I really went back-and-forth all of last week trying to decide what to do with Jang Ok Jung, Live in Love. Continuing watching and recapping? Just watching and no recapping? Or stopping altogether. Normally when a drama tonally and narrative collapses so thoroughly and takes with it everything great I loved, the easy decision is to bid farewell. Save some time and perhaps retain some of the earlier goodwill. But a few considerations with JOJ make bailing hard – I love Kim Tae Hee here and want to see her through to the end both as a support and to witness if she keeps bringing it, Jae Hee showed up so late and I’m mildly curious how he fares in this sageuk as well as how his character gets integrated (if ever) into the main storyline, and Yoo Ah In has publicly stated that his character’s behavior in being all love-focused and not ruling-driven has made him unable to relate or act him out anymore, and anyone with the cojones to speakth the truth gets kudo points from me. Normally I’d throw in awesome ahjusshi Song Dong Il who plays Jang Hyun, because he was hella awesome in the first part of the drama, when he lost daughter Hong Joo and then slowly plotted his revenge on Minister Min. But his character has been marginalized and from the looks of the preview, his presence will now be plotting openly against Minister Min and Queen In Hyun.
So while JOJ has been quiet with the spoilers and preview all week, my heart and mind waged a chess match that was pretty much decided for me when I watched the just released video preview for episode 15. I think I’m out. For good, watching and recapping. It was a genuine pleasure to fall in love with this unexpected gem that everyone (including myself) thought would be a hot mess. The first 8 episodes was electrifying in its surprising narrative cohesiveness and compelling romantic sageuk storytelling, building a love story step by step within the logical and stake-filled historical confines of the Joseon ruling world of politics and power. It was equal parts juicy love story, equal parts what-if historical flipboard. I loved the acting, story, and directing without reservation. After the drama took an abrupt turn for the makjang starting slowing in episode 9 and ramping up like a runaway train since then, the writing has downward spiraled into a mess of poorly thought out scheming and often inserted interludes of lovey dovey scenes between the OTP that actually worked to turn me off their formerly heady romance. Seeing in the preview for episode 15 that everything will continue down the path of Palace catfight and political cockfights, I’ll watch 15 but all signs point to my calling it a day with this drama.
Written preview for episode 15:
Dowager Queen Kim calls Ok Jung to see her and tells Palace rules require that if she bears a child it must be raised by the Queen. She asks that Ok Jung hand her child to Queen In Hyun to raise. On the other hand, Ok Jung calls Jang Hyun into the Palace to help her……….
Preview for episode 15:
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Say it ain't so Ms. Koala! :(
It couldn't have been any other way or else the narrative would have to be mangled beyond recognition. That's why I enjoy Cruel Flowers - they didn't waste any time pretending that Lady Jo was a helpless victim or that she had a romance for the ages with the King.
Well, after watching this latest episode, I can finally say that this show really did jump the shark with episode 9. But rme @ the Soompi fangirls - they seem to be mistaking re-interpretation for re-invention. Re-interpretation reworks facts that already form a basic framework and that cannot be ignored on a whim. Sorry ladies, JOJ was never going to live happily ever after with Sukjong and he was never going to stay 'faithful' (LOLing forever at the notion of a king having to be faithful to a concubine) to her.
My thoughts exactly, but that doesn't mean JOJ had to become some crazy woman, or that the plot has to move forward with unrealistic plot devices and idiotic makjang. I thought the whole point of the re-imagination was to give JOJ depth, as she had been turned into a caricature by historians. (History is told through the eyes of the victor could not apply more here.)
@ Anonymous, while history is shaped by extrinsic interests, I'm not sure reading victimhood into such caricatures is an appropriate response either. She may have been just as ruthless and cunning as history says - the fundamental problem here is that men are praised for being bold and decisive whereas women who dare to be anything but shrinking wallflowers are quickly cut down to size. I guess what I'm trying to say is that a more fruitful approach would have been to question gendered notions of morality rather than push a fictitious 'epic' romance down our throats only for us to get whiplash as it all goes horribly wrong. Chick lit was not the appropriate venue for this kind of story and I hope this drama's failure teaches producers a lesson that heavy breathing in hanboks ain't gonna cut it anymore.
@Rina: Actually, I agree with you, and I had no intention of reading victimhood into JOJ. Chick lit is not what I watch sageuks for, and my frustration with almost every character is that they act in unrealistic ways. JOJ has to survive, and to do that, she has to bring down everyone else. Bringing down everyone else does not require all of the insanity that I'm seeing in the show now. I was kind of hoping for some nuance.
The re-imaging part is to give viewers some sympathy and understanding for the character that's traditionally draped under the "all evil" cloak. I wasn't a fan of the romance in the beginning, but that doesn't mean that I don't think that it isn't a reasonable basis for JOJ's entry in the palace and her catalyst for her actions. No person is entirely bad, and this was a chance for a drama to show history in that kind of light.
The person that I hate most in this drama is actually Lee Soon, not just because he comes off as a terrible King, he also doesn't show any spine. If he's really running the palace the way he is right now just because he loves Ok-jung, that's pretty pathetic for a King. I would have been more interested he had messed with these girls hearts for political gains, and that the women were strong and smart enough to play at his game too. Now if only I could re-write the script. (Actually, I'd make for a terrible screenwriter, so that's a bad idea.)
I stopped watching around Ep. 10. *Sigh* I would like to see the original script as that was way more interesting than the makjang.
Same here. I stopped watching after ep. 10. Dont know if I'm getting uninterested on the storyline or I was just fully concentrated on the upcoming Shark that I cant see anything else. Heh! And thus Shark proved it's worth.
Ohh Please don't stop recapping;(
I just stopped halfway at episode 1.. LOL.. Yeah I know why stop at episode 1. It is just real life has been taken over my life. By the way, Happy Memorial Day Koala Unni. I hope you have a great day. Just fyi, I read Sukbin aka Dong Yi will appear this week and from now on. Therefore, whoever still watches let me know if she is cunning. In a happy note, today is Shark and Monstar episode 2 in viki has now fully sub. Koala unni, have you watched it. That is my new crack drama so far. I love the main lead actress she is soo good and has lots of hair. 0.0
MONSTAR is my new crack, after the disappointment that came with JOJ.
Thank you Ms. Koala for the recaps and your thoughts about this drama. I know how frustrating it was for you to continue watching and recapping this show despite your heart is no longer with it. I very well know the feeling of how much you've come to love a drama so much and at the same time will make you go insane. Truly a deceiving drama.
But for me, I'm still hoping for a MIRACLE to happen or maybe not? I don't know but I'll try my very best to hold on because I love Kim Tae Hee and Yooh Ah In dearly. I love YAI since Sungkyunkwan Scandal and unexpectedly have come to love KTH because of her stellar performance here as JOJ. I think I might get sick when Suk Bin and The King gets all lovey-dovey and will eventually be the fall of Ok Jung. :( Ohh imma punch the screen when that happens I might need to get a new laptop. No offense but I wish they didn't pick Kara's Seungyeon as Suk Bin, I don't know if she can pull it off especially when KTH already set the bar high with her outstanding portrayal as JOJ. This drama needs a lot of prayers to the drama gods in order to redeem itself or maybe it's already too late for that.....?
Ms Ockoala! You're not serious!! Keep recapping,,,, PLEASE!!!!!!!!
I'm you koala...
I'm out...
I think the writers really make a different approach to the original novel or their original plan....
I spent two hours reading all your reviews about JOJ, and come to know you won't be recapping anymore on it. My heart is thoroughly crushed, exsggeration intended, but truly I am. I seriously do enjoy the way you review it, be it negative or positive. Your humour isn't exaggerated like some reviewers are and the insight you have on it made me rewatch the episodes to see it from your view (no, I'm not an obsessed stalker. Haha).
Pleaseeee, pretty please continue on reviewing + recapping JOJ. I don't have any other reviews that I am interested in reading aside than your! ㅠ.ㅠ
Thanks for you recaps and time. I haven't been watching, but reading recaps. Was going to watch it when it was over. A shame it seems to be taking a turn for the worse. I think I'll take it off my list.