kdrama: Dae Jang Geum eps 7-12

[meganbmoore]

Hey! I think I’m starting to be able to understand all the color coding for the ranks of the women in the palace! Now if I could do the same with the men. I kind of love how a lot of this is like a political drama, but told from the domestic side. But with added shounen-esque cooking battles! I do think it tries a bit hard at times with making things dramatic and keeping up suspense, though.

Like, for a few episodes there, it was starting to fall into “Oh no! Something has happened and Jang Geum must leave the palace! How will she get out of it!” The latest drama is that she poisoned herself trying to find out how the prince ended up paralyzed, but she used too much, and has damaged her taste buds!

I’m sure they’ll recover just in time for her to help Lady Han at a crucial moment in her competition with Lady Choi to see who will succeed Lady Jung as Highest Kitchen Lady! Actually, I’m a bit disappointed that Lady Jung’s story is coming to an end already. Obviously, it has to so the story can move on, but I really like her, and how she tries to hold strong against the politics and manipulations of the court, and not let it affect the kitchens. I also really liked when Jang Geum was exiled to the herb garden, and wish that had lasted longer. I think largely because I like learning about the herbs and ingredients. Not that there isn’t also a lot of that in the kitchens.

I’m not thrilled that Keum Young’s first love was the inspector who loans Jang Geum books, and will eventually be Jang Geum’s love interest. Though, sageuks have a good track record for not annoying me with triangles the way modern kdramas do. I really wish I could remember that guy’s name, though. Sageuks have a habit of putting a character’s name on the screen instead of saying it at times, but the YesAsia subs don’t translate that part, and his name hasn’t been said much. I find his scenes with Jang GEum very sweet, and I like that they didn’t do much “ZOMG! INSTANT CONNECTION!” there. Though I think it’s getting dragged out a bit with their not knowing yet that they’re the one the other met outside the palace. (actually, I get why he doesn’t recognize her, but I’m confused by her not recognizing him.)

And you know, I generally hate cute comedy relief couples/characters/parents in modern kdramas, but tend to like them in sageuks. I think because they tend to be more important to the plot, and that they help the leads more than they hinder them, unlike their modern counterparts. In this case, I really like the couple who took care of Jang Geum after her mother died. I especially like how the wife pretends she doesn’t care about Jang Geum, but she obviously does. And I like her protectiveness, and how she knows Jang Geum has secrets, but is more concerned about protecting her than discovering them. I do wonder where their son is. Jang Geum’s friend, Yeun Seng, is also fun, but she’s mostly just cute so far.
 
Objectively, I realize that this is essentially a long political drama, but I think it’s a good example of how changing the perspective of a tried and true story type can make it seem more fresh and original. In this case, focusing on the politics through the oft-ignored, domestic viewpoint. I do wish that Jang Geum was a little more interesting, though. I like her, but she’s a little on the “normal heroine” side at times.

Comments

[havocthecat]

It's politics plus cooking? (Simplified, I know.) I...find myself wondering where one might find these eps available for viewing.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I THINK Netflix has it, actually. I love sageuks (Korean period dramas), so I took a chance when I saw the first set for cheap at Rightstuf a while back. It's a bit slow, but I like it.

[havocthecat]

Thanks! I have the name scribbled down. I don't know if I'll be able to find it, but I'll hunt for it.

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is Jewel in the Palace, AKA the Show that Ran For Fricking Ever on KTSF! It wasn't on at a time that I could watch it, and I also had no idea that it was loosely based on a real person. Hmm, sounds more interesting than I originally thought...

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it goes by both names. It's...53 eps? Every ep is an hour long, so yeah, it's a really long one.

[morwen_peredhil]

Thanks to you, I've just added this to my Netflix queue.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Hee! It's much different from Goong (which I think is the only kdrama you've seen) but I like it.

[morwen_peredhil]

I adore historical films/books. And cooking. So it sounds pretty good to me.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, those are the main appeals. The characters are all nice (as in, good characters) too, but not as gripping as those in some other sageuks I've seen. There's also all the lanscape and costume pr0n!

[troisroyaumes]

Haha, despite having watched the series all the way through, I still don't remember his name. Actually that was what I liked about the series: he keeps more or less to the background, and while the romance is there, it's by no means the major storyline.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm sure he'll become more central to a degree later, but the focus is on the kitchen, so he's largely background material.

[windxalchemist.livejournal.com]

Dae Jang Geum. That was a good one. But even for a native speaker, it's hard to understand what goes on at times. Subs are your friends while watching sageuks. *laughs*

I'm glad you're enjoying!