iaria

+ Wow. I really wasn't expecting Yi Heon's death. It's only half way through the show! I figured he'd be much more an antagonist for Ha Sun and even more I was hoping that he could eventually find his way back to who he'd been. It was a great shocking twist moment and in itself was really well done in both the lead up and execution of the scene (and of the character, points to Minister Lee/Haksan for killing him with the same method you did his brother).

But all the same I think in the long run I'm disappointed in the choice. I wanted more of Yi Heon. Specifically I wanted him to start to find his way back to who he had been and then for the show to deal with the consequences of that. I wanted more Yi Heon and Ha Sun especially if the power was tilted the other way. I wanted So-woon to learn the doppelganger truth and have that moment of wtf with the two of them and then have to grapple with the truth. In general Yi Heon surviving opens the door to so much potential drama and I wanted it.

+ Everything about Yi Heon, and of Yi Heon and Haksan, was sad, sad, sad. Well done show, but ye gods that was depressing. Getting Yi Heon's side of their relationship with him telling Haksan he forced him to submit so he wouldn't abandon him (...yeah) and that he wished Haksan had been his father made it all worse because in the end the love Haksan had for his king was returned. The gentleness he showed to Yi Heon as he killed him - ouch.

+ Yi Heon was in such a bad place this episode and despite all his wrongs all I felt was sadness and pity for him. The show throwing in a tidbit more of his past, in this case the sadness of his childhood, only made that worse. But I think how delusional and really not aware he was of what was happening around him that really solidified it. I found his final months and ultimate end sad.

+ Haksan forced into a corner where he felt the need to kill his king in order to assure the kingdom would have the bright future they dreamed for it feels rather tragically poetic.

+ The final beach scene was really well done.

+ Poor Moo-young breaking down into tears at Yi Heon's - everything.

+ Between Haksan promising Yi Heon he would die for him, him being the one to actually kill the king and the reveal that Haksan was the one who carried out the murder of poor little Yul (!) he has death marks all over him. Which makes me sad because I like him a lot (despite the child murder) but if he survives this show I'll be shocked.

+ The Dowager Queen is finally making an active move in the fight against the king but alas I can't support her because it's Ha-Sun, now and forever. With the reveal of Haksan as her son's murderer maybe she'll get to kill him, and I'd kind of support her in that, but I hope not all the same.

+ Maybe the Dowager-Queen could fail her scheme and just go for stabbing the king in the end, and Haksan will take the blow - Haksan will get to save his king/save the bright future/die for the king/be punished for his crimes and she will finally get her vengeance filled in the only way she can now. I would find that a satisfying end.

+ I loved Eunuch Jo's overjoyed reaction to Ha Sun's return to the point he reached out to grasp his hand. I loved even more how very obvious it was that Ha Sun was his king and how that contrasted with Moo-young who saved Ha Sun and brought him back but was still loyal to Yi Heon as his king and even Haksan who still felt his loyalty but chose to exchange it

+ Honestly I should have see Yi Heon's death coming the moment Minister Lee gave his loyalty to Ha Sun. Once committed Haksan commits and is willing to do anything for his chosen king.

+ So-woon recovered from the weird and scary interlude of Yi Heon's return surprising easily and with very little effort on Ha Sun's part.

+ Some ~Theories~

A. I think the earlier rebellion was caused by Minister Shin and when it failed he used Gil-nam and his group as the fall guys.

B. During the rebellion the crown prince was targeted and this is the start of his descent into paranoia. His injury lead to him taking drugs for the pain and possibly nightmares afterwards which gave Court Lady Kim and Minister Shin the edge in to start drugging him seriously.

C. Possibly Minister Lee saved Yi Heon when he was stabbed but definitely Yi Heon saved Minister Lee from the chopping block which led to their entangled loyalty.

D. Ha Sun's one line mention of wishing that he remembered his mother makes me wonder if he's a long lost twin rather than simply a doppelganger.