#re: ryangeum in general. also him and gilchae being narrative foils - will hopefully make a post on that in like...idk 10 eps or 5

[astarlightmonbebe]

now that i'm halfway into part one of my dearest (i.e. have watched five episodes), here's a list of thoughts and observations that didn't all deserve their own post:

janghyun and gilchae really grow on my every episode...i was honestly not super bought in ep one, but since then each episode has made me enjoy them more and more. not a major otp that makes me lose it just yet, but one whose story i'm still interested in watching unfold

i think eunae nailed it when she said that gilchae cherishes yeonjun, but he's not the one she loves. gilchae 'loves' yeonjun for what he represents: stability, loyalty, steadfastness. janghyun is the antithesis of that - he seems to always be leaving, and can't commit (at least to her) - but he also matches her on her level, something she desperately needs. no wonder their interactions always leave her flustered and upset!

for main characters, yeonjun and eunae don't actually get as much screentime as i expected, but i like the insights we started getting in eps 4 and 5. i'm surprised (shocked?) that eunae, who passed out twice at the sight of blood, grew a strong enough stomach to nurse soldiers back to life.

i wonder what happened to their other friends from the village...and their families...it's the wild west out there in joseon

the costuming is epic! i was watching the bts with the costume designer saying she created period-specific fabrics and made so many, and it was all mind blowing

the little banter dynamic ryangeum and gujam have going on is so funny to me. gujam is always annoyed by ryangeum lolll

for a 'singer,' ryangeum is an extremely skilled fighter (he demonstrated exceptional aim with the bow and gun, which makes me think his main skill is archery, but there was a few seconds clip of him using a sword in ep 4 which was cool)

as the eunuch said at the end of ep 5, janghyun doesn't care for the king, but he clearly cares for the people of the nation. i don't think he really cares for joseon honestly, not as a nation, but he cares for the common people (that the govt doesn't)

janghyun did seem to focus on the crown prince upon first seeing him in ep 5 and i'm wondering if there's something there...

the LOOKS! gilchae and janghyun both look at each other when the other has just turned their head. ryangeum is always giving janghyun longing looks when his head is turned (he's very conscious of janghyun's every move and minute emotions/expressions, re: the ribbon, gilchae, etc)

that being said, namgoong min has that look he wears when he gets angry/worried/driven where he widens his eyes and his face gets serious and downcast, and it blows me away every time. he's done it in every single drama i've seen him in, and it's always a bit different on the context, but it always fits his characters perfectly...he conveys so much with so little.

i feel like this could be a much more sultry drama (if that's the right word), it has the potential for a more steamy, risque element, but i think it is very constrained by the time period and their respective characters. i think that was a deliberate choice on the writer's part, and i respect it. janghyun says a lot of lines that would have other women hook line and sinker, but has gilchae bristling instead, puffing up against him. his talk about 'mulling' is romantic, sure, seductive, even, but gilchae doesn't respond to that in kind; she puts her walls up, because she doesn't want to be trapped by him. she feels out the waters, doesn't quite dip her toes in. perhaps in another drama they would be lovers, with more longing, but here it is more reserved, which makes the moments they share all the more potent.

wish i could get the janghyun backstory already! and his story with ryangeum, because 'i just need ryangeum' is a common theme; although gujam is the one that travels with him, it seems ryangeum is the one he relies on in his time of need, to always be at his side (see ryangeum killing the generals/leaders of the manchus/jurchens both times, their upcoming infiltration, 'you're a lark that only comes once every 10k years'). sadly, i think that has a different meaning for ryangeum.

#star stumbles #my dearest #kdrama #mbc my dearest #ok i have an ok grasp of what happens in the future because i've been watching people watch this for a while but i won't comment on #any of it until i get there #re: ryangeum in general. also him and gilchae being narrative foils - will hopefully make a post on that in like...idk 10 eps or 5 #however long it takes #i think yeonjun and janghyun are also foils but i want to see a little bit more of yeonjun before i comment on that #he puts his duty first and his ideals before eunae meanwhile janghyun changes his plans on a whim for gilchae #pretty easy to guess my favorite character but i'm liking gilchae a lot #in my opinion she looks more beautiful with no makeup and her hair down in a braid than she did in silks