It’s taken me a few weeks to get back to wanting to write about Empress Ki mostly due to the last few episodes being dull as beans for me. The drama continues to do well in ratings, dominating the Mon-Tues timeslot by a wide margin and recently broke 20% in ratings and will likely stay there if not continue to increase. The fast-paced action in the start was replaced by a bisected story line for leads Ha Ji Won as Seung Nyang and Joo Jin Mo as Wang Yoo. Seung Nyang is sent to the Yuan Palace as a serving girl while deposed Goryeo King Wang Yoo and his men are sent to the front lines of the Yuan dynasty war with the Turks. I don’t necessarily think they need to be together for the story to be interesting, except both sets of action were predictable and annoying. On the Seung Nyang front, she’s trying to survive in the Palace while Yuan Emperor Ta Hwan spends every single episode obsessing about her. First he thinks she looks like Seung Nyang, then he finds out she is Seung Nyang, then he tries to keep her by his side, and all of this pining is accompanied by whining and creepy staring that would make my hair stand up but for the fact that I think he’s not a complete loser and because he likes Seung Nyang enough not to hurt her. Though he doesn’t dispel her incorrect belief that Wang Yoo died in the battlefield, because apparently he can do whatever he wants to win the heart of the girl he likes even knowing she thinks he’s lower than toe fungus. On the Wang Yoo front, he’s off fighting a war for the Yuan so that he can get back to the Yuan Palace to find Seung Nyang, and the battle tactics and scenes are watchable but feel like filler since we know he’ll succeed and get back to Seung Nyang. But episode 14 brought me back to attention in a good way. Wang Yoo makes a triumphant arrival at the Yuan Palace, Seung Nyang’s heart is all aflutter, Ta Hwan’s jealousy grows even more rampant (yes, it is possible), and the most hilarious development is Empress Tanashiri maybe developing a crush on Wang Yoo. Ahahaha, that is ridiculous but brilliant since this drama has zero semblance to history anyways. At least I can say bratty manipulative Tanashiri has good taste in men. Check out the best scene clips from the latest episodes and catch up on the story development with a boatload of drama stills.
This drama is still so pretty to look at with all the glorious primary colors, though Ta Hwan’s imperial robes need to tone down on the fuschia. I also think the supporting cast is still marvelous, everyone is doing their part and there are tons of great side characters I could gush over for how interesting they are. And that includes the villains as well.
I seriously can’t get over the randomness of Tanashiri taking a shining to Wang Yoo. Yes, he’s hot and puts her in her place (when he didn’t know who she was), but clearly this won’t end well. The irony is strong though – the loser Yuan married couple of Ta Hwan and Tanashiri fall for the upstanding but can’t be together Goryeo couple of Seung Nyang and Wang Yoo.
What I like about the characterization of Empress Ki is that the romance between the OTP actually makes me happy on multiple levels. Seung Nyang and Wang Yoo are equals in intelligence and courage, and they see that about each other. It’s a welcome sight to have the leading lady fall for a good man, a decent man, a man who needs no saving from her but instead appreciates, admires, and wants her. To Seung Nyang, Wang Yoo is both her liege and a man she misses. There is no subtext but the greater conflicts of the world they live in keeping them apart. He’s the deposed King of Goryeo, with no power to save himself much less her. But he has his mind and functioning limbs, and he uses both to fight his way back to her. He doesn’t do it alone, he has the respect and support of the men who rally around him because he’s their leader. He wears the mantle of both his pride and his shame proudly, he blames no one but rather faces the reality and does what needs to be done. That is also Seung Nyang and how she thinks, and it’s lovely that when they were apart each would think of the other use that as strength and clarity. I’m happy the drama is veering so far from the novel because it feels fresh to watch because I don’t know what to expect.
I really do need Ta Hwan to grow a pair of balls and get around to eliminating his enemies and ruling his dynasty. At this point, I vote to give the reigns of the Yuan to anyone BUT him because he’s that useless. I have nothing against him liking Seung Nyang, but that is ALL he does. All day long, that and whine and feel sorry for himself about his sad sack life as a puppet emperor. Too bad the drama has done a good job of showing that the main characters suffer equally shitty fates in life and rise above it. It’s even worse because his idea of “love” is the very definition I abhor. He sees love as possession, if he wants and needs Seung Nyang, then he will do anything to make her love him back. If he knew anything about her, he would probably win his affection (and my respect) if he turned his life purpose around to ruling his country with wisdom. If she saw him as a great Emperor who loved his people and also extended that love to the tributary nation of Goryeo, I could see her falling for him somewhere down the line. But the Ta Hwan right now is a giant douchebag still and I hope the drama turns him into a interesting character soon because anytime he shows up I just want to smack him. Ji Chang Wook is playing him wonderfully though, capturing the petulance, neediness, and self-pity perfectly.
Empress Ki Episode 9 Wang Yoo-Seung Nyang cuts:
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Episode 14 Wang Yoo-Seung Nyang cuts:
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Agreed. Best gird your loins, Captain K, as I foresee this thread becoming VERY messy.
Perhaps we'll be surprised and this thread will have a meaningful dialogue rather than resort to instinctive mudslinging. ^^
If you would put a correction on your post to rectify your misunderstandings of emperor Th like him lying and his intentions of keeping sn in the palace then I'm positive the comments here would be more civil. When people are really into a show and passionate about a character, they naturally are defensive when a character they like are bashed to the point where it is unrealistic, esp when certain actions are as clear as day and night but strangely interpreted differently.
As a commentator, you have the power to moderate, but by not admitting your mistakes, you feed the flames.
Hmmmm I enjoyed the first couple of episodes of this drama (after leaving my brain at the door) but the last 6 episodes or so have been SO DULL.
The Bratty King really gets on my nerves. And Sung Yang is annoying too.
Oh well, there are plenty of other dramas out there. "Kind Words" is actually a very pleasant watch and there are plenty of upcoming dramas I'm interested in (specially "I Need Romance 3").
I think any character that spends time with TH becomes annoying, hence Seung Nyang also becoming annoying in the last few episodes.
whatever. koala, keep on sipping that crazy juice.
Aye, Koala. Fortunately, this drama isn't about TH only.
Thanks for checking back in with your thoughts.
I loved how all the palace girls were agaga over the K-King hearing that he was a dangerous playboy. When you think about the truth - at least as far as we have seen - it is funny. It intrigues me as well how easy it was to start that myth, even if unintentionally, and how it is possible that many of histories facts may have started with a rumor of repeated.
They really do need to give JCW something more to do - Ki isn't going to just fall in love with him suddenly unless he changes. Maybe he'll find the right advisor to tell him the truth about women rather that what he wants to hear. He has a LOT Of episodes to change, but can't we start now with slight improvements?
JJM is hot with that hair and that face and that demeanor and his wardrobe. I LOVE that the baby empress would find him attractive.
It'll piss her brother off even more when he finds yet another woman loves the king!!
Episode 14 was totally the pill I needed to stay on this ship. I loved the palace girls drooling over WY. He only has eyes for SN makes it even better. Palace WY is gorgeous, I agree. But battle field WY was so smexy and scruffy and nnnnnggg, so delicious. That Turk girl is totally going to fall for him later as well.
I don't understand why the writers would write him like that. Even more inexplicable is how his actions/thoughts towards SN is seen as romantic? It's not. She doesn't like him and tried to kill him earlier and pretty much hates/tolerates him. His feelings for her are not romantic just because HE likes her. He stalks her constantly, uses his power to keep her by his side (she asked him to let her leave and he's like NOOOOOO, I am now your lord you have to stay with me), and basically pleads for her to love him back.
In all fairness we have to say, that the Emperor didn't lie to Ki about WY's death. They got wrongly informed and his eunuch Golta (sp?) told her first that the King were dead.
Also the Emperor is keeping her so close because he knows, that her life is in imminent danger shouldn't he stop protecting her from Tang Ki-Se. His motives are not all selfish.
i wonder if koala actually did watch ep 13 and 14. TH said his reasons to keep her in the palace is not for his sake but for her sake and to protect her.
Thank you for a nicely written review! I share your sentiment on the main characters. Like you, I love WY and SY being equal in intelligence and courage.
Likewise, I am getting impatient with the character TH. He is too self-centered and too narrow in his worldview. At the moment, his world enlarges a little bit since he has SN in his world. Although many fans consider his obsessions for SN romantic, it appears somewhat pathetic to me. He does not know how to relate to other people so that SN is all he has! If you ask me, I think it is quite unhealthy. Despite my dislike of the character TH, I agreed with your wholeheartedly that JJM is wonderful playing TH!
Again, thank you for a wonderful review!
The problem with TH is that there is no character development at all, and we're 14 episodes in! He is definitely a character with a distinct personality and better than being your token second male lead who is perfect and bland. I don't mind him being self-absorbed since who is going to teach him otherwise, but I fail to see any growth in him since he was introduced and yet he went through a lot and I expect more and have gotten bupkus from him. I don't mind of SN likes him back at some point since if she's going to marry him might as well have some love in there. But at the rate its going, her marrying him would be like him marrying the stand in for his mom what with his overwhelming need to be loved and cared for.
Yes, I agreed with you completely! At this point, I do not see TH has the quality to deserve SN in any way (i.e. intelligence and courage. Well, he does not even try to learn how to read). Their marriage feels like a way for SN to gain political impact.
Empress Ki is so magical to me. I mean, the scenarios, the costumes, the OTP chemistry (one look and sparks fly), the MUSIC!!! Empress Ki is the perfect example of how much the music helps, if its bad it kills the mood but if its glorious, like here, it brings intensity. Also the OST is wonderful. JYJ's Junsu did an explendid job with “I Love You" his voice is one of the best voices in Korea add it that his fort are ballads.
Yeah it gets tedious with Ta Hwan but I'm still enjoying it.
I've been enjoying every episode! Because it's so long, I don't expect every episode to be exciting, but I am, liking all the TH/SN scenes. Yep I'm on the TH/SN ship:-) They're chemistry is so powerful.
I think Empress Ki is one of the rare dramas with good ensemble cast performances (i'm gladly put last year Nice Guy and TK2H in this list).the main actors are very good,and the supporting actors complete it.good job for the casting department.*speaking of the supporting actors,i find myself craving for Jin Yi Han scene in every episode.This guy is hot. I hope there'll be more character development for him.
Ummm.. what you said about TH lied to sungnyang that WY is dead----> he never lied, he himself came to know about that from his eunuch, so how is it lying?
Also, i don't think TH think he is in love with her and wants her to love her back, i think he only wants her to be his friend as of now(maybe later he'll start to realize he loves her).
They are many who are annoyed with TH, i personally find his character interesting, i'm not really rooting for TH-SN because i just feel that she'll somehow always love WY only, but i like TH as a character more and i'm interested to see how things will turn out for him.
I agree. The Emperor still doesn't know that he loves her. He met her outside of all palace restrictions and she became the one person in the world he trusts. He is under constant pressure from the political manipulators, be it his father-in-law, his wife, his mother, he knows he's powerless, he's wracking his brain how to change his situation and the one sane person around him next to his eunuch is SN. I totally get his absolute need for her.
I like JJM and the manly King he plays, but I fear, that in the long run his part will lose to the Emperor, because we will be able to see so much development in Ta Hwan and the King is in danger to become a little boringly upright. I hope I'm wrong, but the Emperor's character is so far much more intriguing and I enjoy Ji Chang-Wook's performance immensely.
Oh wow, thank you for that comment!
i was genuinely starting to get depressed from all the bashing that TH was getting, but your comment and the similarity in thought has cheered me up immensely.
i really do hope that TH gets his fair chance with SN... I know its asking for too much for them to be together in the end but at least make the journey there enjoyable and satisfying!
i loved WY and SY in the beginning. but i don't know why, WY has started to get kinda boring in his attitude. i miss the him who would smile and have banter with SY. that was when i started to get conflicted between the two guys... but now my ship in sailing towards The Emperor.
And was it just me who got pissed of with the constant glares SY would give TH... a little affection soon, please!
The TS/WY first scenes looked so couply. That's what made it random then her only looking at him during the banquet when an episode ago she was crying for TH's attention. What a nasty piece of work that one lol More reason for her to hate her dad. He married her too quick so she is forever link to only one man so whatever her crush on WY is, she should get over it.
I agree about TH needing to focus on something other than SN staying by his side forever. At least, act like you care about your own country. How can SN ever fall for him? That would be so out of character.
Waaah! Finally! Another post on Empress Ki from you!!! Yup, the past episodes have been dull, there has been very little plot movement. The only thing I was looking forward to was for Wang Yoo and Seung Nyang to meet again. Thank goodness for episode 14!!!
I love the scene where they only have eyes for each other. :D
Right now, I just couldn't sympathize with any character from Yuan, yes, including TH. Not fine watching WY, SN and the rest of the Goryo men not living their lives FREELY due to the mess the Yuan characters made.