The Moon That Embraces the Sun, episodes 1 to 3
My dear boy, you are in for a WORLD of second lead pain.
I don’t have a lot of thoughts on the first three episodes that wouldn’t already mirror my usual diatribe with sageuks (the kid versions are so much fun; everything is shot so beautifully; there are so many quirky, light moments that will be quashed to DEATH after everyone perishes for the sake of conflict; the hanboks all make me weep), so here’s a bullet-point list of random thoughts:
- I LOVE Yeo Jin-goo, who plays the younger version of Kim Soo-hyun’s fictional Joseon king. Yeo is the younger version of a lot of people in sageuks and I just wuv him. He’s the perfect mix of light and heavy — he’s such a kid, mischievous and playful, but also can do quite well with scenes that are heavier. I can’t wait to watch him grow and do more awesome things. And also, it’s amazing how much losing your baby fat does to you. Dude used to look like this in Antique Bakery. What the frack? NOPE, not perving on a ’97er.
- HOW TRAGIC IS YANG-MYUNG? I can’t even begin to describe how painful it is to watch his scenes and we’re barely scratching at anything yet. It’s actually surprising to me how the writers are writing the Yang-myung character because he has, by all means, the makings of a hero: neglected because of birthright and just an all-around good person, but somehow he’s not the main character. And the way the show’s going, he’s more layered than Hwon, our main character, and he’s being built up in a way that definitely tugs at viewer’s heartstrings. So I dunno what they’re doing with this character. Second lead billing automatically means he won’t get the girl and that something tragic will happen to him at the end, but then again, I would argue that Jung Il-woo, who plays the adult Yang-myung, has just as much star power as Kim Soo-hyun, and that makes it not so easy to guess what’ll happen to Yang-myung.
All in all though, it’s actually making me fidget because I just decided Yang-myung is a little too perfect and too tragic, and therefore possibly a second lead Mary Sue. Sigh. Not only is he the bastard child who can’t be recognized by the dynasty, he’s loved Heo Yeon-woo since who knows when, wants to marry her, she’s his ONLY wish to his the king, ANNNNNND she only has eyes for Hwon.
AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING ELSE? The actor who plays young Yang-myung is named Lee Min-ho: so not only is his character tragic, the dude SHARES HIS NAME WITH SOMEONE ELSE, an actor he won’t ever eclipse. Dude, this guy, can we get him some chocolate or something?
- How ridiculously cute is it that Yeo Jin-goo and Kim Yoo-jung played first loves in a sageuk when they were even more wee (in Iljimae)? And now they’re all growed up! SO CUTE.
Amy Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Yeah, I saw a cap of them together, but there’s a huge age difference between them and while it’s sort of easy to overlook in this drama, I imagine it would’ve been kinda weird to watch back when they were doing Gumiho…
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munkie Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
hah. i actually still find it awkward to watch them in moon/sun because she’s still a child, whereas i don’t consider him to be one. on another note, i’m getting such a kim soo hyun vibe from jin gu, which i’ve never noticed before.
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Amy Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
Yeah he is definitely this close to being an adult, whereas she is still…very much a baby haha. Feel a little pervy watching them buuuuuut that’s okay. Oh Yang-myung, my heart bleeds for you.
YEAH! Now that you mention it, I definitely see what you mean. Oh Jin-goo, can’t wait to watch him grow up. Yoo Seung-ho 2.0.
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