Ep 12’s title: Fight to the Death. I used Viki subs.
1. Why did HaRam grab CheongKi’s hand?
It isn’t because he’s stupid.
Cheongki is blaming herself.
CK: It’s all because of me. Because you met me.
HR: Do not say such things. This is not your fault.
CK: No. It is my fault. When you and I touch, Mawang manifests.
HR: What are you saying?
CK: It’s because I’m the painter to lock in Mawang. Everything is my fault.
HR: Who told you that?
CK: You may not believe me but a divine spirit of Inwang Mountain called HoRyeong told me.
HR: HoRyeong? (he wonders silently) Was that the reason for Mawang’s manifestation?
Well, yes and no.
We already figured this out a long time ago. So let me remind lurkers here.
One, the butterfly tattoo serves as a talisman sealing Mawang in HaRam’s body. However, HR and CK haven’t discovered the butterfly tattoo yet.
Two, Mawang is released whenever HR and CK touch. However, the Tiger HoRyeong doesn’t know the whole truth that Samshin had taken away Mawang’s sight (the source of his power, remember?) and given it to CheongKi for safekeeping.
That’s the REAL reason Mawang appears whenever HaRam and CheongKi touch each other: the EYES. So far, it seems like neither HaRam nor CheongKi knows about Mawang going after its missing sight. CheongKi believed Tiger HoRyeong when she said that Mawang is after Cheongki because she’s the Divine Painter. Tiger doesn’t mention the eyes.
Three, so let’s not mixed up two things here. Mawang is after its eyesight. But thanks to Tiger deity’s blabber mouth, CheongKi…and now, Haram, too… believe that all Mawang is doing is to stop CheongKi from creating the divine portrait/royal bowl. This is incomplete information.
To continue…
CK: What is it?
HR: My thoughts are jumbled. (internal monologue again) Even so, if the royal portrait puts you in danger…if that is so…
The main point here that I’ve been saying from the beginning. HaRam’s #1 priority is protecting CheongKi. That’s why he was put in this world, anyway: to protect her.
HR: (insisting) As I said before, you must leave this place.
CK: You are saying that because I may be in danger.
HR: (correcting her) It is because I may be in danger. Not you, but for me!
But she can see through this lie.
CK: No. I cannot do that.
HR: You cannot be stubborn about this.
CK: My father also said this to me once.
Meaning, she heard this kind of talk from her father, too. Her father tried to send her away and pretended that it was because of his selfish reason.
CK: (continuing) As it will only burden me to live this way, he told me to abandon him and leave. “This is not for you, but for me.” He told me to leave for his sake. But how does that make any sense? Father is the reason I live.
I like CheongKi here. She is able to process what her father and Haram are really anxious about because she isn’t just listening to their words. She’s also *reading* their emotions and seeing what’s truly bothering them. I think it’s her painter’s vision and insight to see beyond the superficial.
CK: So even if you tell me this, it is no use. No matter what, I want to stay with you. As it is, it was not easy to find each other again. Once I finish the royal portrait, everything will work out for the best.
HR: Please don’t. Leave while you can.
CK: This is the king’s command. And also my fate.
HR: You will regret it.
CK: Yes, I will regret it, then. As long as I can finish the royal portrait and seal Mawang.
Meaning. She’s resigned to her fate. She knows she’ll regret it, but she must do what she needs to do.
HaRam then remembers the words of his mysterious prisoner. The man predicted CheongKi’s arrival, saying, “Tonight, the divine painter who could save or kill you. You must grasp her hand tightly.”
HR: Give me your hand.
CK: What do you mean? We must not touch…
HR: (clutching her hand) Let us confirm…What that fate of ours is.
To me, HaRam grabs her hand for a reason. It can be one or a mix of these reasons:
a. He’s frustrated that none of his arguments could make Cheongki change her mind about finishing the portrait. This is his last-ditch effort to force her to leave him.
b. He’s willing to face his death to spare Cheongki from finishing the portrait. If he gets killed as the mysterious stranger said, then so be it. At least, Cheongki will not longer be in danger from him.
c. He realizes that the words of the stranger is a command that will shed light about their fates.
He cannot see the stars in his cell but he believes the stranger’s command to be a signal from heavens, just like the stars. So he obeys it.
2. Why does Mawang have four eyes?
I don’t know. Maybe because it ate the God of Balance’s eyes?
But I thought having two pairs of eyes is good because Mawang should give one to Haram so he can see again, and leave CheongKi’s artistic eyes be.
I like that HaRam was able to see CheongKi even for a moment
But I didn’t like that neither of them have noticed so far that Mawang keeps obsessing about his “eyes.”
Eyesight is to Mawang like Precious is to Gollum.
Also, in this drama, the ring defeats Mawang.
3. Who’s the old man?
I don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the Samshin in disguise. lol. But he knows HaRam’s father and the power of the ring.
And these talismans look good.
I like the kissasian sub better here.
The old man says, “That ring has the power to keep your heart and mind sane.”
He then explains that the ring was made with the remains of the deity of balance whom Mawang devoured.
It’s the only thing that can be used to fight against the Demon.
He also revives Haram with little falling stars.
4. What does the title “Fight to the Death” mean?
It means that there’s no backing down from the fight, even though to engage in the fight will lead to the death of one, two, three, or all of the combatants. They’re committed to the fight and are willing to face victory or annihilation.
a. Obviously, the title refers to Haram.
In the beginning of this episode, he grabs CheongKi’s hand because he wants to see what fate has in store for them. He’s ready to face death if CheongKi is spared.
Then, at the end of the episode, when Prince2 had taken him into custody, he’s ready to face death, too, if he can have his revenge on the royal family. As he puts on the new clothes prepared for him by Prince2, he vows, “Mawang no longer matters. I am standing on the road of revenge anyway. The royal family’s selfishness that made use of me and my father has not changed. Now, I’ll make them pay for it.”
He’s continuing with his vengeance. And he’ll find to the death to achieve it.
b. But it also means Prince2.
He’ll fight to the death to be King. Nothing will stand in his way. Not his brother Yul. Not their Royal Father. No Haram. He wants to possess Mawang because he believes Mawang owes him a favor since he was the one who released Mawang from the previous divine portrait.
c. It applies to Prince3.
He’s determined to keep Mawang away from his Hyung and seal it where it can’t do any harm. And he’s prepared to fight to the death for it.
d. It refers to the King.
Stopping his son, Prince2, from getting his hand on Mawang and the throne, is literally hastening his death. He’s willing to fight to the death to stop Prince2.
King: How long will you be this arrogant and impudent?
Prince2: And Royal Father, how long will you treat me as if I do not exist?
Actually, the King does know that he exists. And the King knows what he’s up to. But the King has been extremely patient and restrained with him because he is his son.
King: What did you say?
Prince2: I must finally hear your reasons today for commanding Yul to oversee the royal portrait, for repainting the royal portrait in secret, and…for choosing Yul as the next crown prince.
King: Don’t you know that a member of the royal family must not seek power for private gain?
The King understands his son very well. Note: I do wonder however why he didn’t try to guide Prince2 on the right path when he already knew that Prince2 was envious of his brother’s right. His message about “enjoying the stars” so he “can stay safe” was too cryptic.
King: (continuing) No matter what it is, what I say is the King’s command.
Meaning, Prince2’s complaints, hurt feelings, and personal grievances are immaterial, because the King has already decreed it so.
King: (continuing) Are you saying you will rebel against it now?
Prince2: I only wanted to hear it from you as your son.
Compare Prince2’s insistence to Prince Yul’s questioning his Royal Father’s decision about assigning a new Crown Prince.
Prince Yul had begged, “But Royal Father, you must not give up hope for the Crown Prince.” The King reminded him that the Confucian scholars weren’t wrong, and that he was the one who clung to his eldest son as Crown Prince, and didn’t want to face the truth about the Crown Prince’s grave condition.
Prince Yul protested passionately, “Royal Father, how could you call it regret?” The King only had to give him one look and Prince Yul bowed his head. He understood that he’d spoken out turn and bowed his head in apology. “Forgive me. How could I understand your struggle, since I am merely a son?”
In contrast to Prince Yul’s filial piety and respect for the King, Prince2 is defiant and arrogant. He feels entitled to the throne.
King: How dare you! I turned a blind eye even when you killed the former inquisitor who had served the predecessor King.
Prince2: So did you place the inquisitor, who had served only kings from the time of the predecessor king, by my side to keep an eye on me, Royal Father? Was I that untrustworthy to you?
King: Shut your mouth! I will exile you temporarily to Jeju. I cannot stand the sight of you. Get out this instant!
The King preferred Prince Yul to Prince2, thus he wanted Prince Yul to be the next King. When Prince Yul learned of the King’s intention, he asked that the King reconsidered, saying, “The second eldest Hyeong-nim is perfectly well and stronger.
But the King pointed out that Prince Hu is intelligent and strong, but he isn’t wise. “Moreover, ever since the fire at Gyeongwonjeon, he has been searching for Mawang, the very same Mawang that the predecessor King has fought all his life to seal. Thus, if Hu sits on the throne, what will happen to this nation and the royal family? Yul, this is my command, not as your father, but as this nation’s king.
The King wants to install Prince Yul as his successor, and he’s willing to fight for this. Unfortunately, death has other plans.
e. And of course, the title, “Fight to the Death” applies to CheongKi, too.
She’s determined to finish the royal portrait at any price. And I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up fighting Mawang herself should HaRam and Prince Yul fail.
@Packmule3, I am watching LotRS, but have been busy this week commenting on threads for other shows.
I wondered how that ring got into HaRam’s possession, that he could give it to CK. During that chaotic day when HaRam’s father was killed, HaRam was captured and put in the cage cart (a paddywagon, if you will), and HaRam’s protesting mother was knocked to the ground (and killed, HaRam believed), when would such an ancient, powerful, and valuable artifact be transferred to HaRam? And if the remains of Balance are so powerful, why were HaRam’s parents not protected? So many times Show frustrates me with it’s halfbaked world creation. Get your mythology in order, Show!
Thank you @Packmule for summing up the questions piling up ahead of the finale. There are indeed many things yet to be revealed, and I hope they will be.
As to Mawang’s eyes. I’m not sure abt HaRams knowledge, although when he met with CheonGi within the demon world (I’m not sure how to call it, I mean the beginning of ep12) I thought he could hear Mawang speaking and the demon said “Those are my eyes” but HaRam got attacked by him the second after so I’m not sure if HaRam remembered it or connected the dots. But I couldn’t make any time for a rewatch to confirm it.
HoRyeong though seemed to know abt Mawang eyes, at least to me, bc when she was talking to CheonGi at the palace she was surprised that CG could see her and then said something like that: Evil eyes (or demon eyes), no wonder you can see me).
HoRyeong was coming with some information and ideas that are different from Samshin’s – like for example she said to CG that she should break with Mawang (aka HaRam) but I think it may come from the fact that HoRyeong doesn’t see eye to eye with Samshin when it comes to the whole “bowl” thing. We could see HoReyong questioning it several times now and during the incident at the mountain she even wanted to kill HaRam in his demon mode and was fighting with him but Samshin stopped her saying that he is supposed to live bc they need to create a bowl for Mawang first.
As to the ring and the old man. I have no idea who he is, probably another supernatural being, I hope his identity will be reveald or at least we’re going to get some information the same way it was with the painting goblin. We could see some of him in the first ep but it took several episodes to reveal his role.
The ring is interesting bc it clearly has a power to stop or control Mawang and we could see in the preview that Prince2 is goint to take it from CG to tame Mawang when he is within him. But did HaRam know abt its power when giving it to CG? I don’t think so. Did his father know what the ring is made of? No idea. He could bc of his position in the taoist bureau and his knowledge of spiritual things and powers. The ring could help neither him or his wife, but maybe bc they died by a man’s hand. I mean they weren’t chased after and killed by a demon. Maybe, bc the ring was made of the Balance God, it powers can only harm the one who killed him, and that would be Mawang. The mythical world building is really complicated, or maybe, as @Welmaris commented, there are some holes?
And last thing – it was commented upon also on some prevoius thread and we wondering abt HaRams dual nature. It could be just represented by his two personas, the one acting in the light for all to see (I mean the official in the palace) and the other one shady, operating under another name. Il wol sung wears a mask as well. This is understandable bc he doesn’t want ppl to recognise him in this double role bt it may be a symbol of his duality and hidden intentions as well. What I don’t understand is that he still insists on the revenge. He doesn’t want to harm CG, he doesn’t want her to create the royal portrait which could made her insane and he wants to sacrifice himself for her. But at the same time he’s still plotting. His revenge plans could be dangerous for her as well, by sole association with him. So even if she would be spared the insanity somehow, she could die in the aftermath of his revenge. HaRam tried to distance him form her but, in my understanding, it’s mostly bc od the Mawang inside of him, not nc of his revenge plans (and now it looks like he wants to take revenge on her behalf as well bc she got involved in the mess the royals created). So maybe there are two personas in him. There was a scene when he was playing geomungo for her and he got so immersed in his pain that he got tears in his eyes. CG wanted to touch him and wipe the tears away but he stopped her hand, quite harshly I would say (compared to his gentleness towards her otherwise) and he said he’s okay. I took that scene for a sign that he doesn’t want or can’t let her close to this part of himself.
Why does Ma Wang have four eyes? So we don’t mistake him for spawn of the Queen Mother Xenomorph. http://jasminedotiwala.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Aliens_64.jpg
Kalimera!
@Welmaris on Episode 14 we got information about the ring. HaRam thought he knew about the history of the ring and that is all I am going to say.
I think that MaWang has four eyes, because it wants to show to the human beings that it can see it all. It reminded me the Egyptian symbol of “Eye of Rah”. MaWang represents the evil that exists in every human being. It is like Medusa. If you see in his eyes then you get “petrified”, because ultimately the monster you can see looking back at you is yourself.