just me yelling into the void

Just thinking about all the times that Dongfang Qingcang and Xiao Lanhua tried to out-care and out-sacrifice for each other is giving me MAJOR whiplash.

DFQC: To help my people accept you as my queen, I will take on the Bone-eating Spikes. Suffering hours are midnight till dawn every night for an unspecified amount of time.

XLH: To prove that I deserve to stay by your side as your queen, I’ll stay in the Fuju cave for three days. I know you said in its whole history, only you made it out alive, but… no worries, I got this. :)

DFQC: Fine, I’ll allow this, but ONLY because I want to respect your choices and show that you’re my equal in this relationship. That’s the only reason why I would even consider this.

XLH: Thank you. Now…drink this substance so that you won’t feel any of the pain with me. I’ll suffer like hell for three days BY MYSELF, you hear?

DFQC: You fool, I’ll never drink this. *spits gracefully* I’m going to feel all the suffering with you because we gonna be hubby and wifey. xoxo

XLH: Aww… okay then let’s get married ASAP before the big war because I want to officially be your wife and go through all your tribulations with you too ❤️

DFQC: Fuk… but the Bone Orchid is slowly killing you. But it’s okay, I’ll just kill my own heart by acting like I played you and make you hate me and stop loving me. I’ll make a pact with the literal god of all evil instead to free my 100,000 soldiers. You’re free to go now, stay safe fam.

XLH: You fool, but I never stopped loving you. I’m going to stab myself with this sword instead to free you from our curse and save all your friends. Boom. Ttyl.

DFQC: Fine. I’ll just raise your spirit seed until you literally resurrect into a goddess. I’ve done this before (taken care of you and nursed you back to health) so I’m basically an orchid expert now.

XLH: Fine, but when I come back, I’ll pretend I don’t remember you so that I can protect you from the fact that I’ll sacrifice myself again, to kill the evil god.

DFQC: Yeah but I figured out what you’re trying to do. So I decided I’m going to literally change your entire destiny because ily. *kisses then vanishes*

XLH: But when the evil god is consuming you and all of the realms’ immortals and armies need to use all their power to hold you back, I’m going to walk towards you by myself because I can 100% take care of this sacrifice on my own, thanks tho!

DFQC: No no, we’re good. I already trapped him in my Heart Sea. Can you just help me out a little bit by killing me so that I can get rid of this bane of existence for you?

XLH: But… it’s my destiny to save the world…

DFQC: But it’s my destiny to save you.

Been really enjoying this series despite the sub-par CGI (but I’ve watched enough Korean content to know that their CGI is not great so I’ve accepted it).

Perhaps this was common knowledge already (I don’t read Korean entertainment news, so I don’t know), but the allegory of the “rape of Korea” through the symbolism of the creature has been interesting to think about. In the drama, the creature is created when a Japanese scientist forces Joseon women to consume/drink the Najin—a tiny, white organism (not unlike sperm/semen)—causing them to mutate into a terrifying, vicious creature that indiscriminately kills everyone and sucks out their brains.

The creature seems to symbolize the Korean idea of “Han”/한. “Han”/한 is a concept in Korean culture, when a group or an individual has internalized trauma, sorrow, resentment, and anger from unresolved injustice, brewing for generations without resolution or a chance for one to be at peace. It’s akin to the idea of vengeance—or the deep-seated angst that compels someone towards revenge/vengeance. The concept of “Han”/한 is said to have come about during the Japanese occupation period, so it seems that the creature is a symbol of how this deeply internalized resentment and anger of feeling wronged and taken advantage of can completely mutate a person towards vengeful, bloody hatred.

I’ve read that mentioning past Japanese atrocities can get Korean actors/actresses black-listed by the Japanese government and market, and I also heard that the two leads in this drama were fully prepared for that. I had wondered why they would be willing to risk so much for a fantasy drama, but now I’m starting to realize that it might be because they believed this was an important story to tell. (I haven’t watched any interviews or anything by the drama leads so I’m speculating…). Though the creature in the drama is a fantasy, the horrible things that people did to one another during the occupation period depicted in the show are largely true. And now with the added allegory/symbolism of the creature as the “Han”/한 of the Korean people, I’m very much convinced that this drama offers much more than meets the eye.

Regardless of the political messaging, it’s a really well-made show with an ensemble cast. I’m also so impressed by the all-Korean cast learning to act in Japanese so fluently. The show is very interesting, well-acted, and Park Seo-Joon as the male lead inserts just the right amount of levity to make it entertaining but without drawing attention away from the deeper message of the film.

Rant: I admit that my sample size for this is very small (five dramas) compared to all the content out there, but just based on the Chinese period dramas Unchained Love and Love is an Accident, what is with these female leads??? Like, okay, you can trend away from stereotypical female leads if you want, but make it make sense. Usually, for romantic dramas, you want the couple to feel equal in terms of ability or respectability so that it feels like they’re truly made for each other… but in both of those dramas, the female leads are annoying, come up with the stupidest ideas, and get themselves or the male lead into trouble by being so selfish. And yet, the handsomest, richest, most powerful man is falling for…her??? Like please, be serious.

On the contrary, one of the reasons why I enjoyed The Sword and the Brocade, Love Between Fairy and Devil, and Miss the Dragon were because those female leads were actually on the same level as their male leads. In The Sword and the Brocade, Yi Niang was a bit of a know-it-all, but she was smart, loyal, and brave. In Love Between Fairy and Devil, Xiao Lan Hua was annoying in the first half, but she ends up being sacrificial and willing to endure pain for her lover. And in Miss the Dragon, Liu Ying eventually reincarnates into a badass lady boss. Like, these women actually matched their male leads and were interesting and cool. Their arcs showed growth, some kind of charm and depth to their identities, and actual evidence of why these perfect male leads would fall for them and risk their lives for them.

But in Unchained Love and Love is an Accident, the female leads offer literally nothing but stupidity and annoyance. They’re not even good comic relief because it’s excruciating to watch their half-baked plans fail. When the male lead starts to become attracted to them and soft towards them, I’m like ????? Really dude? That does it for you? Like, what is the deal with these frustrating female leads? Give me a middle-class female lead who’s unimpressed by wealth and causes the male lead to change. Give me a cunning female lead who has her defenses up due to hardships she endured but has a change of heart due to the male lead’s gentleness. Give me an enemy tribe leader female lead who can beat up the male lead but finds him amusing and lets him live then eventually is charmed by his honesty and sincerity. If you don’t want a stereotypically helpless or overly feminine female lead, there are literally hundreds of other ways to do it without the idiotic, charmless, selfish brats that we’re supposed to believe made these powerful lords fall deeply in love.

Is it a trend now in period pieces to have this kind of female lead? Like an anti-hero kind of thing? So annoying and honestly, ruins the drama. I watched Unchained Love because I really liked Dylan Wang’s other dramas and Love is an Accident because of Xu Kaicheng, but I literally had to fast-forward all the parts with the female leads because I couldn’t stand them. I don’t think I even finished either of them—does it get any better? I didn’t even hang around long enough to find out.

*A Love So Beautiful spoilers*

On Ep. 9 and was SO sad when Daesung felt like he had to say his confession was a joke so that Sol-i wouldn’t feel pressured 😢😢😢

*Is She The Wolf spoilers*

I just finished watching the Netflix US release of Is She the Wolf!! I loved it and found it so much fun to watch. If it was acting doubly as a tourism promotion, it 100% worked because it made me want to see all those amazing sites and just go on a date in Japan???

But for me, the biggest delight was Masaki’s arc! He was kind of a dark horse, starting off the show as a blonde-haired foil/light-hearted rival to Who-ya. But can we just appreciate that he’s got such fun, amazing best friend energy?! He accompanies Honoka to Taiju’s sparring practice, intentionally makes space for them to talk, and seems to cheer her on afterwards; he listens to Julie’s love troubles about feeling one-sided with Robin; he gets tickets to see Taiju’s match and brings Gabby and Sakurako along to hype him up; he straight up pulls Robin aside and asks him with that younger brother energy, “hey bro, what’s going on” when they go on that triple date with Mikako; he happily agrees to go with Julie to the photo location knowing her heart is probably still set on Robin; he hugs Tomoki and tries to cheer him up at the very end when Tomoki becomes really overwhelmed… just so many instances where Masaki has big, goofy, lovable BFF energy with everyone on the cast?? (Umm, just being a total Sagittarius??) I love it so much 😂

Watching the show, I was totally drawn to him. Even while out on two v. one or even three v. one dates with other guys competing for Mikako’s feelings, he asserts himself in his own cool way that is polite and fun and totally charismatic. I was like, I would die to go on a date with this man—he seems so fun and silly and safe and sweet (and of course, so hot). Him and Robin hyping each other up and building on each other’s jokes and energy cracked me up each time.

This was just a total Masaki Nakao appreciation post—Masaki is a “everyone’s bestie” type of guy, and it’s true, if I liked him romantically, I could see that being potentially maddening (some girls could take it as flirting with other girls) but tbh, he just seems like a really good guy (as Julie realized too). I would also love if my man were someone who takes care of other people and feels safe to everyone, his guy and girl friends alike. Masaki totally comes off as an amazing friend who seems really fun and doesn’t try to take the spotlight from anyone.

I also appreciate him saying in one of the episodes that he hadn’t put as much effort into selling himself to people as maybe he should, and it’s because he noticed that he started distancing himself from people and just doing what’s necessary to maintain the relationship. He’s got great insight about himself, is so honest about it, is willing to talk about that, and still fully has fun and makes things fun for others (again, confirming more Sagittarius qualities). It makes him more endearing, this light-hearted, fun-loving cool dude sharing deep insights about himself.

I’ve seen his drama/movies, and I feel like other than “Kabe-koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to Be Recognized,” they really miss out on that golden retriever energy part of his vibe! Maybe it comes out more in his stage work and as Naruto (which I haven’t had a chance to see), but it’s a huge charm that I didn’t get to know until this show. Loved him in this, and I hope it makes his popularity shoot up even more!

Not a single soul:

So I just re-watched Episodes 28-32 (because I guess I like getting my heart stabbed multiple times by a searing white-hot knife) and realized…

1. The three days when XLH was in the Fuju cave were after DFQC received the nine Bone-eating Spikes, so you’re tell me there were three nights when our Moon Supreme DFQC was experiencing BOTH the Fuju Cave torture AND the nine spikes piercing his organs/ants eating his flesh/bones being cut off…SIMULTANEOUSLY??? How is this man still alive/functioning??? LET THE MAN HAVE HIS WOMAN because if THIS doesn’t earn the right then literally NOTHING does

2. Omg… *cries* so Orchid dissolves from his arms when she dies from the sword, right? But then *sob* in his dream when he finally admits to himself that he knew it was a dream and tells his dream-Orchid that he has to leave, his dream-Orchid dissolves in his arms, too… *heaving* He created the dream to experience happiness with her, but instead, it’s like he loses her TWICE *hysterical wailing* why did he do that to himself 😭😭😭 why is this so effing sadddd 😫

I know I’m late to the game, but I just finished the series and… IT’S SO GOOD. Epically good. Devastatingly good. Moon Supreme good.

Just some things I need to shout into the void:

1. BUT WHY IS DONGFANG QINGCANG’S REAL BODY / MOON BONE SO CUUUUUTE STAAAAPH

2. DON’T MIND ME, JUST LISTENING TO “诀爱 (Farewell Love)” by Faye ON REPEAT SO THAT I CAN HURT MYSELF ALL OVER AGAIN.

1. Okay but if he isn’t so traumatized by your death that he creates a dreamscape of being perfectly in love with, married to, and adorable with you for 500 years that is sustained by the life force of his own primordial spirit, does he really love you?

2. You - saw in a mirror that you would marry her in the mortal realm and so jumped in, became a rowdy, carefree playboy, exposed her identity with 500 paintings around the realm, had a set-up wedding, and ended up dying for another woman.

I - protected her from all the immortals’ attacks while already weakened by an evil spirit, literally let myself get hammered with nine Bone-eating spikes and suffer pain every night, relived the pain of my childhood by choosing to feel all her suffering of the Fuju cave with her for three days, and was willing to change entire ancient ancestral laws in my nation to marry her.

1. Mix = boyfriend material. Good looking and popular in the entertainment industry and still going to school to be a veterinarian? A man who won’t coast but will continue to study and pursue his dreams? Top shelf.

2. Mix saying in one episode of EMS that he’s the more logical, rational one and Earth is the emotional, artistic one when LITERALLY in all their roles together, Earth plays the stoic, tough guy and Mix’s character has all the emotional intelligence in the relationship 😂

3. Mix is lowkey a little chonky (mid-section and thighs) and it’s 10000% adorable.

4. EARTH IS BIG HIMBOOOOO and no one can convince me otherwise 😂 (reference: every episode of EMS)

DIS THE FOXIEST FOX SHIT THAT A FOX EVER DID FOX LIKE HOW CAN I JUST GO ON WITH MY LIFE NOW KNOWING HE’S GONNA BE GONE FROM THE PUBLIC EYE?????

He literally was like, “don’t forget about me 😉” and made it completely impossible to forget about him.

I offer myself as a willing and enthusiastic victim of this foxy-ass foxiness.

Like, I kind of wish it had been a whale or sea animal analogy, like a testament to how much he’s learned from her or related to the whale theme of the show or something. I’ll even take a general sea reference!

What if it was something like…

Junho: “Loving you is like the shore loving the sea. The sea always ebbs and flows to its own rhythm while the shore stays in its place, unable to get any closer or further than what the sea determines. Even if the shore wants to be closer, it must always wait for the sea to draw closer on its own.”

Youngwoo: “But the shore supports the sea. Without the strength of the steady shore, the sea would constantly be moving and tumultuous. It would have no resting place. It’s because of the shore that the sea knows calm and peace. To me, you are my shore.”

1. Throughout their first couple of dates, YW keeps learning how she has been making JH feel lonely already. Her tendency to leave/hang up after she’s fulfilled her objective, her focusing only on picking up garbage during their jogging date, her focusing only on a game for three hours during their arcade date… Not to mention all the times she’s had an epiphany mid-conversation with him and run off, leaving him confusedly chasing after her. As Attorney Jung’s ex-wife Jisoo’s words resonate with YW, she realizes that she’s already been making JH feel lonely or leaving him by himself, so early on in their relationship.

2. YW also recognizes that JH is very kind. She most likely doesn’t know exactly how sacrificial, patient, and understanding he’s been, but the fact that she feels taken care of by JH shows that she knows it to some extent. Because JH is kind, she most likely knows that if she tells him the real reason why she feels like they shouldn’t date—her feeling like she won’t be able to love/care for him in the way he needs and will leave him lonely in their relationship—he will most likely try to take care of that himself, too. He might say it’s all okay or that he’ll try harder or that he doesn’t mind that much—essentially becoming completely sacrificial again and maybe even denying his own needs/wants or feeling like he can’t bring up his needs/wants without making her feel guilty so he doesn’t. We all know how that goes in a relationship. YW most likely knows that if she tells him the truth, he will try to take on that burden himself, too, which is exactly the opposite of what she wants.

3. But at the same time, YW can’t lie. It’s fundamentally against her nature to lie and most likely even more so to someone she likes/cares about. So she feels like she can’t tell JH the truth (see #2) and she also can’t lie, so the only option is to just say they can’t be together and leave it at that. She could’ve explained, before walking away with her epiphany, but she doesn’t. She only says sorry, bows, and leaves. It’s the best way to not tell him the truth but also not lie and give a made-up reason.

So this scene could only have gone this way, with the lack of communication that is so frustrating to all of us 😭😭😭 But actually, this scene stays faithful to both characters’ understanding of each other. Except for JH thinking she wants to break up because of Attorney Jung’s illness or the lack of dolphin sightings, lol I have no explanation for this other than the drama writers maybe want that epiphany to dawn on JH another way, perhaps directly through YW voicing it, without JH figuring it out and trying to take care of it himself (like he would). Usually JH is very good at piecing things together and being intuitive about what people are really trying to say, so this lapse might be the writer’s just trying to save that revelation for another, more powerful scene later (just a guess).