Temptation Episode 13

Now that he's found her prescription meds, Suk Hoon is worried about Se Young's health.

 

Min Woo and Hong Joo have barely gotten back from their honeymoon when Mama Im starts hounding them about having a child. This is when Hong Joo drops the bombshell on them that she's unable to have children. (Min Woo already has four kids. I think they should be talking about vasectomies instead.)

 

Mama Im continues to fuss at Hong Joo. The newlywed should stop doing housework and start being lazy like all the other Real Housewives of Seoul. Hong Joo breaks down and signs the pre nup agreement.

 

Natuur Pop Ice Cream continues to get shoved down our throats.

 

Se Young (wearing a really gaudy jacket) still has some collateral and contacts. She plans to start anew in the hotel business. She's unaware Min Woo is still shadowing her moves and plotting her downfall.

 

 

Under Mama Im's orders, Hong Joo is out shopping for expensive clothes. She doesn't realize she's at the department store Ji Sun got from the divorce settlement. I don't like Ji Sun's dress. Gaudy must be the fashion trend for Fall in Korea. Anyway, Ji Sun announces her plans to get custody of her two oldest children. She asks Hong Joo to help by persuading Min Woo into letting his daughters go. Hong Joo refuses to get involved. (This is the second time you've sought an ally, Ji Sun, and the second time you've been turned down flat. You need to rethink your strategy.)

 

Despite their hostile encounter from last time, Hong Gyu asks for his ex-brother-in-law to join him for a talk. After asking for advice about what to do with Se Jin, Hong Gyu informs Suk Hoon that is was Min Woo who was behind the scandal being leaked to the world. When Suk Hoon goes to confront the man, at least Min Woo doesn't deny anything. Just to stick the knife in a little further, Min Woo thanks Suk Hoon for Hong Joo; she's such a wonderful wife. (See, if this was an American soap opera, Suk Hoon would have decked Min Woo in the mouth at this point. But this is a Korean soap opera so all Min Woo gets from Suk Hoon is some pocket change as a wedding present.)

 

Se Young and Suk Hoon have their first couples' fight.

 

 

Min Woo is wanting to get some from his new wife when they're interrupted by Yoon Ah, the daughter who hates everything and everyone. Hmm, I'm picking up the vibe that Hong Joo isn't too disappointed with the intrusion.

 

 

Se Young has put in for a large loan to get her business started. Not only does Min Woo get the loan application turned down, he also swoops in and buys the land Se Young was hoping to build her hotel on.

 

Se Young and Suk Hoon have no choice but to go on a camping trip up in the mountains. Suk Hoon wants to ruin the perfectly lovely view by building a hotel here. (Boo, I say. Leave nature alone.)

 

A leopard can't change its spots. Min Woo has been out carousing with other women. Ji Sun makes sure Hong Joo gets the photographic evidence. Again, Min Woo doesn't deny anything. He likes women. Hong Joo should have known this when she married him.

 

The next day Min Woo runs into Daddy Yoo at the golf course. Min Woo tells the old man something but we don't get to hear it. Guess that's for another episode. Whatever it is Min Woo said, Daddy Yoo is so upset he grabs his chest and collapses. Its the big one, Elizabeth!

Temptation Episode 12

 

It's the morning after Se Young invited Suk Hoon up for some "coffee."

 

Over at her place, Hong Joo is thinking back over her acceptance of Min Woo's marriage proposal. (What she should be thinking about is why a rich guy like Min Woo gave her such a teeny tiny diamond engagement ring. Cough up some carats, boy!)

 

Se Young and Suk Hoon try to play it cool at work so no one will suspect they're a couple. That never works. I'm speaking from experience. There is a couple I work with that started their affair back when the man was still married. They were so not discreet. Everybody was talking about them. You can't keep secrets like that from the workplace. But I digress...

 

For friendship's sake, Park Han Soo tells Na Hong Gyu about Min Woo having Suk Hoon and Se Young investigated.

 

 

Se Young's aged father has donned his jacket from the 1970s and come to the office to chew her out over her affair with Suk Hoon. Daddy Yoo threatens to take away Se Young's presidency if she continues her scandalous relationship. 

 

Hong Joo introduces her new man to the family. They are not enthused. Min Woo tells his intended he's got the goods to take down their enemies. Hong Joo says that's the best wedding gift ever.

 

Se Young invites Suk Hoon over to her place for more "coffee." (Is the coffee maker a new sponsor of the show?) He can tell she's worried about something and presses Se Young to share her problems with him.

 

Hong Gyu tries to warn his sister away from Min Woo, only for it to dawn on him that Hong Joo has gotten pretty ruthless herself. Later, Hong Joo meets with her ex in order to give him back his wedding ring, making sure Suk Hoon sees the engagement ring on her hand as she does so.

 

 

Hong Joo just comes right out and tells all about her plans to use Min Woo's wealth to destroy Suk Hoon and Se Young. Suk Hoon has a very valid point when he replies that destroying him isn't going to make Hong Joo any happier. He wishes her well and walks away like a boss. Suk Hoon stops at a trash can, intending to throw the wedding ring away, but in the end he just can't make himself do it.

 

Ji Sun is plotting on getting custody of her two oldest children. She tries to talk Se Young into becoming an ally in the fight against Min Woo. When Se Young turns her down, Ji Sun falls back on the only weapon she has: reminding Se Young she's not a mother. This needles Se Young into going back to see Myung Hwa. I LOL'd at Myung Hwa jubilantly congratulating Se Young on finally getting laid.

 

Daddy Yoo isn't backing down with his plan to remove Se Young from power.

 

Mama Im tries to get Hong Joo to sign a prenuptial agreement. Hong Joo storms out as politely as she can.

 

 

Hong Joo's wedding day is the same as the emergency board meeting Daddy Yoo has called together. Is this not the most miserable bride you've ever seen? Min Woo tries to cheer her up by telling Hong Joo her worst enemies will be facing hellfire today. He's put it out on the internet all about Se Young's affair with a married man. (If its on the Internet it must be true.)

 

Se Young is voted out of her job. In solidarity, Suk Hoon quits his job.

 

We don't get to see the ceremony but Hong Joo and Min Woo are now married. (HJ, your first order of business as a wife is to burn all of Min Woo's clothes. He's back to wearing a hideous paisley shirt.)

 

The episode ends with Suk Hoon discovering a bottle of medicine at Se Young's apartment, but the subtitles didn't tell me what the pills were. Argh!



Temptation Episode 11

The episode begins again at the party right when Na Hong Joo came back into the room and was trying to be civil with her ex-husband. Only this time we get to see a little more as Hong Joo goes outside for some fresh air and Suk Hoon follows her. She quickly notices the very expensive watch on his wrist and figures it is a gift from his rich lover. Suk Hoon tries to ask how Daddy Na and Hong Gyu are doing but Hong Joo cuts him off. They are none of his business now.

 

Suk Hoon tells her he had a lot of time in Brazil to think about things. Things like how their marriage was falling apart long before Se Young made her offer in Hong Kong. Hong Joo accuses him of not fighting hard enough for their marriage. (Like you did any fighting!)

 

Up on the balcony, Se Young is watching the couple when Min Woo and his Technicolor blue suit come over to hassle her. He brings up her company's financial straits. She brings up his recent divorce.

 

 

Hong Joo and Se Young run into each other in the ladies' room. Se Young tries to warn the other woman about what kind of a man Kang Min Woo is. While she doesn't say the word "shit," Hong Joo implies Se Young is full of it from breaking up a marriage. Se Young reminds Hong Joo of the incident in HK when Se Young saved the woman's life. Hong Joo cries she would rather have died and gone to hell then rather than be in the hell she's going through now. The kind of hell she hopes Se Young will soon be in.

 

So now we're back to the table scene where Hong Joo outs her rival in front of the other guests. Suk Hoon grabs Se Young's hand and confidently declares he was a married man when Se Young fell for him but his marriage was already over before they became a couple. Min Woo excuses himself from the room and drags Hong Joo out with him.

 

The next day at work, Suk Hoon and his team present their battle plan for the Ice Cream Wars. They're going to start putting the cone on top of the scoop. (Yeah, that's sure to help sales.) Suk Hoon slips his boss a note asking Se Young out for a date this weekend.

 

 

Mama Im continues her matchmaking between Hong Joo and Min Woo. The Show continues its product placement of this new gadget that instantly prints your cell phone pictures. (Back in my day we called that a Polaroid.) Oldest sister Kang Yoon Ah continues to hate everyone and everything.

 

 

Suk Hoon and Se Young are out on their cutesy date when they bump into Na Hong Gyu. Awkwardness all around. Hong Gyu asks the couple if they started dating before or after Suk Hoon's divorce. How dare Suk Hoon be out having fun when Hong Joo's heart is broken. Hot head Hong Gyu goes into the ice cream store where Yoo Se Jin works and breaks up with her. For once I feel sorry for Se Jin. She's innocent in all this and has no idea what the problem is.

 

Han Ji Sun comes for her visitation with the two oldest daughters. I had no idea TGIF was in Korea. Yoon Ah shows her mother the instamatic picture of Min Woo with Hong Joo. Ji Sun goes over to the OB/GYN office to bitch slap Hong Joo. Min Woo isn't officially divorced just yet so Hong Joo better fack the buck off.

 

The Ice Cream Wars are starting to turn in Se Young's favor. Min Woo decides to have Park Han Soo keep tibs on Se Young to find something that can be used against her. Hong Joo calls Min Woo to tattle about Ji Sun. He meets with his not-yet-ex-wife who is demanding a department store in the divorce settlement if he really wants Ji Sun to leave Hong Joo alone.

 

 

Even though Ji Sun just said the divorce isn't final, that doesn't stop Min Woo from popping the question to Hong Joo. She's brutally honest with him. She's doesn't love Min Woo but she is willing to marry him so she can use his money and power to destroy Suk Hoon and Se Young.

 

Elsewhere, Se Young takes the big step of inviting Suk Hoon up to her apartment... for coffee.    

The Night Watchman Episode 5

As Rin continues to relax on his boat out in the middle of the water, the Three Phantoms stand on the shore, yelling out to him to not accept the position over the Zao shrine or to catch cold. Rin ignores them but he has trouble ignoring the two water ghosts who loudly plot to pull him down under the surface so they can play with him. Hmm, its like the Three Phantoms are unable to travel across the water to go to Rin's rescue. (Not that he needs rescuing as Rin incompetently starts to row his boat away from the sprites.)

 

King Ki San has ordered Moo Suk to become Rin's bodyguard. Moo Suk doesn't like being a spy but he's a devoted servant and will do as he's told.

 

Soo Ryun climbs over the wall to escape her house. She promptly runs into her father, Minister Park Soo Jong. Before leaving for her volunteer work at the peasant's clinic, Soo Ryun makes it clear to Dad that she's loved Rin for ten years and her heart's not going to change, so there. (So, what was the purpose of her climbing over the wall?)

 

Rin stops over at the clinic to ask Soo Ryun for some medicine for his headache. (Here's a suggestion, Rin: loosen that headband. Why do the men in these historical dramas wear headbands to bed?) Also showing up at the clinic is Do Ha, who calls Rin a dried up radish and demands her bracelet back. Rin scolds her for not being more respectful of his noble status. Do Ha shoots back she doesn't have time for this nonsense as she needs to prepare for the Shaman Showdown at the temple. Now give her the bracelet back or she'll beat the crap out of you.

 

Rin accuses Do Ha of being a sham and having no spiritual powers. This is when Moo Suk shows up and comes to Do Ha's defense. I hope no patient is dying at this clinic because everyone is too busy arguing with one another. Moo Suk informs the prince he's here to be Rin's bodyguard.

 

Do Ha returns to the inn where she spots the ghost of a gisaeng. The shaman starts to stay something but then shrugs, ain't my problem.

 

Oh good, Sang Hun is back. Darn, he's got a shirt on. With the news of the Zao shrine being rebuilt, Sang Hun has a flashback to when the BiJang/Nightwatchmen soldiers were all slaughtered by the king's soldiers, more than likely under Minister Park's orders. Blaming himself for his comrades' deaths, Sang Hun works out his frustrations with some sword work. Take that, you weeds! Oh no, his physical exertions cause his old chest wound to bleed. Please don't die on me again, GatMan.

 

Rin, accompanied by his unwanted bodyguard, attends as judge at the shaman testing. Even though Do Ha has changed her hairstyle and is wearing local garb, Rin still recognizes her in the crowd. Sadam is also at the tryouts. Moo Suk recognizes Sadam from before. (When Rin and the ghosts were listening in to Ki San and Sadam in the library, I don't believe Rin could see Sadam so the guy is a stranger to the prince.)

 

Rin presents the contestants with a challenge. A man is brought in who has been suffering from a headache for the past TEN YEARS! No medicine has yet been able to cure him, so the headache must be caused by something otherworldly. Whichever shaman can cure the man gets the job at the temple.

 

Do Ha and Sadam are sent in to examine the patient. Both of them can see the ghost of a woman jabbing needles into the suffering man's head. (Hmm, the woman looks familiar.) Sadam reports to the prince that the patient should be arrested for murder. Surprisingly, Do Ha backs the villain up. Rin yells at them both. They were supposed to cure a person, not accuse him of a crime. The prince declares they have both failed the test.

 

Moo Suk is about to throw the couple out when Rin spots the ghost Do Ha had just described. Ah, the woman is familiar. She's Lady Kim and she used to work in the palace back when Rin was an annoying child actor.

 

Everyone goes to dig up her grave. After studying the remains, Moo Suk determines the woman was killed by...  wasp poison? Okay, I'll go with it. Sadam begins to wonder if perhaps Rin can see ghosts. 

 

Now that he's caught, the headache sufferer starts to sing like a bird. He had been paid to kill the woman. Rin demands to know who ordered her assassination. The murderer starts to stutter, "It was... it was... "  Sadam glares at Lady Kim's ghost, casting a spell on her. She rushes to the killer's side and stabs her needle into the side of his head. To everyone else the man simply drops dead.

 

(Some viewers are jumping to the conclusion it was Ki San who ordered Lady Kim's death. I'd like to point out that A) he was just a child at the time, B) why would he want her dead?, and C) Minister Park was the real power behind the throne. If anyone would have ordered her death, it would have been him, not Ki San. Yet the question would still be Why? Why did she need to be killed?)

 

Despite all the spectral drama, Rin fails Do Ha and promotes Sadam. Sadam reports his suspicions to the king about Rin's sixth sense. Ki San and his guard go to confront the prince. The king demands to know if Rin was lying when he said he couldn't see dead people. Before his brother can answer, Sadam shows up with Do Ha in tow, claiming she is the prophesied one who will cure Ki San of all his nightly woes. But Rin recalls their real plan of casting out the demons from Ki San and into another person.

 

Despite his protests, Ki San still doesn't believe Rin and is ready to chop his brother in half. Moo Suk, taking his bodyguard duties seriously, leaps in the way and blocks the king's blow. Ki San calms down a little bit but still orders Rin to be taken into custody. Moo Suk takes his prisoner to a very nice room in the palace. Rin tries to act all cool and nonchalant but secretly he's worried. Not just because of his uncertain future, but also because he doesn't have any anti-ghost deterrents here like he does back at his house.

 

After another split personality conversation with himself, Ki San is more than willing to set Rin free. The king doesn't want to have his brother's blood on his hands. Sadam, with the help of his magic incense, casts a spell on Ki San to change his mind. Meanwhile, one of Sadam's cronies is sneaking around outside the palace, planting talismans and curses as evidence.

 

Queen Dowager Pain-In-The-Butt hears all about Rin's supposed cursing of Ki San. She goes to the king (and interrupts his menage a trois) to defend the prince. Ki San, jealous of how much more his grandmother loves Rin than she does him, tearfully orders her out. Before she leaves she senses Sadam in the shadows. (Hmm. Does Queen Dowager Pain-In-The-Butt also see dead people?)

 

At the next royal court, Sadam is called in to testify against Rin. Minister Park argues they shouldn't be listening to a lowly Taoist priest. Ki San insists everyone should listen to the shaman. Elsewhere, Rin wakes up in the middle of the night and ... looks around. Seriously, Show, you need to work on your endings. You're getting as bad as Chinese dramas.

Temptation Episode 10

Time has passed since Suk Hoon left for Brazil. The Ice Cream Wars haven't been going well for Se Young's company. Now that's she's a Single Lady, Hong Joo complains about all the men flocking around her. (Yet another difference between Korea and America.) Suk Hoon returns from South America (with not a trace of a tan) and asks Se Young if he can have his old job back. Se Young is miffed because not once did he bother to call or write her all the time he was gone. Suk Hoon tries to apologize by giving her some coffee beans.

 

Now that they're both single, Min Woo starts going after Hong Joo. Now that Suk Hoon is back working for her, Se Young is playing hard to get.

 

Suk Hoon upsets his boss at work by suggesting the company stop trying to expand into China and concentrate more on the homefront. Suk Hoon tries to apologize by taking her on a jog and giving her some more coffee beans from Brazil.

 

Se Young is needing a cash infusion but can't find anyone willing to loan her the money. She calls a previously unseen character, Chang Tae Sung. He's newly engaged and invites Se Young to a party he's throwing.

 

If the show isn't promoting Se Young's refrigerator, its promoting ice cream as Hong Gyu stops by Se Jin's workplace. He leaves, totally missing his former brother-in-law in the store doing some research on ice cream flavors. Se Jin asks Suk Hoon if he'll be nice enough to take Se Young to the party.

 

Mama Im sends presents to Hong Joo in an effort to apologize for last episode. Hong Joo personally returns everything to Mama Im and stays around to visit with Roy, who seems to be getting along better with his younger sister. Mama Im secretly approves of how well Hong Joo interacts with the children.

 

Min Woo asks Hong Joo to the party.

 

 

Look at that suit he's wearing. Please tell me you're not wearing that suit to the party, Min Woo. Oh no, he is. At least Suk Hoon is wearing a tux. Se Young gives him the watch she picked out last episode.

 

 

 

They make their entrance into the party. Of course they run into Min Woo and Hong Joo. Stares are exchanged. Upset, Hong Joo dashes out of the room. Tellingly, Suk Hoon stays by Se Young's side. Min Woo catches up with his runaway date and convinces Hong Joo she shouldn't run away. She has as much right to be at the party as they do.

 

Hong Joo steels herself and goes back in to the party. She and Min Woo join Suk Hoon and Se Young. They make small talk, laced with strychnine. Later, everyone is sitting down with the host of the party, the man Se Young is desperate to borrow money from. Hong Joo acts like she's never met Se Young before and in front of everyone asks if the rumors she heard are true, that Se Young broke a marriage up. Oh, now you grow claws.

 

To everyone's surprise Suk Hoon speaks up and answers yes, the rumor is true and he is that married man Se Young fell in love with.

Temptation Episode 9

Got my mocha frappe from Mickey D's (two for one coupon!), now I'm ready to sit back and watch some Korean soap opera.

 

 

Both Suk Hoon and Hong Joo give up too easily on their marriage. He violently throws the wedding rings to the ground and storms off. My biggest beef is with Hong Joo who did nothing to fight for her man. The first sign of another woman sniffing around and Hong Joo folded like a cheap suit.

 

Young Chul did such a good job on the Hong Kong hotel deal that Se Young promotes him to ice cream management. Young Chul asks who will be taking over his old job and kind of hints to her that Suk Hoon would be an ideal candidate. She should really reconsider accepting Suk Hoon's resignation letter as he's going through a hard time right now with a possible divorce on the horizon. That's a big mouth you got there, Young Chul. Real friends don't gossip about their friends' marital problems to the boss. Especially when said boss has the hot pants for said friend.

 

 

The cicadas continue to take over South Korea as Suk Hoon and Hong Joo attend divorce court.  They fill out all the paperwork and watch an educational film.

 

 

 

Thanks to Suk Hoon's tip off, Min Woo is able to meet with the real Doo down in Hong Kong. But Min Woo isn't here to talk about the hotel. He's got a new plan in which his business group and Doo's join together to corner... the Asian ice cream market. (I'm sorry, but I can't take this seriously. When I think of fortunes won and lost I don't think of Fudgesicles.)

 

However, this leads me to a story this guy at my work told of someone he knew who served in the U.S. Army over in South Korea. The soldier fell in love with the popsicles made locally near his base. They were the best popsicles he had ever had. The popsicles were made from the water of a nearby lake. One day the soldier went to this lake only to discover this was where the town's prostitutes went for their group bathing. He never had a popsicle again.

 

While in Hong Kong, Min Woo gets a call from Park Han Soo with an update on Ji Sun. She's heading for Bangkok for a vacation, and she's not alone. Min Woo orders the P.I. to follow her. (Call me old-fashioned, but Ji Sun just had a baby. How can she leave the child behind so easily?)

 

Se Young is at home having dinner with her family. Sister Se Jin complains about having to scoop ICE CREAM all day at work, yet she's brought an ICE CREAM cake home for them to eat. Dear Lord, the product placement in this episode.

 

Leaving the ICE CREAM behind, Se Young drives over to where Suk Hoon is staying and asks him to come out with her for awhile. Maybe they'll go get ICE CREAM. Se Young fusses at Suk Hoon for giving up so easily on his marriage. She also apologizes for her part in causing trouble between him and Hong Joo. Suk Hoon tells her the divorce has nothing to do with her (even though it does). Se Young informs him she still hasn't formally accepted his resignation in case he wants to come back to work for her. Suk Hoon warns her not to wait for him but Se Young says she will. Then her saxophone player starts to play a song that sounds so familiar but I can't think of the title, which irks me.

 

 

A month just flies by and the next we know it, Hong Joo and Suk Hoon are before a judge who quickly finalizes their divorce. Out of the blue Suk Hoon tells his ex-wife he's moving to Brazil to manage a coffee farm. As a parting gift, Suk Hoon gives Hong Joo some shoes. (Interesting, as I was just reading an article about Korean superstitions and one of them is to not give your love interest a gift of shoes as it will make her run away from you. But then, they're already divorced so the point is kind of moot.)

 

Suddenly the day is saved by ABBA.

 

 

Se Young and Myung Hwa are out shopping. Se Young stops to look at some mens' watches, prompting Myung Hwa to ask about her friend's forbidden crush. Once she learns the man is now divorced, Myung Hwa does a 180 and pushes Se Young to go for it.

 

Ji Sun is back from Bangkok. Min Woo good-naturedly confronts his wife with pictures of her and her boy toy. Min Woo has already had the divorce papers drawn up, giving him full custody of the their three girls he barely spends any time with. Ji Sun threatens to fight back and drag his family through the mud. Min Woo threatens as well, promising to ruin her lover's own marriage as well as jeopardizing the man's job at a university.

 

Musical interlude.

 

Ji Sun moves out of the house (she's allowed to take the baby until the little girl is old enough to walk) but may not be moving out of the show as she continues threatening to destroy the Kang family.

 

Young Chul breaks the bad news to Se Young about Min Woo and Doo being in the ice cream business together. Se Young vows not to surrender, even though Min Woo's company is bigger. 

 

Mama Im asks Hong Joo to have tea with her. Im wants to know just what is between Hong Joo and Min Woo. Is the younger woman expecting to get some money out of the family? Offended, Hong Joo stands up for herself and walks out. This only impresses Mama Im more as Hong Joo isn't like all the other women Min Woo has been involved with.

 

 

Suk Hoon (and his one suitcase) is at the airport getting prepared to leave for Brazil. Suddenly Se Young calls out his name and stops him. She swallows her pride and begs him not to leave the country but it's not enough to sway his mind. Suk Hoon does give her a goodbye back hug, though, and asks Se Young to wait for him.

 

 

 

The Night Watchman Episode 4

Queen Dowager Pain-In-The-Butt is still alive, and not a grey hair on her head even after twelve years. She's still having tea with Minister Park Soo Jong and suggesting its time for his daughter, Soo Ryun, to get married.

 

That annoying (and dangerous) ghost from last episode is still hanging around. He tries to get into Rin's house but the ghost deterrents keep him at bay. He's finally run off, for now, by Rin's three phantoms. I need to come up with a name for them. And who is the little girl supposed to be?! What has she got to do with Rin?

 

The three phantoms are still trying to figure out if the prince can really see them so they come up with a plot. As Rin is leaving his house, the ghosts start talking loudly about the exact location where beautiful fairies will be bathing. Rin rushes off in that direction, as there's nothing like spying on nekkid fairies.

 

 

Rin arrives at the waterfall the ghosts had mentioned and sure enough there appears to be someone with long hair bathing in the water. Rin sneaks closer and tries to get the bather to turn around. Ack! It's Eunuch Song! In horror, Rin goes running back to town, pushing and plowing through other pedestrians. However, he's unable to stop in time when Do Ha steps out into his path. They crash together, causing her sister's bell bracelet to fall off.

 

The Three Phantoms are still chasing after the prince. (Thankfully Eunuch Song has put his clothes back on.) In a rush to get away from them, Rin picks up the bracelet and starts running. Do Ha doesn't see the ghosts but seems to at least feel them as they pass through her body. She can't find her missing bracelet but she does find Rin's identity tag.

 

Sadam is hanging out with his female accomplice (whose name I still don't know) and refusing the attend to the king. This enrages Ki San enough that he goes himself to threaten the wizard with a sword. Sadam is all humble pie as he explains with a trembling voice how he can't be close to the king because he's a Taoist priest while its the Confucians who are in power in this country.

 

At the next session of court (complete with the king's invisible alter ego), Ki San announces he's going to restore a Taoist shrine. The court is not pleased.

 

Elsewhere, Moo Suk is doing his sabre dance. (Look, I don't know who Yunho is. He's doing nothing for me. Where's Sang Hun? Doesn't he have some blacksmithing to do?) His companion, yet another nameless character, tries to get Moo Suk to relax and go have some fun at some gathering. Moo Suk only agrees to go when Nameless Friend mentions there might be a legendary sword on display.

 

Soo Ryun, among others, arrives at this fancy gathering. The peasant crowd stands around at the gate to ooh and ahh at all the pretty rich people going in. Among them is Do Ha who has decided to try her hand at gate crashing. The resident bouncer ain't havin' it and throws her down in the street. This is witnessed by a passing Moo Suk and Nameless Friend. The bouncer is about to lay the smack down on Do Ha when Moo Suk intervenes. Do Ha seizes the moment to sneak away.

 

At the back of the building she sees workers rushing around seeing to huge boxes covered with scarlet cloth. Do Ha slips unseen underneath one of the coverings to find herself inside a large cage.

 

Rin is still trying to outrun his ghostly trio. He also spies the covered boxes and scurries underneath one himself. Of course it is the same one as Do Ha is under. Although we the audience can see them, these two act as if it is pitch black in the cage. Do Ha warns the person who just joined her to be quiet or they'll both get caught. Rin thinks Do Ha is yet another ghost. She orders him to touch her so he'll be convinced she's a living person. This seems to freak Rin out even more than if she truly had been a ghost. He runs screaming from the cage, pausing long enough to lock the door behind him.

 

And of course this is when the workers come to move the covered cage into position.

 

Rin finally makes it inside the compound where he is surrounded by his adoring fans. Soo Ryun quickly abandons Moo Suk and Nameless Friend to go cozy up to the prince. Moo Suk gives her the Longing Look of Love as she walks away. But then he notices Sadam lurking about.

 

With the current king insisting on bringing Taoism back in style, Minister Park considers replacing Ki San with Rin.

 

Back at the tea house/gathering/whatever, Do Ha's covered cage is brought out before the audience. In charge of the festivities is Sadam's female accomplice. She signals for the cloth to be whipped away. Everyone is expecting to see the legendary phoenix inside the cage and is surprised to instead see a girl. And an ordinary, everyday peacock. The people start laughing at Do Ha and calling her a mythical beast. This triggers a memory for Rin of when he was young and the people would talk trash about him.

 

Both Moo Suk and Rin get up to go free the poor girl. Rin is just more direct about it as he grabs a nearby sword and uses it to slice through the wooden bars of the cage. Once freed, she thanks the prince by throwing him to the ground because he knocked her down earlier in the street. The people are outraged and demand Do Ha be arrested. This time Moo Suk comes to her defense, using words to shame the audience for being boors.

 

Do Ha demands Rin return her precious bracelet. At first he doesn't even recall picking up the thing, then Rin gets all pissy and says Do Ha will have to prove the bracelet belongs to her before he gives it back. As Rin starts to leave, a servant runs up to inform him the king (at Minister Park's suggestion) has put the prince in charge of the Tao shrine being rebuilt.

 

Rin puts on his court togs to go to the palace and ask Minister Park just what is up. Rin is the last person who should be in charge of any shrine, let alone a Taoist one, and he intends to kneel on a straw mat until the king rescinds the order.

 

As Rin is leaving the room, he spies several ghosts going into the old library. He's curious enough to go investigate. The ghosts lead him to a back room where he overhears Ki San talking with Sadam. The bad dreams have come back to the king. Why is Sadam's magic no longer working? Sadam assures Ki San that once the Taoist shrine is revived, all will be well again. Furthermore, our villain makes a prediction that a female shaman will arrive at a certain day and time who will be of great benefit to the king.

 

Do Ha is out and about still searching for Rin. She sees everyone standing around reading a news poster advertising for female shamans to apply for work at the new shrine. Do Ha decides to submit her own application, hoping perhaps her long lost sister will be doing the same.

 

On the day of the shaman job fair, Sadam overhears Do Ha talking to herself (because DramaKoreans are always talking out loud) and figures out Do Ha must be related to Yun Ha. Maybe he's hoping she'll have the same powers as her sister had.

 

After Rin spends an entire day and night kneeling on his mat, Ki San finally gets around to checking on his brother. Ki San asks Rin if he still sees ghost, something Rin first claimed back when he was a crybaby little boy. Adult Rin lies and says no, he sees nothing. Ki San warns his brother he'd better not be lying, and no, the king will not change his mind about Rin being in charge of the shrine.

 

Later, Ki San is working on his sword fighting with Moo Suk. The king orders Moo Suk to not hold back.

 

Moo Suk doesn't hold back.

 

Rin reclines on a boat in the middle of the river. And that's it. That's how the episode ends. What kind of ending is that, Show? And where was Sang Hun and his biceps?

The Night Watchman Episode 3

Jo Sang Hun fends off the growling King Hae Jong. Rin continues to just cry. Queen Min (who again must have been using her superhuman DramaKorean hearing) comes running into the courtyard to break the two men up. Oh thank goodness, here also come some more Nightwatchmen. They surround the possessed king, papering him with talismans, and start performing an exorcism.

 

 

Oh no! Not only did the exorcism not work, the king breaks out of the magic circle and stabs Sang Hun in the chest. No, not GatMan! We're not even five minutes into the show and I'm highly upset.

 

Queen Min takes Rin back into his room and... puts him to bed. Yeah, like he can go to sleep after something like that. She orders him to stay in his room and not to open the (flimsy paper) doors for anyone as she goes back outside.

 

Meanwhile, the Queen Dowager has been woken up and informed about her son going cuckoo for Coco Puffs. She orders for the ministers to be assembled immediately.

 

Alone in his room, Rin is crying and seriously getting on my nerves, when an ominous shadow appears on the other side of the (flimsy paper) doors. Here's Johnny! Also, here's Hae Jong and his glow in the dark sacred flower. Rin is too scared to move. Seeing how frightened his son is, the king drops his bloody sword and asks Rin if he's alright. So, did the exorcism finally kick in? Is Hae Jong sane now?

 

 

Rin sobbingly asks where his mother is. Hae Jong can't bring himself to tell the boy what has happened to the queen. The king passes the sacred flower over to his son and apologizes for his terrible behavior of late. Hae Jong tearfully instructs Rin to grow up to be strong and brave. Suddenly Minister Park Soo Jong and some soldiers burst into the room and take the king into custody.

 

The executing kind of custody as when we next see Rin, he and the court are all wearing mourning. I mourn for you as well, King Kickass. Elsewhere, Minister Park and Queen Dowager Pain-In-The-Butt have tea as they discuss putting Hae Jong's other son, Ki San, on the throne instead of Rin.

 

Poor little Rin is being comforted by Ddoong Jung Seung when Minister Park and his soldiers march in and arrest the big man for treason (and for being Minister Park's rival in the court.) Other "traitors" are also arrested and dragged off for execution. Uh-oh, I think they just got that old guy who is the head of the Nightwatchmen whose name I have yet to catch.

 

Rin and his flower are packed up and moved out of the palace.

 

 

Time skip to 12 years later. That sound you're hearing is all of Jung Il Woo's fangirls going "Squee!" as he takes over the role of adult Rin. Adult Rin is understandably terrified of the dark. He demands his house to be lit up and all sorts of anti-ghost deterrents be put up. Ah, but a couple of lackeys were careless and there's a breach in spectral security, allowing three ghosts to work their way into the house.

 

Who ya gonna call, Rin? Who ya gonna call? Nobody, cuz phones and Bill Murray haven't been invented yet.

 

We get a brief glimpse of the palace where a spooky smoke bomb tries to strangle a sleeping Adult Ki San. His bed companion snoozes on.

 

 

Back at Rin's house, the three ghosts brave the pungent incense he's burning to sit before Rin. Aw, it's Eunuch Song (is he still a eunuch in the afterlife?), Ddoong Jung Seung, and... who's the little girl? She suspects Rin can see them although the other two scoff at the idea. Rin throws some more incense on the fire in an attempt to drive them away.

 

 

Back at the palace, Sleeping Beauty finally wakes up which causes the spooky smoke bomb (which she can't see) to stop trying to choke the king. A session of court shows us Ki San is the kind of king who sits back and allows Minister Park to run the show. Ki San's evil alter ego (which again only he can see) taunts him and urges Ki San to kill the entire court. The king starts arguing with himself, making him appear the crazy that he is in front of everyone.

 

Ki San blames his erratic behavior on lack of sleep. He wants the help of someone who can protect him in the night so he can get some shut-eye.

 

And who is this just now arriving by boat? Its Sadam, who is met at the docks by a female bee keeper. Not sure who the woman is as I thought the evil tribe was all male. 

 

 

Over at the Mago village, Adult Do Ha is praying at the altar when Yun Ha's bell bracelet starts to shake. Do Ha takes this as a sign for her to leave home and start her search for her sister. Mom advises Do Ha to seek help from the Nightwatchmen if she needs it. 

 

With the sun back out, Rin is ready to play. In an effort to avoid seeing the three ghosts, Rin dons his Ray Bans.

 

 

Somewhere along a mountain path, an escapee from Assassin's Creed is walking along when he's accosted by three bandits. They're threatening the guy with the huge biceps when Do Ha steps out of the bushes and comes to his rescue. The girl has some moves. Good. I hate wimpy heroines.

 

 

If you haven't guessed by now, it's Sang Hun under that hood. I can't tell you how happy I am that he survived. Also, he's kinda hot. Il Woo who? 

 

Do Ha tries to make chit chat with the stranger. He doesn't feel like talking. That doesn't stop her from tagging along as he walks away.

 

A new and potentially lethal gisaeng has come to town. Her name is Mae Hyang, and while all the men are atwitter at her beauty, she also has a reputation of her customers not living very long. Naturally Rin must test the waters. Just as he's getting his best Barry White on, Rin is distracted by the running commentary of a ghost. The spectral spectator is the ghost of a man who once loved Mae Hyang. He is the one who is attacking all the men who try to sleep with the beauty.

 

Rin makes his excuses and quickly escapes the cursed couple. All the other customers are amazed Rin is still alive and assume the prince got some. Two new customers have just arrived as the other men are congratulating Rin. One guy, Moo Suk, turns his nose up at such crash behavior. Suddenly they are joined by Adult Park Soo Ryun who has been worried about Rin's safety. She starts scolding Rin about his frat boy mentality.

 

Commentary Ghost reappears, still angry at Rin for trying to mess around with Mae Hyang. The ghost makes the roof tiles levitate and then crash down upon the crowd below. Everyone else thinks it is an earthquake while Rin is the only one who can see the vengeful spirit. Rin throws himself in front of Soo Ryun to protect her from the flying missiles. Moo Suk steps forward and uses his martial arts skills to knock the roof tiles aside. 

 

The vengeful ghost then enters the body of one of the customers. The possessed man doesn't get very far before Moo Suk takes him down and somehow manages to knock the ghost out of him. The spirit then slips around and possesses the companion who had accompanied Moo Suk. He attacks Rin but the prince is able to get out some of his special incense and throw it on a nearby fire. The incense exorcises the ghost from the companion. 

 

Moo Suk escorts Soo Ryun home, warning her not to get so emotionally involved with the playboy prince. Oh yeah, somebody has unrequited love.

 

Sadam is introduced to the king as a Taoist priest who has come to use his magic to help Ki San get a good night's sleep. Sadam starts burning some incense next to the king's head. As Ki San falls asleep, Sadam begins muttering a spell that turns the smoke green. You know that can't be good.

 

Sang Hun has directed Do Ha to an inn where the comic relief know him and will take good care of the girl. Sang Hun has gone out to the blacksmith shop to do some shirtless work and get me all hot and bothered. This is why I watch Korean dramas.

 

 

Now that he's in good with the king, Sadam can begin his search for the stone dragon Hae Jong stashed in the basement.      

Temptation Episode 8

Cha Suk Hoon is screeching to a halt in front of the hotel. We get to see more of what is going on inside the hotel suite before he gets there. It ain't pretty as Hong Joo is heaving her insides out. Kang Min Woo is on the phone with someone asking for them to bring medicine to help sober Hong Joo up. (Only time will do that, babe.)

 

Thinking the pounding on the door is the medicine he ordered, Min Woo opens the door only to find Suk Hoon on the other side. Suk Hoon pushes the man out of the way, storming into the room just as Hong Joo stumbles out of the bathroom. Min Woo tries to explain what's going on. Suk Hoon tells him to get lost but Min Woo won't go.

 

Drunk Hong Joo's tongue just keeps running away from her. She asks how her husband knew she was here. Was Suk Hoon already here at the hotel with his other woman? Hong Joo admits she made a pass at Min Woo but he's not offering to pay her like Se Young did for Suk Hoon. Shut up already, Drunk Hong Joo!

 

Suk Hoon leaves in disgust. Surprisingly it is Min Woo who chases after him, leaping in front of the car to stop the disgruntled husband. Min Woo tries to get Suk Hoon to take Hong Joo with him. Instead, Suk Hoon spills the beans about the Fake Doo being at the meeting and gives Min Woo the real phone number to the Real Doo before speeding off. This is so the debt between the two men is now paid. (Perhaps this also means Suk Hoon is now in the clear to deck Min Woo when the moment calls for it.)

 

DramaLaw compels Suk Hoon to go to the Han River to brood. While there he gets a phone call from Se Young who is wanting to talk business. Immediately she can tell from his voice something is wrong but Suk Hoon won't come clean about his heartbreak.

 

Min Woo drops Hong Joo off at her home. Brother Hong Gyu recognizes who Min Woo is and jumps down his sister's throat for hanging out with such riff raff. Is she crazy? What if Suk Hoon finds out? Daddy Na jumps down his son's throat for jumping down his sister's throat.

 

Se Young has lunch with her buddy/gynecologist, Myung Hwa. Without using his name, Se Young admits she's fallen in love with Suk Hoon but he turned her down. Myung Hwa rightly scolds her friend for even thinking about messing around with a married man.

 

Se Young returns to the office only to have Suk Hoon turn in his resignation. She tries to get him to stay but he wants to work on saving his marriage.

 

Roy calls Hong Joo to whine. He's interrupted by his bullying older sister and hangs up. Mama Im intercedes between the squabbling siblings. Roy tells his grandmother about Hong Joo, the pretty lady he used to live with. This is the first Mama Im has ever heard of Hong Joo. Hmm, wonder what she's thinking.

 

Min Woo - Good Lord, what is he wearing now? It's like a white polka-dotted suit. Anyway, he's meeting with Park Han Soo who has even more pictures of Ji San spending time with her old college boyfriend.

 

Far away it isn't so bad, but up close you see
all the polka dots. The pants are the same material.

 

Still wearing that odd suit, Min Woo goes to a function for the rich and richer. Se Young is there although her mind is a million miles away. They strike up a conversation when Min Woo pulls out the whammy and asks her what's up with her and Cha Suk Hoon. To my surprise, at least, Min Woo sticks up for Hong Joo and strongly advises Se Young to stop interfering in the couple's marriage. Se Young is like, "You should talk about preserving the sanctity of marriage."

 

Hong Gyu calls his brother-in-law to ask if Suk Hoon and Hong Joo have separated. Suk Hoon totally lies and says they're still together. Later he goes to a jeweler to inquire about sprucing up his old wedding ring.

 

The next day Se Young goes to her gynecologist's appointment. Just as expected, she runs into Hong Joo. Since Hong Joo is a nurse in the office, she gets to read Se Young's medical records. Myung Hwa wants her friend to go ahead and have a hysterectomy but Se Young is hesitant. Not that she wants babies or anything, but she wants to hang on to her uterus for just a little bit longer.

 

Se Young's company makes its bid on the Hong Kong hotel. Doo's representative has some demands, though. First, all the regular employees of the hotel should have a guarantee they can keep their jobs. That seems reasonable. But then the next demand is about temps being taken on as full timers. This is supposed to be some huge business hurdle for Se Young. After a private talk with Suk Hoon, Se Young decides to accede to the demands.

 

Min Woo lays a trap for his wife by giving Ji Sun a large amount of money and urging her to go on a long trip with some of her friends. (More than likely her "friends" will be male.)

 

Suk Hoon convinces Hong Joo to have dinner with him. He takes her to her favourite restaurant where they still play Sarah McLachlan. (Whatever happened to her? Is she still around?) He orders an expensive meal for them and reminisces about how they first met - he had a broken leg and she was his nurse. Hong Joo totally ruins the moment by saying the man she fell in love with and the woman she used to be no longer exist.

 

She goes to the bathroom to cry and waste water. While his wife is gone, Suk Hoon pulls out a small jewelry box that contains wedding bands. He quickly hides it when she returns to the table. Hong Joo has a present of her own to give. It's called divorce papers.

Temptation Episode 7

Suk Hoon and Se Young (as well as her piano player and violinist) are in the back alleys of Seoul when they are confronted by men in suits. The couple are taken to an abandoned hole-in-the-wall restaurant where they finally get to meet the real Doo.

 

 

 

(Sorry, I just couldn't resist it anymore.)

 

Anyway, Doo refuses to listen to their sales pitch. He says they're already in negotiations with Kang Min Woo and his group. Also, Doo was really, really wanting some soup and is devastated to find the restaurant has gone out of business. Suk Hoon offers to find the former owner of the eatery so Doo can have his soup. That must be some fantastic soup.

 

Suk Hoon and Se Young are walking back from the dark side of town. She's gotten a sore place on her foot and he insists on doing some first aid on her. Does he not recognize the sparkly shoes that once belonged to his wife?

 

The next day Min Woo (wearing a truly awful jacket) hears how Se Young and her people were waiting around to speak to Doo last night but then she abruptly left without meeting the man. Min Woo wonders at that. Why didn't his rival stick around to talk to Doo?

 

Daddy Yoo makes Se Jin (and her pianist) go get a job with big sister, Se Young. Se Young offers a low-paying clerk position. Suk Hoon drops by with the good news about finding the owner of the restaurant. Like her older sister, Se Jin starts making eyes at Suk Hoon.

 

Hong Joo gets a nursing job... with her (and Se Young's) gynecologist. But of course.

 

Se Young insists on going with Suk Hoon to the restaurant owner's new location. I'm not up to snuff on my Korean geography but I take it this is going to be an all day trip. They find the old woman retired in the country and she agrees to make the beloved soup. However, to do it just right, the ingredients need to steep overnight. She won't start making it until tomorrow. That will be cutting it close as Doo is scheduled for an evening flight out of the country tomorrow.

 

Suk Hoon volunteers to stay and help the old woman. He suggests Se Young go back to Seoul. If it gets out they were alone together for so long it might look bad for her. Se Young reminds him they were alone together for three days in Hong Kong. She ain't goin' nowhere.

 

Meanwhile at the Kang household, Min Woo is trying to hold a barbecue. He gets sent some pictures on his cell phone. I take it the pics are from Park Han Soo as they show Ji San out and about on the town. (It went by too fast for me to see if she was out and about alone or not.) Roy and his sisters get into a fight. Roy is kind of a wuss.

 

Daddy Na gets tight and drunk calls his son-in-law. Hong Joo takes the phone away from him and apologizes to Suk Hoon. As she's talking with her husband, Hong Joo hears Se Young's voice in the background. Se Young, either really stupid or really smart, burns her hand on a hot cooking pot. Thus Suk Hoon quickly hangs up on his wife to go see to his boss. An upset Hong Joo tears up a picture of her and Suk Hoon, then takes off her wedding ring.

 

Se Young finally confesses her attraction to Suk Hoon. He admits he's attracted as well to Se Young but that's as far as he's going to go. He's a married man. 

 

 

 

They return to the city the next day to present The Soup To End All Soups to Doo. He certainly goes to town on it. It's enough to make him change his mind and give Se Young a chance to put in a bid on his Hong Kong hotel. Min Woo is upset to hear about this as he thought his company had an exclusive deal with Doo. Min Woo suspects it is Suk Hoon who is the powerhouse behind all this.

 

Just like her old man, Hong Joo gets tight and drunk calls Min Woo. He goes to meet her at the bar in Se Young's hotel (because there are no other bars in Seoul, apparently) so she can spill out all her sorrows. Hong Joo's loose tongue lets Min Woo know she thinks there's something going on between Suk Hoon and Se Young. That's just ammunition for him to use in a later episode.

 

Min Woo tries to help a staggering drunk Hong Joo out of the bar. They're spotted by Suk Hoon's current roommate, Choi Young Chul. (Sometimes the subtitles call him Choi, sometimes they call him Cho.) Young Chul immediately calls Suk Hoon to tell him about seeing Hong Joo going with Min Woo up to a room in the hotel. Suk Hoon races over and bursts into the hotel suite to confront his wife.

The Night Watchman Episode 2

At the waterfall, Yun Ha uses her shaman magic to make the sacred flower grow. Somewhere down the river, Sadam's body patiently waits under water. Has anyone mentioned his creepy theme music? As the CGI flower blooms, Yun Ha smiles in triumph. But then the brand on the back of her neck starts to glow, emitting an evil red mist that infuses itself in the purple flower.

 

Back at the palace, the Queen is nursing the still-unconscious Prince Rin. Minister Park Soo Jong visits with his young daughter, Soo Ryun. He is soooo trying to hook these two young kids up. Queen Dowager Pain-In-The-Butt quickly puts an end to any matchmaking. When he's not trying to marry off his daughter to royalty, Soo Jong is snooping around the special forces known at the BiJang and what exactly is going on around the treasury.

 

As King Hae Jong anxiously awaits to hear how the flower-growing is going, he's entertained by cute Do Ha. (That's an awful wig you're forced to wear, kid, but I still want to squeeze your cheeks so bad!) She notices the embroidered bracelet around his wrist. The king, explaining his wife made it, takes it off to show the little girl. Sang Hun comes up to announce the shaman has returned. In his eagerness to get back to the village, Hae Jong accidentally drops the bracelet. Do Ha picks it up, intending to give it back to the king, but she never gets the chance.

 

 

Hae Jong is waiting alone in his tent when Yun Ha comes in to present him with the flower in a box. The king thanks her profusely for helping him and his son. He opens the box to look at the flower and that's when The Change begins. With a strange glint in his eye, Hae Jong grabs Yun Ha into an embrace. Yo, she ain't fightin' it. He then plants the World's Most Uncomfortable Kiss on her. King Kickass Can't Kiss.

 

Meanwhile at the palace, Rin wakes up. So he didn't need the sacred flower after all?

 

King Kickass and GatMan return to the palace late at night. The petrified dragon is hidden underneath drapery. The king and his men are taking a side gate as they're heading for the secret Night Watchmen headquarters. Some palace soldiers, not recognizing these late arrivals, stop the entourage and start asking questions. Hae Jong kills the head guard and orders his men to get rid of the other two palace guards. When Sang Hun tries to defend the guards for simply doing their duty, the king coldly replies, "I wasn't asking for your opinion."

 

Now that the king is back, the Queen Dowager wants to get on with having Rin formally recognized as the Crown Prince. Queen Min has come to welcome her husband home. She stops to thank one of the soldiers for safely guarding the king and having a successful mission. It's all innocent, but the possessed Hae Jong starts dropping barbs that his wife acts like a loose woman.

 

Hearing that his father is back, Rin pulls himself up out of his sickbed to go make his greetings. As he and Eunuch Song are walking along, Rin spots a whiff of one of those spooky smoke bombs that attacked before. Eunuch Song sees nothing, though. Rin shrugs it off and assumes he was seeing things.

 

During court, Hae Jong rips Minister Park a new one, behaviour that everyone notes is not like the king. Rin comes running up to welcome his father home. He has his bug cage with him, reminding Hae Jong he promised to fix it when he returned. The king coldly tells Rin to stop acting like a child, especially since the crown prince ceremony is coming up. Rin can't understand why his loving father is so distant and dictorial.

 

That night at the Mago village, Yun Ha and Do Ha are sitting outside watching the stars. The older sister confesses that she has done something bad and so is no longer a shaman. She hands over her bell bracelet to Do Ha. From out of the darkness come two of Sadam's men. They drag Yun Ha away to a cave where Sadam is recovering.

 

 

He reminds Yun Ha that they had a deal. Since he helped her (I guess in casting a spell on the king so she could seduce him), Sadam demands the shaman use all her powers to heal him. Using the brand on the back of her neck, he starts sucking Yun Ha's powers out. He sucks a little too much out and Yun Ha collapses.

 

Our dynamic duo go to the basement where the stone snake is being kept. Sang Hun warns the king that they don't know if the dragon is truly dead or not, so keeping it in the basement under the palace is not a good idea. Hae Jong basically says, "Deal with it. I'm keeping it here." While the king isn't looking, GatMan takes out his Exorcist-O-Meter. Just as Sang Hun feared, the gadget indicates the king is possessed.

 

 

Sang Hun reports to the head Watchman whose name I didn't catch. The old man says they can't do much right now as the crown prince ceremony is tomorrow. For the moment all Sang Hun can do is strengthen the spells on the walls to keep out evil.

 

Everyone is dressed to the nines for the ceremony. Young Rin is marched out before the court. Minister Park is about to start the proceedings when the king abruptly goes off script. Hae Jong has Rin's beloved (ick) rhinoceros beetle, Gab, brought out. To prove he will no longer act like a child, Rin is supposed to kill the bug. Hae Jong even puts his hand over the boy's to help squish Gab. Rin cries that he doesn't want to kill the beetle as it was a gift from the king.

 

Disgusted with Rin's disobedience, Hae Jong brandishes a sword and starts to swing. Valiant Eunuch Song throws his body over his charge, taking the deadly blow instead. The king throws down the sword and declares the ceremony is over.

 

That night out in the garden, Rin releases Gab in order to save the little (well, big) bug. The Queen Dowager happens upon him and asks Rin if he's sad because he didn't get to be crown prince. Rin cries he's sad because of what happened to Eunuch Song. Queen Dowager Pain-In-The-Butt brutally explains that's what eunuchs are for, to be killed, so stop crying over the man.

 

Rin pleads with his grandmother to send doctors to the king. Queen Dowager quickly hushes the boy up. Even though everyone can tell

 

 

to actually say the king is sick is tantamount to treason and can get you killed.

 

Standing in the shadows overhearing all this is Prince Smirk. Just to make sure you realize Gi San is evil, the boy steps on poor Gab the Beetle.

 

Hae Jong (whoa, who put all that guyliner on him?) is awakened by the voices in his head. They're telling him to kill the queen who is sleeping beside him. He starts to reach for her throat when, shew, she wakes up and catches him. Why is she sleeping in the same bed with him after he just tried to kill their son?!?

 

The next morning Rin comes to his father to apologize for yesterday's debacle. Only Prince Smirk has already been there, tattling to Dad about what he heard last night. Hae Jong accuses Rin of sedition and questions whether the boy is actually his or not. Queen Min (using her superhuman DramaKorean hearing) storms into the room to confront her husband. Of course Rin is Hae Jong's son! How can he say such a thing? Hae Jong won't let it go and announces he's going to have Min thoroughly investigated to see just how many men she's been with and who is Rin's real father.

 

Back at the Mago village, they've found evidence that Yun Ha was killed by a wild beast. Young Do Ha doesn't believe it and swears she'll find her sister and catch the bad man who took Yun Ha away.

 

That night, one of Sadam's men has snuck into the palace and released a couple of spooky smoke bombs. King Hae Jong, with only a lone eunuch in attendance, is hanging out with the sacred flower when he sees the smoke bombs coming into the room. The eunuch sees nothing. Hae Jong starts hollering for the Night Watchmen to come and protect him.

 

 

They're already on their way, although they're having to battle their way (non-lethally) through the palace guards to get to the king. Sang Hun finds the bleeding eunuch on the floor. The (dying?) man says the king is armed and dangerous and heading for Prince Rin's apartments.

 

Hae Jong is killing everybody left and right. In Fight or Flight reaction, Rin has chosen the third option of just standing there like an idiot while his crazed father comes closer and closer. Possessed Hae Jong is about to strike his son down when thankfully Sang Hun swoops in and deflects the blow. He has to fight his king off without actually drawing his own sword, as that would be super duper treasonous. Hae Jong's eyes bug out as GatMan begs King Kickass to fight off the possessing ghost.