Of Swords and Parasols

You know, I really wish Warrior Baek Dong Soo didn’t use Chuno‘s music so much. I mean, it’s changed a bit (and it is quite good music) but that and the cast overlap just beg you to compasre the two, and there are some basic similarities in the plots.

I have to admit, though, while Chuno is the better series, I’m way more excited about WBDS eps than I was about Chuno, despite how much I like it. WBDS caters to a lot more of my narrative kinks and while there are only a few more women (not that they were lacking in Chuno) the women are more directly involved in the main plots, and have major plot points revolve around them. And they interact more, especially the last few episodes.

I admit, though, that I started composing my breakup letter when it looked like we might be headed to a double fridging to fuel a male rivalry, but we happily didn’t do that at all.

So, I think Dong Soo now gets to claim the Worst Day Ever Award. That award was previously held by Ji Sun, though only after I decided that Gwang Taek getting his hand cut off through thinking baby Dong Soo was eaten by wolves was more than 24 hours.

Anyway, Dong Soo’s day started out with his being prepared to starve to death in a rice chest to save Sado. Then Cho Rip drugged him and took his place. So far, we’re in relatively normal territory. But then he learned that his BFF/foster brother was a spy for the assassins by following a trail made up of comrades, mentors and commanders. And found him standing over the corpse of the man another friend sacrificed himself to save. Then he accidentally stabbed their mutual first crush in the fight that followed. Then he learned that said BFF had been a spy ever since they met. When the guy who tortured and killed their teacher and then tortured him when they twelve took off with the unconscious crush.

No wonder the boy went catatonic for a month. (I’m surprised Jin Joo held off that long in trying to throw him in the river, though. Thankfully, that level of trauma is difficult to replicate, so Jin Joo shouldn't have to lock them inside a burning barn to force him to rescue her as shock therapy too often. Though...technically, this is twice that saving Jin Joo from a burning barn has basically saved Dong Soo, if we count making him realize that his limbs were starting to straighten.)

Meanwhile, further proof (from previous episodes) that Jin Joo/Dong Soo should be the endgame pairing: Gwang Taek wanted to marry Ji and move to China to raise Dong Soo as their son. 5 minutes after proposing, they got started on making Jin Joo. (I think we all know Ji was lying about Gwang Taek not being the father. Cheon is certainly out of the running.) After Ji disappeared on him, he left Dong Soo in the cave to lead away the assassins. Then Jin Joo’s dad found Dong Soo alone in the cave and thought Gwang Taek was dead and took Dong Soo to Sa Mo, and 9 months later, he adopted Ji and Gwang Taek’s daughter. See? They SHOULD have grown up brother and sister, and we know how kdramas love pseudo brother/sister angst.

Moving on:

1. EEEE! I was right about Ji being the daughter of the former leader of the assassins. IT MAKES SO MUCH MORE WORK. I mean, it's what I was assuming, so it's all made sense to me in the context of my assumptions, but it's nice to have confirmation.

2. The more I watch, the more convinced I am that Ji sun would never really be happy with Dong Soo or Yeo Un, even if she and Dong Soo do turn out to be True Love (It still reads like infatuation to me, combined with his tendency to latch onto anything he thinks is a wounded bird or lonely and basically try to force them to be happy-it makes me think of the beginning of his relationships with both Yeo Un and Cho Rip, really-and most things that kdrama narratives have taught me to read as OTP OTP OTP aren't happening with them.) and that she just wants to be left alone. Also, even though it was mostly platonic and seemed to be largely paternal on his side, Sado is the one she wanted/expected to spend her life with. I mean, she had that psych sense thing when he died and everything! And apparently would have rathered died snuggling up to his corpse than lived with Dong Soo. Just saying.

All that said, her scenes with Yeo Un now that she knows the truth about him are fascinating. I mean, I've always liked them, but now I am torn between anticipating the inevitable superangsty scene where he dies for her and wanting them to continue like they are with him being torn and devoted and her hating him but being grateful for his protection forever.

3. Jin Joo got so many hugs and cuddles! I may have been jealous. (Writers, I'm sorry, I'm not normally one to hang "you're doing it right/wrong" or "this is good/bad writing" on a pairing, but if Jion Joo/Dong Soo isn't your endgame, I'm not going to be able to chalk it up to anything but bad writing, unless you just have different people writing different parts and forgetting to make sure they're all writing for the same relationships.) And I am so happy that everything is out now with her and Ji! Well, except the paternity. I'm a bit worried about backlash when that comes out. And I lovbed the bit where she and her dad were basically all "Screw biology! I love you forever and ever!"

4. The annoying assassin guy who hates Gwang Taek...actually got interesting for a few minutes there. It was very confusing. Is he actually going to have a use beyond what body part Gwang Taek will hack off next?

5. So, Cheon has a list now of Joseon's best swordsmen? I sense a killing spree coming on.