First: over at Dramabeans it looks like HeadsNo2 will be taking on the task of recapping this show in addition to Shark (which is finally getting really good.)
Second: I've had a really, really bad day at work so I'm going to see if I can come up with a Blade and the Petal Drinking Game. Remember kids, as I always say, don't drink and blog.
After the Great Pillow Fight, General Yeon Gaesonum is the only one left in the hall. His son, Yeon Chung stops by to... comfort him? Go "Neener neener"? Rest his feet for a bit? Who knows. They're just sitting there saying nothing to each other when Princess Moo Young comes in.
[Drink until somebody says something]
Eventually Chung explains (also known as lying) that he was just there to pay his respects since he's new to the place. Moo Young warns her bodyguard not to be hanging around such riffraff.
The new Prime Minister (is that the new Prime Minister? I don't know, I wasn't paying attention.) announces to the court that there's an important festival coming up and on the last day of it there will be all sorts of great entertainers. (Because who wants to talk about running the country when the circus is coming to town!)
The king talks about installing the crown prince. Gaesomun's cronies bitch and complain about things. Gaesomun simply stares.
[Drink.]
Moo Young hears Chung is heading into town and she asks him to get her a book. He picks it up for her but as he's starting to walk away someone bumps into him. Three times at three different angles. Odd music starts to play.
[Drink.]
It's the kind of music you expect from a Western when they're about to have a shoot out in the dusty street, so
[Drink again.]
The two men swirl around to face each other. The new guy has an earring, really dark circles under his eyes, Elvis sideburns and a mohawk.
[Drink.]
I'm still expecting to see tumbleweeds blowing by. Anyway, Elvis-chan simply nods to Chung and keeps on walking. Chung looks kind of befuddled and for once I don't blame him. Just then his PR/manager/agent guy comes up to congratulate Chung on becoming a palace guard and insists on taking Chung out for a drink.
Later that night Elvis-chan meets with one of Gaesoman's cronies to report that everything is ready. They've got something planned for the festival and it ain't a juggling act. Or maybe it is. Who knows. Chung just happens to overhear part of this conversation and sees the crony that Elvis-chan is talking to. What he doesn't hear is the part where the crony explains the tradition of the prince and princess dressing up as commoners to mingle amongst the unwashed masses. That's when Elvis-chan is ordered to eliminate them.
The next day Moo Young nags her young brother (played by Lee Min Ho. No, not that Lee Min Ho, the other Lee Min Ho.) to sharpen up his martial arts skills. The prince is like, "I don't wanna!" Tired of all the whining, Yeon Chung threatens to burn all the prince's paintings unless the brat shows up for practice.
The prince and the pauper bond over a book.
That evening Moo Young and the prince hit the crowded streets with their bodyguard. Chung once again spots Elvis-chan (who can kill innocent chickens with his deadly flute) and gets the willies. (Is that Park Joo Hyung playing Elvis-chan? I can't say for sure.) Elvis-chan goes to the upper floor of a building where he can get a better look at the prince and princess.
Chung's party have stopped for a breather when suddenly a gisaeng dashes out to drag the prince inside. Moo Young just smiles, so glad her younger brother is about to get laid.
Also in the crowd is one of Gaesomun's bodyguards. Gaesomun has sent him to personally deliver a letter to Chung. Also also in the crowd is Cousin Jang. He notices Gaesomun's man and so decides to follow.
The prince gets cold feet and ducks out on the gisaeng. His virginity is saved!
[Drink.]
As the prince is waving to his sister (who is all of ten feet away from him), upstairs Elvis-chan loads his flute with a deadly dart and starts to take aim. At that moment an extra wanders in and blocks the clear shot of the prince, so Elvis-chan turns his attention to Moo Young. (More and more I think that is Park Joo Hyung.) Elvis-chan takes a deep breath and... ah dangit, Chung steps in the way. See, this is why you shouldn't hesitate. He could have gotten a clean shot of her while she was doing her Miss America wave, but he just had to wait.
The prince, sensing his sister and Chung would like some alone time, makes his excuses to retire early. Elvis-chan takes another deep breath and blows only to be blocked once again this time by someone's box of goods. I'm quickly losing respect for you, Kenji.
Oh dear Lord, it's the horrible music from Episode 1.
[Drink and hit the mute button.]
Moo Young stops to hear a poetry slam. Whatever it takes to stop that music. A street kid steals Chung's sword. A more bearable love song plays as Chung and Moo Young chase the little scamp. Turns out the kid was hired by Gaesomun's man (or G-Man for short). G-Man returns the sword to Chung. Chung recognizes his father's man and is rattled.
Jang sees this exchange and turns his suspicions now on Chung.
Thinking he's alone, Chung finds his father's letter hidden on the scabbard. Gaesomun warns his son not to be hanging around such riffraff. Jang watches from afar as Chung burns the letter. The fire goes out before the job is complete so Jang is able to retrieve a portion of the missive.
The next day the prince and Chung practice their sword fighting. Cousin Jang stops by to watch and there's something familiar about Chung's fighting style. It almost reminds him of that masked guy Jang fought with in Episode 1.
A garage door opens to allow the king and his family to enter the grand hall for an evening's entertainment. Chung makes eyes at his father. Gaesomun just stares into the abyss.
[Drink.]
Elvis-chan is going to be one of the performers. He's got white makeup on but still has those gigantic dark circles under his eyes. Dude, what exactly is wrong with you? Do you have scurvy? You need to see a doctor right away.
The garage door opens again, this time for the prince and an extra to put on a display of what little sword fighting skills the prince has.
Next up is kabuki theater. Oy! Chung is keeping his eye on his father's crony. The play has a message. It's about two wives who can't get along (the king and Gaesomun.) Their house (Goguryeo) is attacked by a robber (the Tang.) The wives must work together to oust the robber. Gaesomun and the king almost share a smile.
Unable to hold it any longer, the crony steps forward to whisper in Gaesomun's ear about the plan he's set in motion without his boss's approval. Gaesomun stares.
[Drink.]
Elvis-chan fills his flute with a powdery substance. Dressed as a raven it's almost his cue to appear before the royal audience.
Gaesomun looks to the king. Just when they were about to reach an accord of sorts. Will he do anything to stop Elvis-chan?
The ravens drop in from the ceiling ala Cirque du Soleil style. Ah, Elvis-chan eyes the soup bowls in front of the guests. Is he planning to blow his poison into their food? Whatever he is planning to do he's taking his own sweet time about it. Perhaps because it's taking an awful long time for Chung to realize the prince and princess are in danger.
Elvis-chan, still hanging from the ceiling, finally blows his flute towards the bowls. Chung leaps over everyone's heads, his sword deflecting the poison pellets. Chung grabs one of the ribbons so he and Elvis-chan can do their own sky dance. The king scolds Chung for interrupting the performance.
[Drink until somebody says something.]
Not wanting to rat his father out, Chung apologizes for being such a country bumpkin and not understanding the performance, thinking the prince and princess were in danger. Moo Young and her brother come to Chung's defense. The king is all set to forgive Chung when Jang makes his move.
Using his sword, Jang make a cut in Chung's sleeve, exposing the scar from the wound he got when they fought. Jang names Chung as the man who killed the lone witness to the attack on the prince and princess from Episode 1. Chung doesn't even try to defend himself on that count although he repeatedly denies being in the hire of Yeon Gaesomun. Gaesomun says nothing.
[Drink.]
Chung admits to being the son of Gaesomun but not working as a spy for the general. Chung is sentenced to be executed. The king asks the general what do you think of them apples? Gasomun finally speaks up asking where's the evidence Chung was ever a spy? Sad violin music plays as Gasomun gives with one hand (publicly claiming Chung is his son) and takes with the other (Chung is a bastard and not worth his time or attention.) The king still plans to have Chung executed for being a spy.
Say, whatever happened to Elvis-chan?
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