Episode 23
Time jump 10 years later!
An opportunity for the show to get back on track, and build up more on the actual plot.
So the Ming envoy is suspicious of King Gongmin's death so he takes a trip to Goryeo. On the surface it seems like the new King, a.k.a Ban Ya's son or King Woo does not take interest in politics at all, but he visits the Ming envoy at night to also share his suspicions on the King's death. But lo and behold, Lee In Im's goons who are specialized at eavesdropping/ following people, report the King's suspicious movements to him.
The Ming envoy is going to expose us, what shall we do?
Well, the only right thing to do:
shut him up!
By killing him of course. It's their solution to every problem. Literally.
On the other side of the country, we see Ji Sang acting quite friendly with... a guard? Wait, isn't he still in jail? Yes, it seems like it is because he's in jail clothing...with other jail inmates who are having dinner at a inn.
Wha...? Since when was prison-time so chill and relaxed?
It's also such a coincidence that Ji Sang has been placed at the same place Lee Sung Gye is at. Wonder if Lee Sung Gye was behind it or was it really just pure coincidence.
New character
Bang Won (Lee Sung Gye's son from his first marriage). I also recognize him from
"Padam Padam" as Jung Woo Sung's son! Happy that he's getting chances, because he's not a bad actor (and he looks good). Anyway, if you know history, he's involved in a power struggle for the throne later on with his other siblings...and it's pretty nasty just from reading about it. Won't delve much into that though...
And...here we are given a glimpse into his relationship with his step-mother (Lee Sung Gye's second wife). Not really amiable and quite hostile...and it seems she wants her own son to be better than him. As I said, the latter stuff about fight for the throne is just too complicated.
Ban Ya secretly has a meeting with her son at the Gibang and we see that she's actually secretly plotting to make her son a 'real' King by getting rid of Lee In Im. So she was just acting all along to wait for the right moment! And they're planning to trust Lee Sung Gye to expose Lee In Im and take him down, so they can step up rightfully on the throne.
So what is she now? Good or evil? (I'll stick with evil).
So Lee Sung Gye is supposed to bring Lee In Im down by exposing that he has killed the Ming envoy. Everyone thinks he knows where the body is buried, but he's just bluffing to lure the real killers to the body.
Jung Geun and his crew fall for it, and Lee Sung Gye thinks they have them this time! But...
To both of their surprise, the body is gone! Darn...
But it turns out the corpse has just moved from natural causes caused by the earth. At first I was like, how is that even possible? The body is stuck in a confined square. How can it move?
But it turns out it can. What a twist, I must say.
So it's a race for Ji Sang and Jung Geun to find the corpse based on each other's "Seer" skills. And of course Ji Sang with his natural gift is able to pin-point the location right away.
They do an autopsy on the body, confirm Lee In Im is behind it AND have evidence of Jung Geun's headband (back at that creepy scene where the body suddenly comes back alive and struggles with him).
"So, I'm not going to tell you I have evidence against you because I'm actually going to secretly report you to the Ming."
He says in his mind.
The crew arrive at the Ming border, but it seems like they're not too welcome...
Episode 24
The crew head off under the setting sun to the palace after leaving Bang Won as a hostage (as suggested by Ji Sang). Bang Won's of course just doing it to get some approval from his father, with the risk of getting killed though if they don't fulfill their promise on time.
Oh my. Here's the part that makes me go, "really now, is it just so coincidental that Jung Geun has conveniently forgotten his pass so he goes back and sees Ban Ya is up to something!?"
"How dare you betray me, I thought you were actually an okay woman!" (rephrased of course).
The King is 'saved' from his own palace after a bit of fireworks were set off for a distraction. And what do we know, Jung Geun comes checking just on time to see his other 'loved' one with some guards...
Ouch. And another betrayal in the same day (?)
"
How dare you, Hae-In, use the same trick you used when we were little so that I could find you out?"
"I'm only doing what was set out for me to do."
Her stare seems to say.
Ji Sang and Lee Sung Gye have a fight over what the right thing to do was: leave Hae In or save the King. And out of character, Lee Sung Gye takes it to another level and has Ji Sang beaten? Extreme, much? The camera zooms in on a snitch dressed as a guard. Ohhhh, I see...
All battered and bruised, Ji Sang makes his way to find Lee In Im and puts up a good show to make it seem he betrayed Lee Sung Gye for Hae In (and honestly, almost I was fooled!).
Lee In Im gets approval from his son that Ji Sang might be trustworthy this time, so he trusts his closest bodyguard Moo Young to head over and assassinate Lee Sung Gye.
Now it really comes to the part where your heart is beating like a hammer, you know Lee Sung Gye won't die, but how will the events fold? Oh, so exciting!
The arrows positioned, but a hand shoots out to stop it. Oh yeah.
I can't believe Lee Sung Gye would attempt to even persuade Moo Young to join him when we all know how
LOYAL Moo Young is to Lee In Im. Ah well, let's just send Ya Sook to battle him.
Moo Young does not get easily defeated. His name is Moo Young ("no shadow") for a reason! The fight's intense, and I actually think that Ya Sook might get hurt, but that wouldn't make sense when Lee Sung Gye's watching over and this guy is practically cornered.
Phew, luckily Ya Sook takes him down with some bloody gashes and for me, covering of my eyes.
I'm okay with the blood. I just don't want to see a good person getting hurt.
And the Evil Priestess gets a vision that Lee In Im is in danger. But how, lady? Didn't you lose your powers when you gave birth? That's what Lee In Im wonders as well and shrugs her concerns off.
The God's are being a bit unfair here. Why give the E.P the ability to still see visions when she doesn't deserve it?
Having successfully persuaded Choi Young. They use his name to call forth Lee In Im to the palace and prepare for ambush.
Which on another note, Choi Young this lad. Why does he make me hate him so much when I thought he was supposed to be all 'gracious and courageous'? When the King tells him to fight Lee In Im, he's just like "he's doing a good job of handling the kingdom, let him be." LIKE seriously?
Will this really be the end of Lee In Im?
Dududun.....
....
Overall, things are picking up to a better pace and I find myself excited to watch and anticipate what's going to happen next. They're good at all the 'plots' and 'action' and that's what is keeping this drama going. The relationships and stuff... ehhhhh, not so much.
