times so if Snail Bride’s hubby (who was mentioned less than the King) got his own payoff (in the form of Team Leader), then King Yeomra is set to show up. Also, considering his sister is unreasonable and can’t control chaos, time for his intervention.
Tae Ri is Bok Gil (somehow). The son is mentioned way too many times to be just a cautionary tale of what could happen to Lee Yeon and Ji Ah. right now, his background doesn’t fit Bok Gil but the reveal does land a dramatic twist and connects Taluipa more strongly with the events from the past and present. Also, what’s with plague that is a motif in the story of Imugi’s origin, Bok Gil and his wife and now Tae Ri’s rampage in Seoul? Gotta be connected no?
Lee Yeon becomes human in the end. I think he’d be one who dies and get resurrected (as a human). There’s just too much talk about that this is what he wants so I think it will happen.
Someone (Lee Rang? Dr Goo?) becomes the Mountain King in his place. Queen Yu Ri? As long as these characters don’t die, I will take the rest come what may.
Nice predictions @Anonymous. I agree that there’s too much of the Chekov’s Gun in this show … so many things/characters are mentioned and more than once. So what Hyun Ui Ong (Taluipa’s hubby) says about all the characters gathering at this time, is also a likely prediction of a momentous event.
I like your idea that the plague at the time of Imoogi’s evolution and the plague now are linked. If the first plague enabled Imoogi to emerge, might the 2nd herald his transition to something more?…
LOL that King Yeomra is due to pop up since his sister is making a hash of affairs with Imoogi and LY.
The one who needs to be resurrected (by Imoogi?) is Bok Gil. Taluipa still nurses his ashes in that urn she has. Whether at the same time Imoogi can be Bok Gil is hard to say at this time.
I feel you have something there about LY becoming human. That is his dearest wish, to live and die as a human being with Ji Ah, afterall. That makes a nice ending. He swallows that Imoogi scale, jumps into the pit to end Imoogi forever and rises again sans supernatural power.
@Cleopatra
Thanks for the dialogue between the FT and Ji Ah. I don’t know how to interpret it but it sounded significant.
Yes about what you said:
Show seems set to bring on the denouement with all hands on deck.
Something that makes me shake my head is the uneven logic: like how most people get the red spots and die very soon, but Snail Bride’s ‘husband’ and irritating CEO Kwon can still hang on to life. The latter is even still running around, while everyone else who’s sick is in bed.
Another thing that I question (from Ep 13), is it true that the Soul Slaying Dagger of the FT can really destroy Imoogi’s soul. If so, it’s a deus ex machina. I don’t recall it being mentioned before. Suddenly we have a nifty weapon to wield against Imoogi, but first FT has to be located.
Instead of going that route however, LY now wants to sacrifice himself with that Imoogi scale. Presumably he believes Taluipa that the end will repeat itself, and so he’s going to twist it so that he dies instead of Ji Ah.
So it will be a neat ending if Fortune Teller suddenly turns up with dagger (before LY dies) and Imoogi gets despatched without too much death and destruction for our good guys. (ﾉ･_-)☆
@GB That Soul Slaying Dagger suddenly being mentally conveniently does seem like deus ex machina to me too. Wonder if they re-shot the last 2 episodes (remember that’s why the episodes were delayed) and that’s when they introduced this dagger🤔🤔🤔 I too feel LY will become human at the end and live a human lifetime with JA. I have a feeling LR will die..but let’s see. I still want to shale Taluipa for doing nothing🙄
Interesting theory @Cleopatra about the Fortune Teller being King Yeomra. As @GB says, if he appears at the nth moment with the dagger to kill Imoogi and save the day,it will tie up things neatly🤞🤞
*being mentioned conveniently
*shake Taluipa
Excuse the typos..
@GB Love your theory about Bok Gil resurrection and LY rising again as a human sans super power.
@Phoenix and GB I think that Soulslayer is a red herring like Stormbreaker in Infinity War. We are supposed to think that’s how the villain (Imugi, Thanos) will be defeated but it won’t be. Cause, as you say, too convenient and too last minute. In Infinity War, Thanos was after the gems so the set up was that only gems could defeat him, so our heroes went onto the quest to get the gems themselves in Endgame. Stormbreaker, while hyped in Infinity War to be the weapon to slay Thanos never felt right and it wasn’t (even though he got slain with it after the Snap as revenge not as stopping the Snap). So if we feel that Soulslayer doesn’t feel right, it’s most likely because it isn’t. 🙂
@GB CEO and Team Leader are still hanging on because they have plot armor. 😉
There’s something that puzzles me a lot. Imugi from 600 years ago until the Split (the island events) seems to only identify with the origin story that started in the cave. So when young Ji Ah is hypnotized, Imugi in her explains that it was born in the cave between worlds. And that’s the position that Main Imugi (the part in Ji Ah now) holds. This (part of) Imugi, like the complete one from 600 years ago, is solely focused on getting LY’s body in order to become a god. It holds a grudge over being thwarted and wants revenge on LY.
However, Terry aka Lesser Part of Imugi is different. He identifies with Imugi origin that happened before the cave, which is abandoned 9th son who was born disfigured (I assume a baby with scales) and kept in a closet/trunk/other until they took him to the cave where plague victims ate him. The snake that people called Imugi slithered out of the cave later (aka origin accepted by the Main Part of Imugi and Complete Imugi).So my question is, why is this (part of) Imugi different from the whole (from 600 years ago) and Ji Ah’s part? Why does he want to be “a real boy” so to speak? We know that his quest is to have feelings/heart basically be a person.
I don’t think he was lying. he was obviously talking about himself when he told Blacky that he would be eaten by the darkness if he was hiding in it for too long. he didn’t have to be nice to that little girl who was nice to him. he was alone so he didn’t have to playact to impress anyone but it seems that he was happy that she was nice to him. Finally, Ji Ah told Imugi (the mirror convo) that Terry (other Imugi) never got over the heartbreak (I assume that childhood abandonment that Ji Ah’s Imugi never talked about).
Moreover, Ji Ah is only a sacrifice to her Imugi as Ah Eum was to Whole Imugi. But Terry wants Ji Ah as his wife. So he developed a crush that the rest of Imugi didn’t. It’s so strange. They are clearly going somewhere with Imugis that have different personalities and motivations but to what end?
The show seems to set up too many different things: battle between Imugis, battle between LY and Imugi(s), supernatural beings vs supernatural beings. The scale has become bigger now that higher deities are more involved (Ui Ong’s captain America moment nuff said). I’m very worried cause this has a potential for dropping the ball. Just 2 episodes left for so much to be resolved.
@Anonymous I agree..the show has left too many loose ends to be tied up in just 2 episodes and the chances are some may be left hanging in the air. Interesting analysis there on the two Imoogis..You are right..Terry seems to like Ji Ah and seems to have a more human side (saving animals etc) than the part in JA. I’m not sure too where the writer-nim is going with all this🤔🤔🤔 We will know next week🤞🤞
@Phoenix,
As I was started replaying to @Anonymous your comment came up.
I agree with both of you that we won’t get to see many things to be explained, regarding the themes mentioned above.
I truly believe that the answer will be a simpler one. Why?
Because in all the series we had duality.
Life vs Death.
Light vs Darkness.
Lee Yeon vs Imoogi.
Yin and Yan. Balance.
I think that the writer-nim will conclude it in a way that will answer some of our thoughts / theories. We shall see…
@GB,
I thought that IF we got to see FT as King Hades then, we had to remember what he said to Ji Ah.
For some reason though, the Elder / Taluipa’s Husband might have a more significant role than we think. As we both said, he was the one that said about the gathering of past in the present. If History is repeating itself, what does he suspect will happen next?
Lee Yeon wants to sacrifice himself. He thinks that if he dies, Ji Ah will live, but this is not the case. I think he is also tired of this battle. He cannot live again the feelings + loneliness he faced after Ae Eum’s death.and wait for her reincarnation. He cannot lose Ji Ah, this time. He has a martyr attitude, since his death means no reincarnation for him. Granny said so.
As @Anonymous shared her / his predictions with us. One route is that Lee Yeon will become human. The other one, I think we need to have in mind is that Ji Ah’s Fate might be to become a Supernatural Being herself.
Also, @Anonymous I think the reason we got to see Tae Ri / Imoogi #2 to do good things to is a way to describe the duality everyone has inside him / her:
Look a Human Being / Supernatural Being has both good and bad traits.
Tae Ri happened to do a good deed, but he has chose to be BAD and started a plague. Everyone can chose HOW wants to live his /her life. If he wants to be GOOD or BAD.
If writer-nim will use FT / Hades + the dagger as Deus Ex Machina, it won’t be satisfying for me. It makes more sense to Have FT in another form as King Hades to come and stop the mess OR comes and reveals if it was all planned by him…
We shall see…
@Cleopatra Yes, Ji Ah could become a supernatural being. Sigh. It’s hard for me to warm up to her. Taluipa and Terry are cold characters but they don’t leave me cold. I’m actually invested in them even though they are not the heroes. But Ji Ah leaves me cold although she isn’t cold. I don’t care for her. I only care because Yeon cares. And I would be extremely disappointed if any of Yeon, Rang, Dr Goo, Yu Ri, Blacky, Ui Ong died for her. So Goddess Ji Ah at the expense of a better/actually likeable character (who has chemistry with others unlike her who has with no one but her own mirror reflection) is a big no in my book. That’s why I don’t entertain the possibility but I acknowledge it’s likely due to Little Mermaid talk. The show is full of foreshadowing and, right now, many characters are foreshadowed to die but she isn’t. cause the whole point is saving her. Ji Ugh. Sorry for the rant.
Agreed about duality though they set up too many dualities to fight each other (or try live in harmony). Imugi 1 vs Imugi 2. Yeon vs Imugi. Gods vs Imugi. And now that you mentioned Taluipa’s husband, they are a duality too. She’s practical and cold logic at the expense of emotion while he’s the emotional one. Yeah they won’t cover all basis.
I just hope that red spot plague ends soon cause it isn’t working for me. There’s no sense of urgency and Team Leader and Sae are too unimportant to become the “big shocking death that raises the stakes” so they are very likely going to make it through.
I dunno. I thought that the show had a pretty clear vision where it was going until Ep 12. But 13 and 14 are teasing larger scale with more gods and more intertwined past and present lives so I feel like they lost compass. There’s still great stuff (fox bros are the highlight as always) but everything now feels just too broad. To me, finales work when they reply on intimacy and have an emotional impact rather than big spectacle.
Finally, I see that fandom is fretting over possible Lee Rang death due to foreshadowing (the convo with CEO in 14th) and I just want to say that it would be a massive waste of the best character arc on the show if he died. he already redeemed himself so he doesn’t have to take the redemption by death route to prove the point that has already been made (that’s for Terry if they want to give his better side a last minute payoff). his arc was learning to take responsibility instead of holding the grudge and blaming others. he achieved all that. he took responsibility for Soo-ho (Blacky), Yu Ri and now even Lee Yeon. Not to mention himself. He matured. Killing him off would be a waste of all that. he’s my favorite character and MVP of the show. I don’t want him wasted for a cheap shock. I get that the show was super low on big deaths that change the game and raise the stakes but this isn’t the one that would achieve that. It would only really anger the fans.
@Cleopatra @Anonymous
Taluipa’s husband – yup, I noticed that he was making more appearances and now he’s saving Ji Ah in direct opposition to his wife. This is actually a mighty big thing for him who has been hen-pecked all his married life. He sounded like he was never asked for his opinion and that he never asserted his choices before.
He’s prepared to lose his position, to not just sit back and let fate unfold, but to fight for a better solution. That’s a nice bit of character growth there too.
Same as for @Anonymous, the character I bother most about is LR. That’s partly because tales of kids who were given the short end of the stick and who grew up, always were my catnip, and partly because Kim Bum managed to make his character bratty but not unlikable. I don’t approve of everything he does, but I can’t be indifferent to him.
Lee Yeon wants to sacrifice himself – Yes,… that world weary look he sports in the opening credits always bugs me. He’s sick and tired of living ‘forever’, especially since he has chosen to tie his happiness to having Ji Ah beside him. Since her life span is too short (both LR and LY have said that to the kid who wanted to befriend them, that it was not worth it when the kid’s life was short), all LY wants now is for her to live out her life in full, even if he is not there with her. He has mentioned this before.
Duality – When it comes to choosing good and evil at different times, there’s Lee Rang, Yoo Ri, Imoogi and I guess Taluipa whose choice is Fate. CEO seems to only choose selfishly so mostly evil. LY, JA, Taluipa’s husband, and the side characters generally choose what is good.
Deus Ex Machina – This trope will always be less satisfactory and even annoying in a middling to serious show, (like this one). It only works for shows played for laughs where the protagonists are just hopeless.
Interesting suggestion @Cleopatra, if everything is planned to work out this way. This might be the only solution where we can forgive Taluipa all her inaction. She knows the bigger picture and the ‘Plan’ and has to let it play out.
@Anonymous – what you said about the ending going wide instead of coming more into focus is true. The following aspects had better have some reason for cropping up in this eleventh hour:
* Imoogi at cross-purposes ie Imoogi wanting a bride and Imoogi wanting LY’s body. This thing about pitting 1 Imoogi against another might still work out?
* The mention of the Fox Bead and Fortune Teller which is still elusive.
* BTW The dagger, is the Sin Slayer (sorry … not the Soul Slayer) forged by Hades. It is made from a branch that weighs sins. If it slays sins, then the more sinful Imoogi should be the one that gets killed rather than the ‘saintly’ LY?
* Imoogi telling JA that the scales will take over and she’ll kill LY with her own hands – this on top of what he whispered to Shin Ju and LR sounds like what he tried to do previously ie he tried to get LY’s body through the Drinks Lady plus LR and directly. He over kills in having Plans A, B and C!!
* Red spot plague and Imoogi wanting everyone to become miserable. This ties in with the lousy CEO who presumably still needs to be around to cause havoc for either Lee Rang or Imoogi.
* Snail Bride husband returns
BTW it’s not right for little Soo Ho to be by himself so much. I hope he gets more balanced meals, a bath and fresh clothes!
Well, little Soo-ho just got the credit card. That’s surely going to go really well, isn’t it? 😉 I assume fox’s credit card is the Underworld credit card like the one Taluipa’s hubby has? So swipe away!:)
I just think that they bit more than they could chew with 2 Imugis. I think that they loved the twist that Ji Ah has the main one, but it’s been “and now what?” since. if there was only one, either inside Ji Ah or an outsider in the form of Terry, the set up to fight it and possibly have Yeon or Ji Ah sacrifice himself/herself would be clear. But now they complicated this basic set up by giving 2 Imugis contradicting motivations and goals and independent personalities. And yet, if the new set up was to have them fight, they should have been brought face to face by now to establish conflict of interest. However, all we have is Ji Ah’s Imugi being told that Terry is doing his own thing and taking no action just making concerned faces.
I get that the last 2 episodes together are still 2 hrs and 10 min worth of storytelling, which is an average movie length. So they can cover a lot of basis but I can’t shake off the feeling that they keep adding more complications where they should be wrapping things up.
Hey there @GB and @Anonymous,
The reason I didn’t reply earlier is that I wanted to think some things.
About the two Imoogis, I was trying to think what I know from Greek Mythology and what came in to my mind was:
One of the 12 Labours of Heracles (or Hercules for the Romans): The Lernae Hydra. Where Heracles cut one head and another one was taking its place. If they used that myth then Lee Yeon needs a sword (the one he has), fire and poison from a crab.
But what do we know for the Imoogi from the Korean Myths? I tried to find a myth about a Imoogi with two heads, but I didn’t find something significant in English.
But I found the following article: https://www.korea.net/TalkTalkKorea/English/community/community/CMN0000004787
If, according with this article, the Imoogi is Water, then if we remember FT’s Oracle to Ji Ah, who is the Fire and who is the Gold?
Since I am Greek, I know that in every greek tragedy the Oracles are of importance. I will mention here the most known tragedy by Sophocles – Oedipus Rex. First the Delphi Oracle foretold to Laius what would happen and then the Diviner Teiresias started to reveal to Oedipus who he really is. So for me, the Fortune Teller’s Oracle is of importance.
Also, I don’t recall any known greek myth about God Hades having a curved knife called Sin Slayer.
So, I believe that they will give us an answer to FT’s Oracle.
Lastly, I remembered something that Lee Yeon mentioned to Taluipa in one of their meetings. That Taluipa has the power to transform beings into stone, kinda like Medusa?
And I just watched again Episode 15’s preview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbYcNx6DDuk )
Guess who has a Mirror ? The Mighty Bear. There is a scene with both Lee Yeon and Imoogi #2… If the Medusa’s myth comes into life, then Taluipa will become Stone because Imoogi #2 will reflect her stare back like Perseus?
*To be continued…
Oh wow that’s really interesting!
I think that 2 Imugis, as of now, are Overlord Villain (Ji Ah’s Imugi, also see Emperor Palpatine) and the Conflicted Underling Villain (Terry, also see Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader). This dynamic is quite popular in movies and on TV shows because it’s simple. Overlord is the one to beat, while the Conflicted Underling is the one who dies in a noble twist to take the Overlord out. In this case, it would also allow the heroes to be the last men/women standing when facing the Overlord. There are just too many players in this storyline so they’ll have to prioritize some exits. It’s a given that Imugis will die or an equivalent to dying, so mystery is really how and whether heroes make it through or not (and who if it’s only one). I think that Taluipa (doesn’t that sound like an anagram of Talapia?) will not die because she’s a deity and they are constant. Her husband might ask to become mortal again but I don’t see a scenario where she is destroyed just for doing her job. And frankly, it’s very hard to buy that unlikable Ji Ah is worth all those other sacrifices and deaths.
@Cleopatra, thanks for the link to that blog with so many pieces of info on dragons and imoogi. On the whole imoogi and dragons are positive symbols. That’s why I was saying that this show is changing the folklore to suit itself.
I only vaguely recall something along the lines of Medusa. That would be nice to see. It’s about time that Taluipa did more with her haughty staring, besides subduing her husband.
I’d love to be able to interpret the oracles, but although I’m not sure if FT will reappear, I noted with great interest (in the video clip you posted) in the preview for Ep 15 that LY’s other mountain spirit friend (the Governor/Sato) makes a reappearance. His words to Ji Ah and separately LY also sounded like oracles.
Off topic – I was thinking how incongruous it is that sour puss Taluipa is given some of the nicest, bright and warm, flowery designed clothing to wear. I wonder if it’s a fashion gaffe when it comes to her character or whether it’s meant to hint at her hidden sweeter, warmer personality. Anyway, I admired her skirts before and now I’m admiring her Ep 14 blouse.
@GB and Anonymous,
Yes, they twisted the Imoogi myth accordingly to the story.
Thus, we are trying to understand how this Gordian Knot will unravel itself.
There are times I am trying to find a logical explanation and other times that I think we are thinking too much for something that the writer-nim MIGHT give us answers to the questions that they have shared with the audience.
About the Mountain Spirit / Governor / Sato I do hope his Mirror will be used in a good way and not to destroy.
As @Anonymous said, I believe as well that Epidose 15 will be a rollercoaster of emotions, until we reach Episode 16.
@GB about the off topic issue. Taluipa is given flowerly clothing in order to make us forget her tsundere attitude. She might a sweetheart but we haven’t seen it so far…
@Anonymous
The Evil Master and Apprentice who is tasked to bring in and turn the Good Guy/girl to their side? Yes… seems like a possible trope for this show. In the end the Apprentice joins hands with the Good Guys and turns against the EM.
In the conversation of JA with the Imoogi inside her, she was already starting to pit Imoogi 1 against Imoogi 2 by suggesting that 2 should not trust 1.
However in that same conversation, she confirmed that if she died while Imoogi 2 is still in unstable condition and not able to take control over her, she would be able to destroy Imoogi 2 (and possibly this would cripple Imoogi 1) while she, of course, ceased to live.
On his end, LY is thinking along the same lines. Get the Imoogi 2 into himself and die together with Imoogi 1 in the Samdo River.
Unless our good guys/girl can get out of the self-sacrificing mind space and think how to destroy the Imoogi without also destroying themselves, it’s going to be hard to work the betrayal of Evil Master trope.
What objects of hope do we have… the Fox Bead if Fortune Teller can be found and made to relinquish it. But it can only contain the Imoogi and not destroy it. Then there’s the Sin Slayer dagger. Also supposedly in the possession of the elusive FT. Some episodes back, there was also talk of how a serpent from the sea might also be able to fight the Imoogi. That idea seems to have been dropped however.
To complicate matters, there’s the unpredictable Lee Rang who is supposed to be LY’s last weapon, but he declined, saying he’d save whom he wanted (Yoo Ri) and leave JA’s being saved to LY. He too might step in to foil everyone’s plans of self-sacrifice.
Heroes think of self-sacrifice which in translation means no reincarnation. You destroy yourself, you can’t reincarnate is how it works. Which may be why episode 6 (I think) had that little scene that everyone is sleeping on, which is child Terry resurrecting the bird that killed itself by crashing into the window. They wouldn’t establish Imugi’s power of life if that isn’t going to have a payoff. As we discussed in earlier posts.
So from that perspective, resurrection would undo sacrificial death and thus allow the resurrected to reincarnate like a person who never committed a sacrifice(basically a suicide).
As for Le Rang, whom I consider the best character with the best character arc on the show and the reason why I’m hooked, his sacrifice would be a narrative disaster for these two reasons:
Imugi storyline already has too many players (Jimugi, Terrimugi, LY, Jia) to sustain an addition of the character who never played a prominent part in the core relationship. Lee Rang is the main character in the fox brothers storyline, but he’s only associated with Imugi one due to being LY’s brother. Yes, he helped bring Imugi back to this world but he never played a core dynamic unlike 4 characters I mentioned above. So if he was to make a sacrifice, that would kill his awesome character arc that already gave us a payoff (he redeemed himself in Ep 9 and from that onward learned to take responsibility culminating in the jaw-dropping switch in Ep 11) and continues to do so with the growth of his relationships (Blacky, Yu Ri, LY). I’m not gonna lie that absolutely dumb hit order from Ep 14 (as if CEO would succeed) doesn’t worry me cause it smacks of an attempt to undo his redemption and set the table for another one. But that would be stupid which brings me to the next point…
Terry is a strange villain that I still can’t figure out where they are going with. He’s basically Lee Rang if Lee Rang didn’t have a brother who cared for him. same abandonment issue ( both half-fox and the scale baby/child were abandoned by their parents and hated by those who saw monsters not children in them), same desire to be loved (by his brother, by a love interest) that led them to do bad things. It’s just that loving brother’s presence was crucial in righting Lee Rang’s path, while there’s no such figure in Terrimugi’s life (on top of that, he’s an offshoot of Jimugi). Also, it’s interesting that both Lee Rang (“don’t whine, stand up for yourself”) and Terry (“darkness will eat you if you hide in it for too long”) passed an advice based on childhood experience, that they absolutely didn’t follow, onto Blacky. An obvious “don’t turn out like me” so Blacky brings out the better side of supernatural villains (which Lee Rang was before his redemption in Ep 9). Point being, why kill Lee Rang if you already have another character perfectly set up to die nobly at the last moment if that’s what they need? And a character who has the power to bring back to life (that the show is obviously saving for the last after introducing it in Ep 6)?
So yeah. narratively speaking, they set the table with 4 characters, they just have to decide how to untangle the knot including who dies and how, who lives and who dies but is brought back (cause that’s 99.99% going to happen). No need to ruin an already perfect character arc that carries the other main storyline.
Dear @Anonymous,
About the BAD element in the series. I don’t like that we have grey areas. It is something I have said in a previous thread. Yes someone is bad, but hey he magically can be grey too. For me, it is a BIG NO NO…
So, I cannot sympathize with Lee Rang. His actions were childish like and although he didn’t participate in all the bad scheme as you said, he actually did help resurrect Tae Ri / Imoogi #2 doing as harm as he could at that point to Lee Yeon.
Also, I haven’t forget that he gave Lee Yeon as a precious *THING* to the Fortune Teller in order to have the Tiger’s Eyebrow glasses.
The fact he finally understood that his brother is a good guy that never left him, doesn’t mean he was redeemed in my book. He has to live a life where his actions don’t hurt others, don’t kill others and that he did a lot.
That’s the reason I was not commenting so far about him. I understand that you like him. I am neutral about him.
About Tae Ri / Terry / Imoogi #2 he might have the power of resurrection, but he decided to create havoc with the Red Spot Plague.
He also gave cryptic messages to all Lee Yeon’s friends in order to attack him when the time was ready. That makes him BAD. He decided to feed his bad wolf, as we have said in another thread.
I decided to just watch the last two episodes. There are so many things that can happen. Let’s see what the writer-nim decided the ending should be…
Howdy! 👋🏻
Great comments here, thank you all. I can only say that Yeon is tired and he’s not kidding. He doesn’t want Jiah to die, he is bent on not going through life by himself and he wants to permanently erased Imoogi.
I actually liked the efforts that Yeon and Jiah made to make happy memories together.
Hopefully whoever will exit will add weight to the story and give it more value and sense.
Let’s see how the last two episodes go. ☺️🤞🏻