K-Drama Review: Princess Hours/Goong, Episodes 5-6

Read Episode reviews for:

Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 1-2
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 3-4
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 5-6
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 7-8
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 9-10
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 11-12
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 13-14
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 15-16
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 17-18
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 19-20
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 21-22
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 23-24

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 5-6

Our royal couple is not making progress on the friendship front. Shin takes a call from his friend-girl Hyorin at the dinner table, but Chaekyung tries to put him at ease and say that this is fine because he and Hyorin are just buddies. Shin rebuffs her attempt at graciousness and his subtle insults about her family's poverty bring tears to her eyes. Chaekyung boldly tells him off, but she looks heartbroken, and I'd bet $20 that those tears are real, not the usual perfect saline drops added by on set assistants.

 Here, Let Me Give You a Hug. Unnie Knows, Child. Unnie Knows.

Chaekyung storms out to another part of the palace and sees her schoolmate Yul. Yul explains that he's a secondary prince who is forbidden to live in the main palace, so he just visits Shin daily. Chaekyung thanks Yul for the chocolate he sent to her in episode 3, because Shin told her the candy was from Yul when it was really from Shin himself. (Do yourself a favor and take credit for your few noble gestures, Shin!) And with that, the misunderstandings already begin to accrue. Yul doesn't correct Chaekyung's assumption about the candy, and he teases her gently and says "You're really cute. But you're not Shin's type." Meaning that she's your type, Yul?

Putting the Moves on His Cousin-In-Law

Despite his aloofness, Chaekyung finds herself drawn to Shin. While he's listening to music, she sits in a room with him and rhetorically asks, since he can't hear: "Do you still like Hyorin? If my family hadn't agreed to this marriage, would you have found a way to marry her? I feel bad for coming between you two, but I think I'd feel even worse if you were with her." This is significant because it's her first admission of having feelings for the prince. And...he heard every word! His earbuds were in, but Chaekyung discovers that there was no music in his CD player. Omigowrsh, I love little revelatory moments like this, when someone hears something they weren't supposed to.

It Complicates Everything So Nicely.

But the revelation gets them nowhere, because Shin ignores Chaekyung at his birthday party on Jeju Island. And why is Hyorin at this party, getting all serious with the significant glances at Shin? Hyorin gives Shin an expensive new model of MP3 player, while Chaekyung gives him shoes she decorated herself.

The Prince Doesn't Appreciate These Sweet Kicks.

But later that night, some paparazzi are going crazy taking photos of Shin and Hyorin getting semi-cozy. It doesn't look good for the newly married prince, and we find out that it's part of Yul's mom's plot to replace Shin with Yul by turning the tide of public opinion. Next week at the opening of an art gallery, Shin is hit by an egg thrown from the audience. Yul's mom arranged this, hoping the public would see it as another sign that Shin is not universally liked.

And now I get the sense that Yul is in on his mom's plan, though there wasn't a lot of evidence before. Yul holds Chaekyung's hand in comfort after the egg incident, but she pulls away. Then Yul acts like a mastermind, telling Chaekyung not to go see Shin when he's pouting, because Shin would only respond well to Hyorin at this point. But he's wrong--Shin admits that he did want to see Chaekyung after the egging, because her antics could make him forget his disgrace. Chaekyung backhugs Shin and says she's sorry for not visiting him. Shin pulls away and asks if she's only hugging him because she feels guilty for flirting with Yul. Ooh, burn.

Just a Wee Bit of Cousin Rivalry to Liven Things Up.

At the equestrian club, Shin finally confronts his snotty friends about being mean to Chaekyung. Hyorin gets all huffy again, though: "Chaekyung is so inelegant. I can't approve of you being married to someone so beneath you!" Well, no one asked for your approval. Yul's mom gets close to Hyorin, probably so she can influence Hyorin to get closer to Shin, thus ruining Shin's reputation. Yul's mom was a ballet dancer before she became Crown Princess, so she draws a parallel between herself and Hyorin, who is probably already imagining herself as a princess. Dangerous dreams, indeed.

Interesting Note: Yul's friends are almost all girls. Shin's friends are almost all guys. What does that say about them?

Yul and the Ladies at Lunch.

Things I Loved:

1. The Teddy Bears. At the end of each episode, we see cute little white teddy bears dressed in Chaekyung and Shin's outfits, and placed in different poses. The bears can even be seen throughout the show, and they are so cute. It killed me when I noticed Shin watching TV while the bear on the coffee table mimicked his exact slouch.

Chillin' With the Prince and His Bear Avatar.

2. Chaekyung/Yul Friendship. I don't want them as a couple, partly because it's not a big enough challenge and partly because I have a feeling that it's not where the drama is headed. But man, they are so adorable as a pair of good friends. He really has been a big bright spot in her complicated palace life. When Shin's friends are nasty to Chaekyung, Yul finds her and her friends and starts a splash fight with them beside a pond. It's the first fun she's had all day, and it's thanks to Yul.

Always With the Cuteness From These Two.

3. Outfits, Pretty Outfits! The wardrobe in the show is endlessly gorgeous. I want to wear about 80% of the dresses Chaekyung owns, and the fashion for the guys is great, too. I'm such a sucker for white suits.

Which Shin Supplies in Abundance

Complaints:

1. Editing: There's some weird time lapse where Yul and Shin go to an in-resort mogyotang spa during the birthday party, I think? The editing could have been a little more clear in a few instances.

Themes:

Marrying for Bad Reasons: Chaekyung fusses at Shin for marrying her just as a chess move to get himself more freedom. But he retorts back that she just married him for money, so ha, they're even!

Well Played, Cold Prince, Well Played.

Fish Out of Water: Chaekyung gets a lot of laughs for her little flubs as a commoner in an aristocratic world. At a party, Shin and Chaekyung do the awkwardest tango ever and I love Chaekyung for trying to have fun with it anyway.

This Dip Is Kind of Awesome, Though.

Jealousy: Shin insists on treating Chaekyung like a non-entity, but he's most definitely jealous of her attention. Yul and Chaekyung have so many cute almost-couple moments, but Shin sees this and starts messing with Chaekyung over it. Shin also warns Yul to be less familiar and to call Chaekyung by her title, not by her name, when they're around the adults.

Not That He Likes Her or Anything.

Cultural Observances:

Spicy food: There's a cute scene where Yul is not used to dokbokki, since he's been in England too long to be acquainted with regular Korean food.

Gyukbang: The royals play an ancient Korean game similar to golf. Then Shin teaches Yul a form of polo, called gyuku, I think.

New words:

Bbali-gaba seems to be "Hurry up and go"
Eodi-ga is "Where were you?" or "Where did you go?"
Bbali-mogo is "Huury up and eat"

A Beary Close Look at Royalty.

Watch Princess Hours/Goong HERE at DramaFever


Episode Evaluations: The plot's still incredibly slow paced, but I'm happy enough. I'm essentially content to watch Shin and Chaekyung put on a variety of snazzy outfits and go to cool places. I almost don't care about what else happens. The outfits, y'all!

Scripture Sunday: The Book of Revelation

Revelation is considered a very complicated book because it's prophetic. It doesn't tell a story that has already happened and it isn't offering advice--instead, it discusses what will happen in the future, near the end of the world. I'm going to go ahead and use some Google-search images to help illustrate Revelation, because the visual elements are really hard to fathom otherwise.

John has been exiled to the island of Patmos, and while he is there, God gives him a revelation or a prophetic vision of the end of the world. The point of all this end-times prophecy is to show that the world is not permanent. And end will come, and Jesus will return. Those who love him will be saved, and those who don't will be cast out. God emphasizes his power when he begins speaking to John in 1:8-- "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

God gives John a message to preach to the the 7 main churches of Christianity, and I think the seven churches represented were actual locations of churches at the time (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea), but that they also in some way apply to the different bodies of believers in different places in the future. John sees a vision of 7 candlesticks which represent the churches, and Jesus is walking among the candlesticks. God has a special message for each of the churches, some involving praise and some involving a stern warning.

Chapter 4 shows the throne of God in heaven, and proceeds to depict the judgements God delivers upon the earth in the final days. It's worth noting that in heaven everyone, whether angel or human, is always worshipping God and giving honor to him, saying things like: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (4:11).

Chapter 5 begins the judgements of the Seven Seals (wax seals which keep a book closed). As each seal on the book is opened, a new plague is unleashed on Earth because of the sinfulness of Earth's residents. Among the seals are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, spirits that ride on horses and cause famine, war, pestilence, and death.

After the Seven Seal judgments, there are the Seven Trumpet judgments in Chapter 8, which are even worse. Among all these punishments, the Antichrist (the Beast) rises and gains power over all the people that remain in the world. John also discusses how God will protect the nation of Israel in the final days. Chapter 16 brings the final Seven Vial judgements. Chapter 20 brings the final judgment on Satan, who is thrown into the lake of fire which has been prepared for him.

In Chapter 21, God makes all things new. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (21:3-4) So after all this devastation, and even after the end of the world itself, God's love toward humanity is still in evidence.

Revelation, in short form: Evil is destroyed, Jesus wins, and if you love Jesus, you win also.

K-Drama Review: Rooftop Prince, Episodes 17-18

Read Episode reviews for:

Rooftop Prince--Episodes 1-2
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 3-4
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 5-6
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 7-8
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 9-10
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 11-12
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 13-14
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 15-16
Rooftop Prince--Episodes 19-20, Finale

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 17-18

Yi Gak is having to rush to save Park Ha from freezing to death in a refrigerator truck, but to do so, he must switch from pretending to be Taeyong 2.0 to pretending to be himself. It's complicated.

Shivering While Her Man Switches Out Incriminating Identities.

In Corporate Land, Rich Lady Seonjoo drops the bomb on Sena that Sena actually is her real birth daughter, just not the birth daughter she was pretending to be earlier. And I think these may be the first real tears we've seen from Sena, who now knows that she has betrayed her true sister Park Ha in every way imaginable.

Or Are They Merely Crocodile Tears, As Per Usual?

Over the phone, Sena asks Taemu to let Park Ha go and not dismember her or whatever he was planning to do, post-kidnapping. Taemu won't give up, though. He has Yi Gak beaten up, but fortunately Yongsul shows up to defend the Prince so he can go save Park Ha. Yi Gak brings Park Ha home to the rooftop apartment and takes care of her. He says since she's been through so much, he'll make the omurice this morning. Wow, that's romantic.

Not Even Joking---Food Preparation=Love.

 Yi Gak vows to destroy Taemu completely for what he did to Park Ha, but I think he's already vowed to destroy Taemu a couple of times, now. Just Hulk-Smash him and be done with it, Prince!

Sena steals a laptop full of Taemu-condemning evidence from Taeyong's room, but CEO Grandma catches her in the act! Then CEO Grandma falls down the stairs and knocks herself unconscious. Sena just lets her lie there, and Grandma dies from the impact. Taemu and Yi Gak-as-Taeyong have a long awaited fistfight about CEO Grandma's death. Yi Gak gets taken to jail on suspicion of involvement in Grandma's death.

I Can't Say I'm Surprised at This.

But Yi Gak vanishes and escapes from his jail cell because being from the past makes him incorporeal at times. Yi Gak-as-Taeyong has to be in a conference room for the reading of CEO Grandma's will, even though they already read the will yesterday while he was present and are just now re-reading it for dramatic emphasis. He arrives just in time to be appointed as the sole heir to the shopping company.

So. Yi Gak-as-Taeyong finally owns the company! Not that anyone in the audience ever really cared. The company's ownership was just an arbitrary thing to struggle over, and we didn't want sneaky Taemu to have it.


Yi Gak confronts Taemu and Sena with evidence that pins CEO Grandma's murder on them. Bad move, kiddo, revealing the every card you hold to the villains. Sena and Taemu plot to kill Yi Gak, who nearly gets himself murdered by a lake. Taemu is about to run Yi Gak into the lake with his car, but Park Ha pushes Yi Gak out of the way just in time. We end with Park Ha staring down the headlights of an oncoming car, and I should be worried, but I'm not.

Things I Loved:

1. Side Character Acting. Rich Lady Seonjoo can truly act, and it's really shattering to see her admit in a quiet voice that she abandoned both her daughters. "I am a bad person," she says brokenly to Sena. It's a moment of greatness in a sea of confusion.

I Want to See This Woman in Other Dramas.

2. Romance. We do get a couple of nice moments with Yi Gak and Park Ha. Yi Gak melts hearts with this statement to Park Ha: "I guess I came here from the past just to meet you. Because the only thing I've accomplished since coming here is falling for you." Yi Gak and Park Ha also have a really innocent sleepover because she's worried about losing him again. He says that instead of worrying over when they'll part, he'll just enjoy every second of being together. Aww at the positivity. I really like how their relationship is taken so gradually and slowly.

Not Even Remotely Scandalous.

Complaints:

1. Hero Fail. Why does Yi Gak have to openly announce his intentions to Taemu all the time? Telling the villain "I'm going to crush you!" isn't helpful. It's really no wonder that Taemu connects the dots and lands Yi Gak in jail.

Hard To Tell Whether Our Hero or Villain is Smarter.

2. No Sidekicks. I'll say it again: these guys are important to Rooftop Prince, and even though they rarely move the plot along, when they don't have a large enough chunk of screentime, the episodes lag.

Don't Exclude the Fan Favorites!

3. Pacing. Despite the murders and jail time, the pace of this show feels like it has slowed to a standstill. Even the dialogue is repetitive and the reaction shots are lingering too long.

All You Can Do is Slump on the Couch and Wait it Out.

Themes:

Family Reunions: We get a for-real family reunion between Seonjoo and Sena in these eps. Also, though it takes them forever to finally locate each other, Park Ha and Seonjoo reunite.

This Reunion Should Have Happened in Episode 12.

Take Care of Family, Even If It's Not Yours. CEO Grandma meant a lot to Taeyong, so Yi Gak apologizes to the unconscious Taeyong for not protecting her. Yi Gak feels he owes a duty to Taeyong, and he does. And in general, a hero ought to protect all grandmas everywhere; it's just what heroes do.


Episode Evaluations: It's gotten dull around here, truth be told. When Rooftop Prince moves away from romantic tension and comedy, and toward more corporate plotting, it loses its zip. It took forever for the most basic of plot points to get revealed (Park Ha is Booyoung, Park Ha and Sena have the same mother, Taeyong is alive), and by the time they're all finally out in the open, I feel no pressure or dramatic tension. This show mostly definitely could have wrapped itself up in 16 episodes instead of 20, and I'm really hoping the final 2 episodes give me a reason to care again.

K-Drama Review: Princess Hours/Goong, Episodes 3-4

Read Episode reviews for:

Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 1-2
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 3-4
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 5-6
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 7-8
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 9-10
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 11-12
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 13-14
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 15-16
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 17-18
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 19-20
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 21-22
Princess Hours/Goong--Episodes 23-24

Contains Spoilers for Episodes 3-4

Chaekyung is getting princess lessons, and I'm officially having flashbacks of Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries. But Chaekyung's transformation is less about appearances than about manners, although seeing Chaekyung in hanbok is just too funny, since this is the girl who likes to wear sweatpants under her school uniform skirt.

Exhausted By Life. And By Hanbok.

The rest of the royal family is currently worrying about the king's secret disease. I now begin to notice that this is not the healthiest royal family. The old king died just after his oldest son died in a car accident, and now the new king is probably dying. It makes me feel a pang of concern for Shin and Yul. They're not destined to live past 40, are they?

During the pre-wedding preparations, Crown Prince Shin goes to see his bedraggled fiancee Chaekyung. He brings her a present of some candies and chocolate, but Shin also tries hard to cultivate an aloof, unfeeling image for himself. So even while they should be becoming allies, there's always a distance between Shin and Chaekyung.

Metaphorical Distances: He's Outdoors and She's Indoors.

Shin makes a deal with Chaekyung: in a few years, if she can't bear the pressures of palace life any longer, he'll grant her a divorce so that she can escape. He doesn't say it in the sweetest way, but it's actually a kind offer, when you think about it. Then it's time for the internationally televised royal wedding ceremony! It involves a lot of calmish, inexplicable things like drinking tea slowly and holding a live dove in a brightly patterned scarf.

The Bird is the Word.

Prince Yul shows up in the crowd at the wedding, looking wistful. I can't tell if he's missing his deceased father, or wishing that he was the Crown Prince, or what. Surely he can't be wishing it was him going through this endless formal ceremony to marry a near stranger? It's hardly an enviable position.

And the Ceremony is Essentially a Parade of Large Hats.

After the wedding, Chaekyung is trying to figure Shin out. He tells her that he's a cold type who doesn't care for others, but then when she looks sad, he sweetly offers her a handshake and tells her to come to him if she's having problems. He has his moments of jerkishness, but Shin never seems to stick to them for very long. And yet, I think it's kind of awesome that Chaekyung BITES his hand because he's offering her a pittance of attention and courtesy, and she doesn't need it.

This Handshake Does Not End Well.

The marriage isn't consummated because they're underage, and they move into a small palace (more of a summer house) with separate quarters. Yul transfers to Chaekyung's class at school, but because he wasn't visible at the wedding, she still doesn't know who he is and before long, they're good buddies.


And we're back to Hyorin again. She gets all upset because she's losing Shin, so Hyorin turns down an 8-year scholarship to the Royal Ballet School so she can go home and confront a boy who has already married someone else. Oh, Hyorin. Whatever happened to that strong young woman you were in episode 1?

We also finally establish that Yul is jealous of his cousin. He quietly says to Shin's departing car, "Hey you, that's my seat. I should be sitting there." I tend to think that Yul means sitting by Chaekyung as well as sitting in the limo and on the throne.

Channeling His Jealous Energy Into Ironing.

Things I Loved:

1. The Costumes. I may joke about the ceremonial garb, but it honestly looks quite fabulous. So cool and exotic and traditional. It makes classy people look classier and awkward people look more awkward, which is great for a drama.

I Am So Distracted By This Hat.

2. Yul. What a mystery he is. He's a good friend to Chaekyung, but despite the Goong POV-camera following him all the time, we still know so little about Yul's heart and motivations. Is he gonna be a supportive bro to Shin, or a villainous plotter who brings him down? It's too soon to tell. 

I Can't Read This Guy.

3. Wish Fulfillment. I can't help it. I am charmed by the pretty-pretty palace and the spacious rooms. This part of the wish-fulfillment fantasy is so dead on! It taps into that part of every girl's imagination that secretly wants a canopy bed, a white pony, and a room with flowy curtains and cushy carpets. Chaekyung walks around the mansion in a daze, still wearing her puffy PJs from home, and it's easy to step into her shoes and feel the awe.

Complaints:

1. Pacing. There's no getting around it; the show moves slowly. Episode 3 is mainly just the wedding, without a lot of side plots going on. Sure, Yul looks sad, Shin looks reserved, Chaekyung looks uncomfortable, and the nation gathers to watch, but really it just amounts to an hour of wedding-watching.

It Can Get a Bit Drowsy at Times.

2. Hyorin. Warning: rant incoming.

Hyorin has a nice rationale for returning to school. She says she would rather come home and experience all that life has to offer, so that her dancing will be more authentic. A good reason, right? But then she delivers this little gem in a speech to Shin--"For the rest of your life, you're going to regret that you didn't wait for me." 

Excuse me, Hyorin? You told everyone you weren't coming back, period. Also, the Crown Prince can't even sneeze without asking permission. Did you think he could halt his arranged marriage on the small chance that you might one day move back to Korea and decide to promote him from buddy to boyfriend? I don't think Hyorin is a jerk so much as she is spoiled. She wants perfection, spontaneity, a ballet career, and Shin, and she can only have two of those things at most.

Make Up Your Mind!

Themes:

Failed Overtures of Friendship: Shin opens up and tells Chaekyung that he agreed to the marriage only on the condition that they be allowed to relocate to a palace away from the adults. Shin says that if the two of them are living in the faraway palace, she'll get to sneak off and visit her parents, as he knows she wants to do. It's his first real gesture of kindness, I think.

And then Shin produces a whole written-down list of fun "princess" things for Chaekyung to try, like inviting her friends over to the royal resort, but Chaekyung shuts him down hard, not at all impressed with his friendliness. And he's like, "Whatever. It was Yul's list of ideas anyway." Oh, it looks like our boy Shin does not take rejection well.

He Doesn't Take Boredom Well, Either.

Runs in the Family: Chaekyung gets her horrible study skills from her dad. Neither of them are good at recalling their super-formal and super-important parts in the royal wedding. You think it's just a Chaekyung issue, but then you discover it's a family trait!

Dad, Struggling With His Partially Memorized Speech.

Cultural Observances:


New words:
Shikeureopda is "silence!"
Halaboji is "grandfather"

Watch Goong HERE on DramaFever.

Episode Evaluations: The plot still moves at an ultra-slow pace, but Chaekyung's charm and Shin's cool distance are keeping me interested. And the pretty hanbok and luxurious palaces aren't hurting, either!

Scripture Sunday: The Book of Jude

In the book of Jude, the writer starts off with a bit of "contend[ing] for the faith". The Christian faith needs to be defended from the inside, not the outside, at this point because there are ungodly people (who even deny the existence of Jesus Christ) joining themselves to the church and spreading their false teachings.

Jude paints a rough picture for what awaits these people. Jude talks about how God killed many of the Israelites he delivered from Egypt because of their unbelief, and God also cast many rebellious angels out of heaven. Purging the church of false teachers would be perfectly within the realm of things God can do. Jude has some very vivid and unflattering comparisons for the false teachers:

"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." (Jude 1:12-13)

But there is always hope for the faithful believers. We don't have to listen to the false teachers, and we don't have to get swept up in their punishment when the time comes: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 1:20-21)

After all his harsh, imperative warnings, Jude reminds his audience that it is God himself who we can lean on when these conflicts arise. He is the one who is "able to keep you from falling".