Oldtimers here know that I often avoid the Open Threads before forming my own thoughts and writing my commentary. This is to prevent me from unconsciously copying your ideas or being influenced by your position.
It’s safe to say that the most contentious point in this episode is Cho Yeong’s body. How did Naksu end up with her original body?
Well, I begin with two assumptions, namely,
a) Master Lee is nobody’s fool, and
b) he remembers his Sapsali dog, that dog Lady Jin destroyed.
Lady Jin: BuYeon has disappeared. Do you think she has regained her memories and powers?
Lol. This should tip us off that Lady Jin’s actions haven’t been honorable. She knew that if Cho Yeong/fake BuYeon discovered the truth about her captivity, she would seek escape.
Master Lee: If she regained her memories, she may have run away. After all, the soul inside that body belongs to Naksu.
I like Master Lee’s evasive answer. He said she “may have run away.” We should leave open the possibility that Naksu could also have KILLED Lady Jin in vengeance had she regained her memory.
Lady Jin: (insisting) The body is BuYeon’s. The blood of the eldest daughter of the Jin family runs in that body.
In my Ep 1 Highlights, I wrote that I couldn’t figure out whether she was “in denial, just stupid, or cruel.” Now, I think she’s all three. Her daughter, Jin ChoYeon, already recognized that the imprisoned girl isn’t BuYeon but “that other woman,” Naksu. That’s why she called her mom cruel. There’s no “blood” of the eldest daughter in BuYeon, but Lady Jin insists.
Master Lee: Is that the reason you confined her and tried to marry her off to carry on the family line? What were you planning to do with her body once she gave birth to a baby?
Master Lee points out the obvious. When normal mothers would save their daughters out of pure love, Lady Jin’s real motive for wanting to save BuYeon three years ago was to ensure the family line. Because of her delusion that the “Jin blood” is coursing through Naksu’s veins, she has planned a breeding program for Naksu.
I’ll point out the obvious here, too. Both Lady Jin and the previous King of Daeho have a dangerous obsession with continuing their bloodline. The previous King created the current situation by desiring to have an heir. He exchanged souls with Jang Gang through the Alchemy of Souls. Jang Uk was the result. Lady Jin also created her problem because she wanted an heir. So, she begged Jang Gang to resurrect her dead baby through the Alchemy of Souls. The priestess BuYeon was the result.
This time, however, Lady Jin stirs up more problems by insisting that Naksu offer her posterity. I actually find it disgusting that, despite having a worthy successor in Jin ChoYeon, she isn’t satisfied until she gets the “best” blood there is from BuYeon.
Master Lee: Get rid of it once again?
See that? If Lady Jin really believes that her daughter lives in Cho Yeong’s body, then she won’t so readily dispose of her as soon as her need for her expires. She will cherish her for all time. Unfortunately, she regards Cho Yeong only as a means to an end. Cho Yeong is a disposable vessel, a single-use incubator.
Frankly, I don’t get her. But I don’t want to underestimate the power of self-delusion. I see it often with the people who self-identify as woman, man, dog, cat, white, black, blue, and so on.
Master Lee: Did you forget what you promised me when you begged me to save her life after you found her body at the bottom of Lake Gyeongcheondaeho?
Flashback.
The subs are from Netflix. I looked for another version, but no dice.
Master Lee: The body has petrified without a single ounce of water left, yet she is still alive. How miraculous.
This is Naksu’s giseya. Ha! It’s a good thing that I highlighted the importance of “giseya” in Season 1. Since we Bitches see it as a constant theme and overall message, we can understand the drama from a different perspective.
Lady Jin: Please save her. She is my long-lost daughter.
That isn’t a lie. She means this dead body is her long-lost daughter.
Master Lee: I always wondered why she never ran wild even with Naksu’s energy. I guess it was because the body belonged to a Jinyowon priestess.
Meaning, Naksu’s strong soul should have been incompatible with the weak body of MuDeok. Master Lee didn’t realize that the weak body always had a strong soul, the soul of the Jinyowon priestess BuYeon.
Master Lee: Naksu did not take over this body using the Alchemy of Souls. Her soul was actually locked up inside this body.
Lol. Didn’t I just say this in my recent write-up on Cho Yeong vs Jin BuYeon? I had always thought that Jin BuYeon was the poor victim of Naksu when all along she was the Master Opportunist. She didn’t make a sacrifice when she exchanged places with the tavern maid. She grabbed the opportunity to switch souls with Naksu.
In the grand scheme of things, Naksu always seems to be the clueless one: she was used by Jin Mu and the priestess Jin BuYeon. Now, she’s unwittingly being used by Lady Jin.
Lady Jin: She called me “Mother.” BuYeon’s soul also remains inside this body.
She insists that BuYeon’s soul is also in there alongside Naksu’s soul. She insists because she heard her name called during that Ice Stone demonstration.
Master Lee: The choice is yours. The only way to keep this body alive is to use Naksu’s energy that remains inside the body. BuYeon’s soul is clinging to that energy. In order to use Naksu’s energy, we must get rid of BuYeon’s soul while leaving Naksu’s.
He’s saying that three things must be taken into account: body, soul, and GISEYA (energy and determination to survive).
Both BuYeon and Naksu have souls.
Only BuYeon has the body.
But only Naksu has the energy, giseya, or strong will to survive.
Note this well: from the start, he advocated getting rid of BuYeon’s soul.
Lady Jin: Are you asking me to choose Naksu’s soul over my own daughter’s?
Master Lee: That or let them both die. What will you do? Do you wish to keep the body alive through Naksu’s soul? Or will you keep your daughter’s soul and watch her die? I will respect your decision.
My comments:
a. If I were Lady Jin’s adviser, I would’ve told her that it was a trap.
Methinks BuYeong’s soul was no longer there. I said this before: if she was still inside the body, then she should have showed up and resisted when Jin Mu used the (cow)bells on Naksu and when Naksu jumped off the cliff.
b. To me, Master Lee was demonstrating Solomonic wisdom. Remember that story of two women fighting over a baby?
Lady Jin was given a choice to keep BuYeon’s body or soul, and she chose the body. She’s like the silly woman in Solomon’s tale who gladly agreed to have the baby cut into two just so she could have a part of the baby.
Lady Jin didn’t get that the body and soul must be one.
c. But methinks Master Lee also demonstrated Machiavellian level of deceit.
I say he really wanted to save Naksu’s soul. But he couldn’t let Lady Jin know of his objective or Lady Jin would resist. Thus, he pretended to give Lady Jin a choice and to follow her decision.
Sure, he said he would follow her decision, but he implanted the idea in her head that she had only two options available, and that the best option was to get rid of BuYeon’s soul and save Naksu’s, instead.
I told you about Hobson’s choice, right? I explained it before in another drama thread. Well, that’s what Master Lee did here. He tricked her.
d. And that’s how he saved Naksu.
I’m telling you now, between Naksu and Jin BuYeon, he’s on Team Naksu like I am.
Master Lee: She’s recovering using Naksu’s energy. As the energy flows in her face and she starts looking human again, her features will slowly resemble those of Naksu’s. The body and soul must be one for her not to run wild.
Lol. If you ask me, I think he took Lady for a ride. This was a scam.
True, the body and soul must be one to avoid the individual from running wild. However, nobody said that having the same physical features as the previous self was a side-effect of reuniting the body and soul.
If this was the case, then the Master Kang who was revived by the Jeongjingak physicians should have reverted to his original face, the Queen should have re-acquired Shaman Choi’s burnt face, and Master Lee himself shouldn’t look young like he does but should have the appearance of an 100-year-old man.
He tricked Lady Jin into rescuing Naksu.
Lady Jin: Are you telling me to look at that face and think of her as my daughter?
Master Lee: (barely controlling his anger) You made your own choice. You decided to use all of Naksu’s energy to save your daughter’s body.
Question: What’s a body with the soul?
Answer: An empty shell.
Master Lee: She has a new body now, so her memory is gone. Naksu’s soul may still remain, but she lost both her energy and memory.
Do you see that what I see? Master Lee has always prioritized Naksu’s soul and well-being over anything/anybody else in this whole process. He protects her. He advocates on her behalf. And he pities her situation.
End of flashback.
Master Lee: She remembers nothing, which is why she thinks you are her mother and does not struggle to accept that she is Jin BuYeon.
Lady Jin: (insisting) She opens the doors to Jinyowon and sees the energy of the world because my daughter’s blood runs inside her.
My comments:
a. So, this is why she insists that the Cho Yeong’s body and blood are still Jin BuYeon’s. Notice that Master Lee has no response to this.
b. Personally, I think the power to open the Jinyowon doors is weak sauce. She should stop using this ability as a litmus test because a) we saw in Season 1 how easily her husband used a worm to transfer Jin ChoYeon’s blood into Sora so she could open doors, and b) Uk himself opened the door to the annex leading to Cho Yeong’s prison, and he didn’t have Jin blood either. He has the Ice Stone in him.
c. It’s possible that some of Master Lee’s Hwansu power transferred over to her (or was shared with her) when he revived her, or that the magical thread used on her tracking bracelet had the power to open doors.
d. As for other divine powers that Cho Yeong could have, sure, she saw the ice stone in Uk, but that could be because they’re connected in some unique way (like loooooooovvvvve, lol). She did NOT first see the energy signature of the swamp monster. First, she SMELLED him, and then observed the weird aura coming from him.
But let’s not forget that Cho Yeong was no ordinary citizen of Daeho either. She was daughter of a royal astrologer, Mage Cho.
Lady Jin: But she has no other power. My daughter used to handle relics inside Jinyowon as if they were her toys. Does this mean she lost her divine powers?
Master Lee: BuYeon’s body has no divine powers, and Naksu’s soul has no memory, so the body and soul do not conflict. If she regains her divine powers, Naksu’s memory will likely follow. Can you bear that?
Lady Jin: I would rather have her stay that way
Meaning, without divine powers. She preferred this weak Priestess if that meant a weak Naksu, too.
Lady Jin: (continuing) than have Naksu’s memory come back.
Master Lee: Then are you going to keep her confined?
Lady Jin: That is my decision to make. And if I decide to kill her because I can no longer stand it, thens o be it. You promised to respect my decisions.
Master Lee: Jang Uk loved her. If you tell him, he will help you protect her.
Lady Jin: No. He was in love with Naksu. She will only live as my daughter, BuYeon. I will not let him find out about her. Besides, Jang Uk does not know what Naksu’s real face even looks like. Even if the two ever do meet, they will not be able to recognize each other. I have to live my life in agony looking at that girl’s face, so that is the price that must be paid.
Master Lee: I respected your decision as a mother and did not tell anybody of her existence. However, as of this day, the entire world ended up finding out about BuYeon.
Do you see why I’m reminded of the Sapsali dog?
Master Lee brought the Sapsali dog to the palace as a gift. The King wanted him to rid the palace of the soul shifters with the help of the dog. The Queen objected vociferously, and the truth was made public. Her fear of being caught led her to overreact.
This time Master Lee brought a gift to the Jinyowon’s house, and the gift is Cho Yeong. Lady Jin objects to the gift because she clings to her delusion that her special daughter BuYeon is the sole asset of Jinyowon. She ignores that she has another great daughter Jin ChoYeon by her side, and that she could have an ever-grateful adopted daughter in Cho Yeong. Because of her obsession, not only did the world find out about BuYeon’s existence, but the truth of Cho Yeong’s existence will be discovered.
🙂
I need to read this again but I just wanted to say:
Cho Yeong/Naksu/MD (and not Mom Jin’s daughter BY) have always been used as tools. Somehow they remind me of child soldiers in wars. Jin Mu used her as one and she was someone who killed without questioning and by just following the instructions (at least in my brain).
Lady with Naksu’s face and no memory (CY) is the political and surrogacy tool that Mom Jin wants to use.
End of the day, it is super sad that the person (CY/Naksu/MD) has always been a tool and their growth (emotional and in this case power-wise) is always stunted.
If this wasn’t a fantasy drama, she would need therapy after and during all that she has faced.
Kalispera @Packmule3!
Thank for writing this. I have written my thoughts on the open thread about this revelation.
I was so elated when Master Lee’s wrath was targeted towards the Jin Matriarch. She is afraid of him because she is at fault and he knows that.
Do I really accept the Hong Sister’s solution regarding Jin BuYeon?
No I don’t. Mostly because they did no justice to the character of the great Priestess Jin BuYeong. We got so much advertisement in her divine powers that when she was really needed, she was discarded / out of the picture and Cho Yeong became a pawn -again-.
I have been thinking the same thing as you, that after what happened inside the Ice Stone’s barrier, Jin BuYeon’s soul left MuDeok’s body. It is the only way that what happened afterwards with the bells Jin Mu used that could make sense.
You are right that the Jin Matriarch and the previous King have had an obsession about their bloodlines and the same hubris was followed by the current King who was taking Concumbines, in order to produce an heir with the King’s Star.
I do hope the Jin Matriarch will get deserted by both her daughters. She is unsuitable in her role as a mother. She is abusing, bullying and terrorizing her daughters. What a shame!
Especially in the scene with the magical needle I was furious…
@wapz
I’m going to move this comment to the Open Thread.
Pm3
1. Thanks for the shrewd analysis, I too place my bets on the ever-trusty Master Lee for a couple of reasons:
(a) proven track record as the wisest, oldest, and most highly-skilled mage in the AOS universe thus far.
(b) Master Lee has also been known to deploy subterfuge when necessary (of course, for the greater good *cough*)
Callback to S1Ep8 Duel with CP when he had to vouch JU only trained by himself with NO ONE ELSE except his maid besides him. (shot a meaningful side glance at MD)
(c) Me thinks he will pull a Macbeth stunt on Lady Jin, ala the Three Witches
(d) His dialogue with CP in S2E1 is very telling: there is this seething very controlled anger underneath his calm poker face that strongly suggests to me he is fully aware that CP/JM had done a great injustice to JU/MD and Master Lee intends to play a long game, and help facilitate serving revenge as a cold dish on behalf of this ill-fated couple
I am just so glad Master Lee has got our OTP’s back.
——————————–
The “When did Bu-Yeon’s soul exit?” Question:
several possibilities I am tossing up:
1) Frankly, she may still be in this current BY/Naksu body. Why?
The divine priestess powers MUST enter into the mix for this S2 narrative and premise to work.
Our death-wish seeking weary hero needs a priestess to extract the ice stone to end his agonized existence (shades of Goblin here: Come bride! Pull out my sword!)
He has no use for a mage in this S2 (unlike S1). He NEEDS a priestess. So we need Bu Yeon’s extraordinary powers.
2) I know some posit that Bu Yeon soul might have exited during the fortress incarceration/ice stone barrier episode. Yes and No
Yes camp: both the child & adult versions of Bu Yeon appeared (exceptional); not so much they died but more Star War-like as the Great Jedi masters who died and just become part of the Force whilst maintaining their personalities and appearances and speaking sage wisdom to the young Jedi. She may just decided to merge with the Ice Stone force?
No camp: See Reason 1 (we need Divine Priestess powers for S2 premise and quest motif to work)
Also — on the grounds that hey BY has left that is why Naksu turned rogue and petrified when the shaman bells were used. I BEG TO DIFFER.
Reason: The priestess powers is the ability to lock up even the greatest mages, so BY can bring Naksu great powers under control.
BUT Naksu didn’t run wild because of the gap/crack between the soul and body. She ran wild because every vial of soul ejector has a curse placed on them (activated by the bells).
That does not come under the jurisdiction of powers yielded by BY. She can’t do a thing about it methinks. ( on that note, Jin Mu was an absolute scumbag, but well played).
—————————————–
SOUL SHIFTER Signature / GPS Trackers
Based on a comment made in the post, I kinda have visions of the “faint blue light” emitting from Bu Yeon’s nostrils now LOL
Yes — I noted that she now sniffs a lot (whether springtime, or roses scent on JU, or water smell on the wraith etc) she is led by her nose now, not her eyes. Hmmmm…
GPS trackers:
OK I can’t wait to see how our favorite pair of jade eggs will be used in the upcoming episodes
other identifying markers in the run:
Naksu sword recognizing its owner
Kalimera my Queen @Packmule3!
I re-read your piece because I wanted to think about what you said regarding Master Lee’s role in saving Cho Yeong / Naksu. (BTW, you have missed the -g in Cho Yeong’s name.)
I am both happy and sad for what he did. First, he did save Cho Yeong but he had to keep it a secret from Jang Uk for three years. So, in a way I totally understand why he did snap in front of the Crown Prince too. Master Lee is fed up with all those people who made a mess in the first place and are waiting from Jang Uk to fix it. Because Jang Uk’s existence is a gift as well and it mirrors Cho Yeong’s existence.
Also, I agree with your suggestion that some of his Hwansu powers were transferred to Cho Yeong and could awaken some powers of hers that were dormant and she didn’t know about. After all, we are unaware of her Naval Chart. In Part 1, we got information mostly on Jang Uk and Jin Bu Yeong. Her (full) powers as a descendant of the Cho clan are still hidden.
As I have written in the Open thread, I fear that the Hong Sisters wanted to make Cho Yeong / Naksu equivalent in strength to Jang Uk now that he has the Ice Stone.
So, they found this solution of the Hybrid Jin BuYeon’s body + Cho Yeong’s Soul, in order if we -the viewers- see later Naksu manifesting divine powers, not to question it.
As you have pointed they both have giseya / vigor . And we got our mirroring scenes: Jang Uk mentioned it in Episode 1, while in Episode 2 we saw the same about Naksu.
After all, three years later there is a drought in Daeho and a raining ritual needs to be made. The only persons who can do that are the Jinyowon Priestesses.
Is Jin Cho Yeon capable of performing the ritual? Yes she is, but as you have pointed above her mother is blind and cruel at the same time.
We see how this will go…
Welcome to the blog, @Empress New Clothes.
Thanks, @Cleopatra. Corrected all (?) the Cho Yeon to Cho YeonG. I really couldn’t get mad at the Hong sisters for the names because English also has derivative names:
Catherine, Katherine, Kate, Cate, Cathy, Kathy, Kiki, Kat, Kay, Cay, Kitty
Will, Billy, Willy, Bill, William.
Richard, Dick
Margaret, Meg, Meggy, Peg, Peggy, Daisy
You made good points. I dislike the Hong sisters’ explanation for Naksu’s regain of appearance.
but — lol — you know my motto: take it or leave it. If I don’t like how the story’s going, I just leave. If I like it, I’ll take it…and make it work.
Kinda like work. If I take a case, I do my damnnest to win it. I dislike people on my staff who whine but half-ass their job because they drag the team down. Succeed or perish, that’s my motto. And I guess you can connect that to “giseya” too. 🙂
The ONLY way I can make sense out of it is to make Master Lee the “godfather” of Naksu’s revival and the kingmaker working behind-the-scenes. It’s his plan. That’s my theory. Take it or leave it.
I bet NOBODY else took that approach. You heard it first here on this blog.
Yes, that drought is interesting. will have to write more but I’m shifting gears to do the other dramas on my list.
Re. the transfer of Master Lee’s power onto the almost dead Cho Yeong’s body, I just didn’t pull that theory out of my ass.
There’s a precedent (or a mirroring/parallel incident) in Season 1.
Remember when Uk almost died because of the poison that Naksu gave him in Episode 2? Well, how was he revived? Mage Heo gave him some of his energy.
Then, Uk had to learn Mage Heo’s breathing technique so he could keep it.
THERE!
That’s my SIMPLE explanation of how Cho Yeong could have retained some sort of divine powers in her despite NOT having an drop of Jin Blood.
Master Lee made it a point to say that the retrieved body from the lake was BONE-DRY. Meaning, not a drop of blood in her.
She has Master Lee’s divine powers instead of the Jin’s.
Lol. That’s why I said Master Lee is her GodFATHER.
I’ll write my highlights later but it will have a password and accessible only to a select few I’m comfortable with. It’ll be open however on Friday to the general public and lurkers.
@Packmule3,
You are welcome. A thought that came into mind is that the Hong Sisters naming them Cho Yeong and Jin Cho Yeon could be possible referring to them sharing a sisterly bond, maybe?
I was mad at first because technically speaking, the Hong Sisters didn’t do justice regarding Jin BuYeon the character! It is okay to kill your darlings, but the Hong Sisters dragged the Mighty Priestess Card far too long in Part 1, in order to toss her character just like that in Part 2.
It is true that you gave this approach first and that is why I was waiting for your thoughts!
At the same time, re-reading your approach reminded me of the usage I gave to Master Lee in “My Theories” back in Part 1. The more I think of it, the more I agree with you. In Part 1, Master Lee played a pivotal role for the Hero Jang Uk.
Since we get mirroring vibes and scenes all over again, let us see what Master Lee does:
1. Master Lee acts as: a protector God / Deus Ex Machina for the Hero Jang Uk.
We knew that in Part 1, Master Lee vouched for Jang Uk when he performed the “Tansu Bam” Move on the battle with the Crown Prince. He taught him to catch the Golden Fish in order to reach Chisu. He also protected the secret of Mudeok’s true identity and only shared it with Uk himself.
In Part 2, we found out that Master Lee also played a pivotal role by protecting the Heroine Cho Yeong / Naksu from dying.
2. Master Lee is the only person who knows Master Seo and Jin Seol Ran’s true story because he was Master Seo’s pupil.
We theorized about the connection between the past couple and the current couple, so for me it is both symbolic and significant that he saved Cho Yeong.
Another drought is here and we know that Jin Seol Ran performed the first rain ritual. If the Hong Sisters use the “divine powers card”, should we wait for Cho Yeong to perform the ritual?
3. Master Lee’s role will be more compelling and action driven in Part 2.
After what happened in Part 1, he is not going to act like a referee any longer.
His wrath was quickly kindled in three scenes. In the Court House, when Jin Mu tried to change the King’s decision, with the Crown Prince himself and lastly with the Jin Matriarch.
So, I think that we will get to see more in those 8 episodes. We can discuss it when you have time. I totally understand that you have your plate full. Same over here!
I agree @Cleopatra.
Master Lee has a keen sense of justice. Remember what he told Jang Gang. He told him straight up to clean up his own shit.
So now he sees that people were doing Jang Uk and, especially Naksu/Cho Yeong, wrong. I don’t think he would just stand by.
I also remember what he told Park Jin. If he had to use his own hands to get rid of Jang Uk, he would. For three years, Uk was killing soulshifters. He wasn’t hiding. If Master Lee didn’t approve of Uk’s conduct, he had plenty of time to eliminate him.
Instead, we see Master Lee demanding the CP to pay Uk homage. That’s the whole point of CP personally going to Uk and paying him bajillion of money for each kill. Master Lee wanted the CP:
a. to pay homage to UK because Uk was acting like the rightful leader of the land. He was the one doing what needed to be done — what the CP SHOULD BE doing to protect the people.
b. to pay tribute as a reminder that CP gets to sit his backside on the throne and receive all the accolades when he owes them all to Uk’s sacrifice
c. to enrich Jang Uk.
Uk knows that the money is blood money. But there’s not enough money in DaeHo to compensate him for the loss of Naksu.
@Packmule3,
True. Master Lee told him to clean his mess and Jang Gang listened!
Yes, he is royally pissed because everyone from the Elders except Park Jin and Mage Heo, seem to have double standards!
I actually cheered when Master Lee demanded that!!! And…I became mad when the scene with the Crown Prince came along, especially because he was being smug for what actually happened to Jang Uk and Naksu consequently, while he was sitting comfortably to his royal seat, listening to his beloved Master Jin Mu. (sic)
The CP should reflect on what happened back then, instead he seems totally fine and untouched and that was the part that pissed me off.
Dude, just because your Royal Ego and Pride needs to be boosted, you betrayed two people that made you feel like an ordinary person without flattery involved.
Even though, the CP doesn’t know that he and Uk are cousins, I cannot forgive him for now. In my book, his choice to listen Jin Mu instead of handing him over to Songrim had severe consequences affecting everyone’s lives and especially Jang Uk and Cho Yeong’s, entering my Unethical Characters in Daeho list.
As you said before me, “there’s not enough money in Daeho to compensate Jang Uk for the loss of Naksu.” What more can we say to that?
I’m transferring this comment over to the Open Thread, @dreamingdrama.
Also, please decide whether you want to use @dreamingdrama or @dramaticdreams as your name because it’s cluttering my blog. Thanks.
I’m transferring your post over to the Open Thread, @wapz.
pm3
Another famous Hobson’s choice, from Henry Ford: “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” With this drama we have the choice of accepting the world the Hong sisters have built despite flaws in its presentation, or dropping the show.
I agree that Master Lee has been quietly, through his teachings and influence, opposing Jin Mu’s machinations; in Season 2, he may step out into the open.
There’s another person whose behind-the-scenes activity works toward a healthy future for DaeHo: Maidservant Kim. She lovingly raised Jang Uk since birth, knowing there were rumors about his paternity. She was an emotional pillar for Jang Uk when his father abandoned him. She is what makes the Jang family estate a home for Uk. She stays with him when everyone else in DaeHo shuns him out of fear. She stays with him despite knowing all sorts of frightening apparitions and beings are drawn to him because of the ice stone’s energy. She seems unflappable, but we shouldn’t underestimate how much willpower and courage it takes her to be someone on whom Jang Uk always depends. I loved how he introduced her to his bride-to-be as someone very dear to him, deserving respect.
I’m having trouble writing about Season 2 because I don’t know how to refer to the main female character. I prefer Naksu over Jin Bu Yeon or her alter-ego, MuDeok. Naksu’s vigor is why Jin Bu Yeon’s body was able to be revived by Master Lee. Cho Yeong’s face is the one that appears once Jin Bu Yeon’s body heals from the petrification. Since all memories are gone, the personality that emerges could by Cho Yeong’s before she was turned into Naksu the Assassin by Jin Mu. Cho Yeong’s giseya/will to act is the reason she could survive witnessing the deaths of her family; her kidnapping and manipulation by Jin Mu; and her years of training in isolation, with a minimum of basic needs met. Cho Yeong’s identity was subsumed by Naksu, but the core of strength that made the creation of Naksu possible was always Cho Yeong. The question is, will Jang Uk love this Naksu who has been “factory reset” into Cho Yeong?
Hey @Welmaris,
I think Jang Uk will also love Cho Yeong. As she currently grows on us, the same thing will happen for Ukkie. Don’t you forget that she made him speechless on some occasions. So, I have faith.
At the same time, I am glad that Cho Yeong gets to wear beautiful gowns like the ones she envied while watching the beautiful and delicate Agashi, Healer Heo Yun-Ok.
Cheo Yeong was robbed of so many things in her lifetime, now it is the time to be feminine, not only a ruthless killer as she used to be. I am eager to meet that part of her as well.
Apologies, I meant to use @dreamingdrama
Checked/updated the settings in my WordPress account. Hope it’s showing properly now.
@Cleopatra, I’m also happy to see Cho Yeong having a softer, more childlike demeanor without it being sarcasm. MuDeok had endured too much to let down her guard.
I hate to see Cho Yeong back to a situation like when Jin Mu was raising her to be an assassin: isolated, with limited resources keeping her alive. Matriarch Jin is only maintaining her eldest daughter’s body to bear the next successor to leadership of Jinyowan. What is it with those two Jin half-siblings? If the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, they must’ve inherited their capacity for remorseless exploitation from their father, who would’ve not, himself, been a Jin.
Even though Cho Yeong has no memories from before she recovered, there are other ways experiences imprint themselves on a person. Researchers of DNA have found that trauma can alter how genes function (cause epigenetic change), and that change can even be passed to new generations. Even if she has no conscience recall of her past, what Cho Yeong has previously endured as herself, Jin Bu Yeon, Naksu, and MuDeok is still with her at a cellular level. Her body remembers, even if her mind doesn’t. That’s probably why she’s able to consume alcohol with such expertise. I hope we see awaken in Cho Yeong all the strengths each of her personas developed.
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