Arthdal Chronicles
The first season of this fantasy story hits close to home. It depicts the cruelty and greed of villages that have the resources, food and technology to take advantage of others. The story doesn't waist time, the first episode starts with the Arthdal leaders asking the Neanthals to become part of their power. The Arthdal are afraid of the peaceful but strong Neanthals and pretend to negotiate, knowing they are not interested. And what do they do? The Arthdal leaders trick their own people and kill the Neanthals in order to take their lands. Asa Hon learns this when she is in the middle of the attack, and in order to safe Neanthal children, she leaves with a child and Ragaz, with whom she later has children with.
Arthdal continues to annihilate weaker villages, taking them as slaves for hard labor. It is Tagon, an Itgu in hiding, that makes all this possible for Arthdal. And even though he is loved by the village as a hero, his father and other leaders are trying to find ways of killing him, including making Mihol's daughter, Teaelha, into a spy. Even though Tagon is cruel, there is an innocence to his longing to be loved and accepted by the people. His relationship with Teaelha is of a love stronger than their ties to their families and interests. And even though we don't like what he does, some times we do wish him success in his endeavors and fight against the Arthdal leaders for power.
But it is the story of the Wahan Tribe that reminds us that Tagon and all Arthdal are cruel and greedy people that have no respect for others. This is a peaceful tribe in a far away land. They are more like Neanthals in their believes but they are also prejudice against Itgus like Eunseom, whose mother leaves him there before she dies. Eunseom's only true friend is Tanya, the daughter of the priestess and scientist of the village.
It is almost impossible to reach the place but Tagon and the Arthdal leaders find the way to reach the land, it takes them 10 years to reach it and less time to destroy it and take its people as prisoners and slaves. Here we see the struggle of these people who get separated, sold into slavery and fight with each other and their enslavers in order to survive. But it also shows the Wahan people mesmerized by the innovations and way of life in this civilized village.
Tanya ties Eunseom to her by naming him her dream and he will do anything to save her, but destiny takes them into two different paths. These two characters are also very naive, their innocence and sense of justice is what makes others follow them. They both want to forge a world where everyone is equal, no prejudice against people that are different, everyone on equal standing.
Tanya's relationship with Saya is a sad one at best. She is using Saya while Saya genuinely likes her. And even though, at some point she sees him as a friend and cares about him, she still uses his affection towards her. But she is not the only one using Saya, so is Tagon who separated him from his mother when he was a child and Teaelha who became his caregiver for Tagon. Still, Saya is not stupid and he knows how to play the game.
This first half ends with the downfall of the rule of the Arthdal leaders: Daekan, White Mountain, and Hae tribes; giving way to Tagon's rule under the name of Aramun; which damages the relationship he had with Teaelha. Tanya is now the high priest while Eunseom becomes a god for the Ago tribe and starts unifying weak tribes to end fights among them and focus on fighting against their common oppressor.
The second season starts 8 years after the final events of the first one. And the fighting is no longer centered on colonialism, but on taking down a threatening force that is not letting them continue with their expansion of territories. I have heard of people wondering why the change of actors for critical characters. I wouldn't have minded seeing the same actors since they are excellent ones and we got used to them. But I didn't mind the changes, I think that these new actors, brought some darkness to the characters that had been innocent and naive in the first season. They have learned to play the game and they are using what they have learned for their gain.
Tagon and Teaelha are no longer the close couple they had been, but they still love each other and have a son that unites them. Theirs is a tragic and powerful love story, tainted by the struggle for power.
In this half, we see Tagon's fall, and the rise of the ideology that drove Tanya and Eunseom into battle. But we are left with an open ending that promises more blood and restlessness. Saya wants Arthdal for his own since he can't have Tanya's love; and Teaelha wants to take Arthdal back as she promised Tagon; while Eunseom struggles to make Arthdal the land he and Tanya had envisioned.
It is the bloody story of a civilization in this fantasy world that reflects the truth about the history of our world so full of tyranny, blood and inequality.
It is not a story with clear lines and we will switch sides as their goals become twisted, but so is the story of rulers in the past and the present. This is a fantasy story, but it also criticizes what makes a country a country - it's bloody history of greedy men.
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Night has come- Episode 5 and 6 (INCLUDES SPOILERS)(WARNING: LOOOOOONNNGGG RANT AHEAD)
AGAIN, this post includes spoilers (All my posts do) so if you haven't seen this episode, I recommend not to read this post.
However, if you want to know just how bad your mind will be mess up, you are welcome to stay.
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First of all
I had this very interesting post that I was about to post in which I explained how the girl with the ax in the intro was Lee Yoon Seo, and now I see that it was a good idea not to post it because it would have made me look stupid considering what happened at the end of episode six.
So, that saved me.
EPISODE 5:
A FREAKING ROLLERCOASTER.
It was kind of obvious that Park Woo Ram was Mafia but the way it was delivered? that was unexpected. But let's not jump ahead of the whole kidnapping/dividing thing, because WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I, for once, knew Go Kyung Jun was going to be a pain in the butt but I will not take away the credit for his intelligence.
Like, the way he was right about who was the mafia? That was detective work right there. The way he delivered the confession? I won't lie, torture is a good way to make someone confess to something you had no part of but Woo Ram was mafia.
THE TORTURE:
I am sure Kyung Jun is a citizen. I have no proof but I have zero doubts. But, I do think that he'll be able to kill somebody if it means protecting himself or someone he cares about.
As it was shown in episode 5, he tortured Woo Ram to get a confession out of him, and as an avid reader of mafia romances -and currently writing my own, if I may say- the way he managed the torture was exceptional.
Tumblr don't flag me, but a girl has to admit when torture is on point, and this one was. It wasn't the physical torture that surprised me but the psychological. The way he would smile in a clear way that showed he didn't care about making somebody suffer was the CHERRY IN TOP OF THE ICE.
(And if I may mention, he is very cute.)
However, every bad character has a soft side and as we saw when he locked himself in the canteen, he started crying because he caused someone to die, and he tortured someone and everybody hates him so that ought to hurt.
THE SECRET PATHWAY:
When I tell you my mouth went
I have a feeling
AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT FEELING
That the ghost is trying to help Yoon Seo, as a matter of fact, I don't even think Woo Seok is dead but I'll dive into that theory later.
What I mean by the ghost trying to help Yoon Seo, I mean that the ghost seems to be leaving clues for her to find. Why is the ghost doing this? I don't know but I'm sure they are connected somehow.
When Yoon Seo found the secret room, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in how she didn't stay longer to investigate.
Girl reads crime and mystery novels, and she just looked for a bit and left.
If that had been me? I would have looked through the freaking cameras in the room to try and find out who was the mafia (We know who is the mafia, we are expecting the results) but she just left, so that was a bit disappointing.
I feel the ghost is making every clue obvious for her to find because she is not looking properly. You would expect her to be more invested into the whole thing but as of right now the only thing she has found was how the second body didn't had defense marks and the black light used to look at the door.
The door was obvious, it was not as if someone could break a door open like that with the power of hate.
However, everything else has been the ghost doing. Finding the entry to the secret hall? The ghost pushed the boxes.
The picture? The ghost had to put a light on it so she would actually find it interesting.
The exit? Again, the ghost had to say "Girl, it's this way" and I find that hilarious.
The ghost is carrying the show.
THE GAME:
This game is cheating in the most awful way possible. Like, it is legal for someone to not vote! But the game changed the rules and now they either vote or die.
As I approach the ending, I am allowed to touch the rules of the game.
Everybody must vote. As we saw in episode 3, the consequences are catastrophic. Great way to get rid of most of the cast.
The game must take place inside the designated zone. I am not a tech wizard but there must be some kind of sensor that alerts whoever is controlling this game when someone steps out, right?
If two people have the same amount of votes, then the voting has to be repeated and if it happens again, then they all die.
The third one was genius. Like, I can't find any crack in the rules and that is amazing and frustrating.
and finally,
what we were all expecting,
Woo Seok dying:
This was sad, and it probably hurt me more than it hurt Yoon Seo
BUT
I don't think he is dead
Like, sure. His head did the ringing of possession and his eyes went white but I don't think he died.
I think he is alive
I think he is not a mafia
I think he is controlling the game
GOSH, IT FEELS GOOD TO SAY IT.
Why do I think he is not dead?
All the other deaths have been very gruesome
(This is just an example, I won't put all of them)
Even the ones with the pillow and the curtain were gruesome and awful but Woo Seok?
Look at that
His head is not even underwater,
his body is not belly down
he is just there
floating,
like a water lili
He looks like a model.
So I don't think he is dead
Him dying defies the purpose of the whole show
He wants to protect Yoon Seo and dying won't grant him that
Now, if he is actually dead then that was a stupid move from the producers but I'm sure we'll get our plot twist.
KIM SO MI:
We all knew she was mafia.
We all know she wants to survive
But she is a psycho
Like, real psycho
Why all of them thought that leaving the ax out while there is a killer on the loose was a good idea, I don't know, but she has it and she has a victim in mind.
The end of episode six clearly shows her about to slice Yoon Seo open, but the the screen goes dark and she screams
And I don't think it was a scream of "Getting ready to kill you in the most awful way possible" but I think it was a scream of "Something is awful and I am about to die."
I think the ghost showed up, or the doctor/police stopped her
It may be hopeful thinking, but I think she is dead
like, really dead.
Yoon Seo can't die. She is the main character and even though kdrama writers and producers are fond of killing the main characters (we all know what I mean) killing Yoon Seo would be a stupid move.
Yoon Seo remains alive, So Mi? I'm not sure.
Now, this is not a point but just some questions and theories I have.
Why is Oh Jung Won so protective of Yoon Seo? I mean, I would also defend my best friend with my life but the way Jung Won is so protective makes me think there is something else happening here.
Jin Da Beom. He is one of the main characters. Why is he a main character acting like an extra? This is annoying me.
This may be random, and this is me being crazy but I am SO SURE that if Kyung Jun and Yoon Seo joined forces, they would find the mafia.
Besides, the way he only stops when she speaks? I may romanticizing stuff but you don't join kdrama land while being sane.
You are welcome to call me out in something I may have mistaken, and you are welcome to share your theories with me too!
Until next episode.
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