More tidbit

I’m working on 22 and 23, don’t worry, but someone on soompi found this crazy funny Chinese site where people postulated possible endings for HGD according to Korean and Chinese conventions. Make you laugh while you wait… (All credit to original poster(s)!)

The really good ones are bolded.

Alternate endings for Hong Gil Dong:

1. The traditional Chinese pugilistic ending: In order to save Enok, Chang Hui sacrifices his life. While dying, he lays in Enok’s arms, her tears falling down on his face.

2. The usual Kdrama ending: Chang Hui chooses to make everyone happy, 3-4 years later Enok and Gil Dong reunite happily.

3. The ‘Jin Yong’ version: Enok marries whomever, but the emphasis is on all three of them withdrawing from the world, becoming wanderers who don’t care about what happens to the world.

4. The Xiao Li Fei Dao (小李飞刀) ending: Enok wants to return to Gil Dong’s side. Gil Dong doesn’t feel he can make Enok happy, so he says cruel things and leaves her. From then on, he becomes an alcoholic.

5. The Prince’s First Love ending (aficionados of Sung Yuri will recognize this one): Chang Hui becomes king, Enok leaves with Gil Dong. Enok discovers that she has become used to Chang Hui’s caring, his gentle gaze, and that her deepest feelings are for Chang Hui. After returning to Chang Hui, Gil Dong continues his life as a wanderer who upholds justice.

6. Prince’s First Love ending version 2.0: Chang Hui’s life hereafter becomes tragic and alone as #3 in the love triangle, to assuage his heartache, he creates Korea’s most glorious reign. (Maybe we should just name it Daegoon Chang Hui’s First Love. ^^)

7. The Goong ending: Enok leaves completely. Gil Dong makes Mal Nyeo the head of Hwal Bin Dang and goes to look for her. The two marry, leaving all the anguish for Chang Hui to bear!

8. The Lovers in Paris ending: Everything is settled, Enok goes to China to discover herself, Gil Dong goes to China to find work, the two wait to meet.

9. The My Love Patzzi ending: On the day that Enok is about to become queen, Chang Hui can’t find it in his heart to force her to marry. Enok returns to find Gil Dong. Gil Dong is surprised - “Why did you come back?” Enok - “I feel happier with you!” Gil Dong is touched.

10. The Hotelier ending: Chang Hui becomes king, Gil Dong is so popular with the people that Chang Hui is forced to exile him. After a few years, Enok sees him walking towards her in the street, both begin crying.

11. The Winter Sonata ending: The fighting ends successfully, camera pan, Enok and Gil Dong holding a child in their arms appear before the audience. (Audience concludes that it’s in a few years later.) Gil Dong - “Our son just peed in his pants!” Enok - “He’s not at all like his serious father!” Gil Dong - “That’s because he’s like his adoptive father!” The child cries furiously. Enok - “Looks like I have to go back to the palace and see the real dad!” Gil Dong - “Good bye!”

12. The Autumn Fairy Tale ending: Enok dies in the end, leaving two bachelors.

13. The Xu Zhimo (徐志摩) ending: Chang Hui’s last act of love is to let go, as he stands along on the city walls, looking at Enok’s departing figure, he sighs, “To have her, I am fortunate. To not have her, it is fate.” (Literally: 得之，我幸。不得，我命.)

14. The Nine Ball ending: Enok smiles, elegantly and enigmatically, at Chang Hui and Gil Dong - without saying who she will go to!

15. The Loving You ending: He loves her, she loves him, he loves her… none of them got together in the end because the director and writers didn’t agree!

16. The Hwang Jin-Yi ‘Eun Ho’ version ending: (one of the best, imo) Chang Hui falls ill with the after-effect of so many arrows and sword stabs. He goes to the place where he and Enok first met, JGS feels that the scene is familiar, and says, on the spur of the moment, “Even though my time on Earth has been shorter than usual, I will not regret anything. I hope you will not cry too many tears because of me. I do not want you to go through life with tears in your eyes. Let me cry for your loneliness. I have to go now, to somewhere I can only watch you. The tears I leave will protect you, I will always pray that your life after me, will be happier and more fulfilled.” (Do any of you get it? Dead of laughing over here.)

17. The Alien Sam ending: After a long discussion, all three feel that staying on Earth would be too dangerous. All return to Mars.

18. The JYP ending: Enok dies, but before she does, she makes Chang Hui promise to take care of Gil Dong. Chang Hui and Gil Dong form a group, UN or fly to the sky, and begin a new life.

19. Ancient Chinese history ending: Chang Hui becomes king. After Enok leaves, he feels lots of anguish. One day, he sees through the futility of the world and becomes a buddhist monk.

20. Modern Chinese history ending: Knowing that the Sa Yin sword is fake does not disappoint Chang Hui - because he chooses to ‘Believe in the people, rely on the people.’ After a successful takeover, at the annual party congress, Chang Hui makes the following report: “This battle took full advantage of Bureau Chief Hong Gil Dong’s exemplary advancements in …”

21. The ending according to Jay Chou’s The Secret that Cannot be Told: After Enok leaves, Chang Hui thinks of her day and night. One day, while playing the guitar, he accidentally travels through time, and becomes the JGS of today. This is the ’secret that cannot be told’.

22. The end according to 济公 (a prominent monk in the Song dynasty): Chang Hui, Enok and Gil Dong break through the worldly emotion that surround them, becoming buddhas.

23. Hans Christian Anderson’s ending: At the end, Cinderella (Enok) and her princes (Chang Hui and Gil Dong) live happily ever after.

24. The Harry Potter ending: Hermione Enok chooses Draco Malfoy Chang Hui, Harry Potter Gil Dong chooses Ginny Weasley Eun Hye. After n years, they have children, who become embroiled in conflict once again.

25. DBSK’s First Love ending: As Enok is about to finish the story, the bell rings. Enok says, “Children, class is finished. I will finish the story next class.” Enok leaves the school and sees Gil Dong on a motorcycles and Chang Hui on a bicycle - the two have already changed. Both say, “We’ve waited from then until now. Do you have an answer?” Enok shakes her head.

26. The Vineyard Man ending: Ten years later, Enok gave birth to lots of children, living happily with Gil Dong.

27. The Coffee Prince ending: Gil Dong and Chang Hui fall in love after being together for a long time. Gil Dong, heedless of the world, abandons Enok and declares to Chang Hui, “Chang Hui, I love you. I don’t care if you’re a king or ugly, an alien or a man. I want to go as far as possible together.” And then … discovers that Chang Hui is a girl! (Or else why would our Daegoon look so delicately pretty?) He throws up some blood in shock, and after some struggling and fighting, accepts Chang Hui. The two live happily ever after and opens a First Shop of Red Bean Buns Princes .

28. The impossible ending: Gil Dong dies.

29. The Clamp ending: CH asks Yuuko to grant his wish, but Yuuko says that the price would be too much for him to pay. After a lot of haggling with metaphorical values, they settle an agreement: for the price of his memories, Yi Nok and Gil Dong will be sent away to another dimension to start a new life together. He didn’t know that YN and GD also paid a price to get him to go with them. (Credits to Neechan.)

Almost dead of laughing and loss of hand movement,

Sevenses

Doremi pictures!

As I am not one for spamming people with pictures, here’s a Chinese site that has a lot of photos from the 2006 planned-release of Doremifasolatido. Enjoy.

That was all,

Sevenses

Episode 23 preview

Woah, thanks to this dedicated fan, who filmed the preview off her tv/computer screen, we have a preview of episode 23, without even going to the trouble of having episode 22 air…

It’s not translated, but working from the Chinese translations here, I think I have the vague outline of a textual spoiler.

Preview:

Seo with Eun Hye, talking about the new revolution

• Seo: We came out of this alive. I will become the core of power once more.
• EH: To gather support, you need the Yangban on your side. Right now they must hate HGD intensely. He will be our common enemy.
• Seo: If you had been my son, what great things you could have done! But what are you writing?
• EH: I am gathering stories about the revolution and putting them in a book.
• Seo: What story?
• EH: Don’t the commoners really like stories about a hero becoming king?

(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I WAS AFRAID OF SMTG LIKE THIS. SOMEONE KILL EH FOR ME. PLSKTHX. She’s going to cause trouble and tension for GD, b****! She’s going to force CH to kill him or harm him and someone, please, take a chair and hit her.)

Chang Hui as king, with Gil Dong (who is in ministerial garb, yum).

• GD: I have to dress like this to meet you from now on?
• CH: What you are wearing clearly denotes our relationship. (Um, not clear on this one.)
• GD: You know about the sword?
• CH: Did you think I was going to be like my brother? You knew, but you didn’t tell me. Were you really afraid I would become insane like my brother?
• GD: Isn’t he perfectly alright? Why did Noh force me to conceal it?
• CH: You are supporting me because I am the king you chose?
• GD: I will stop the nobles from using the sword as an excuse. But please don’t turn into your brother, be a good king.
• CH: I will not turn into my brother.

(Ahh, when CH stands by GD, despite the original novel’s end depicting GD as king and therefore threatening CH and nobility to a level, what will happen?)

Chang Hui giving orders to eunuch.

• CH: Do not let them know of the crazy king’s death.
• Eunuch: Yes, your majesty. I have buried him underneath an apricot tree. (Or smtg like that…)

The common people gathered around a proclamation.

• Person 1: HGD is the military liaison minister?
• Person 2: For a thief to become a minister, this world must have turned completely upside down.
• Yeon: His doings are very popular with the people.
• Gom: Yay! My chief is popular!
• Yeon: But the nobles must hate him like poison.

(*quivers for GD and CH* They’re like binary star systems, yay for orbiting and satellites and bad metaphors from me this early in the morning. They’re just such love.)

Chang Hui, at the end: Lies. All lies. That false ending, does it stop there? Or are there bigger lies waiting for me? Even though they are all lies, I must not give up.

The intensity, it kills. I feel like I’m suspended from some random tree, trying to wait for the eps to be released.

Love,

Sevenses

Uncle Sam need YOU to free Tibet!

I know I’ve stayed away from being personal, political, or otherwise in-your-face about the world we live in and the absolute messes we create. We have political blogs for that, thankfully.

Unfortunately, the furor over recent events in Tibet (please tell me you know what’s going on, unless you’re a) imprisoned, b) recovering from a coma, c) been sleeping this weekend) has reached even my cosy little isle of dramas and the daily struggle to maintain a 4.0 average. People - and by people I mean outraged junior human rights activists who demand that China pull out of their cruel ‘occupation’ of Tibet immediately - have been pestering me for my opinion, as a Chinese citizen, on the events.

Cool your jets, people, and take a look at the facts. Two main arguments against Chinese presence in Tibet:

1. Tibet is not a part of China: Tibet, territorially and legally speaking, has been a part of China since the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 AD). They were a monarchical society with their own monastic beliefs, and had submitted to become a vassal province under the combined military power of the Mongolians (who took over the rest of China too). Since then, with each successive dynasty and government, Tibet has agreed to be included as part of China - where were the protesters for justice and liberation in 1598 AD? 1845 AD? (Picking random dates out of a hat here. Of course, we are also not forgetting that at least 7 Western nations tried to colonialize parts of China concurrently in the 18-19th centuries and wrought massive damages on the people - but that’s a post for another day.)
2. Cruelty, unfairness, oppression of the Tibetan people: Take the spate of attacks this weekend - they were violent, aimed at the vulnerable, and clearly trying to hurt. The irony is, most of the victims were Han Chinese. Those were the people all this deployed army and police personnel were supposed to protect (doesn’t say much for military efficiency, but then not all of us can afford to pour $180 per capita into defense spending). Historically speaking? Taking a broader look, the Tibetans before 1950s were ruled by an elite society led by the Dalai Lama (not the current one). So in the 1950s, the Communists come and set up a regional government, effectively marginalizing the Dalai Lama’s sphere of influence. After a failed rebellion, the retainers of the then youthful Dalai Lama escaped to India. Human rights under a monarchical system, I believe I do not need to expand on. Yes, there is a lack of human rights, but that applies to China in general. And I do know that the government is pouring millions, if not billions of dollars into regional development.

My biggest problem with this whole issue is that NO ONE KNOWS WHAT’S GOING ON. The Western media have one story, the Chinese one another, the Tibetans maybe a third. None of them tell the full truth, but neither is willing to concede the veracity of their account. Okay, so the Chinese state media lies. Is the Western media (the so-called fourth estate) then completely unbiased and independent from their governments and thus a model for information diffusion? I doubt it.

Quite frankly, I have little to no patience for idiots who shout freedom, but intelligent, well-reasoned debate is welcome. Goodness knows we need to change this world of ours.

Respectfully,

Sevenses

Hong Gil Dong Episode 21, recap

(Also, something that makes the GDxCH shipper in me very happy - ahaha. Here. It deserves its own post, but I couldn’t wait…)

Finally! After what feels like 2723817478121 assignments and midterms, between very little sleep, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you:

Episode 21

The beginning is pretty idyllic, as Enok walks through a random village, hairpin in hand, enthusing about her upcoming marriage to Gil Dong. She’s very happy, and as she sees Gil Dong from the back, she calls out his name. But he doesn’t turn around. Enok looks down at her hands in sadness and sees them literally covered in blood from the hairpin and the package it came in.

Gil Dong turns around to look at Enok and the music turns sad. Enok cries as she says, “Grandfather is dead. I can’t be at Gil Dong’s side anymore.” Gil Dong walks away.

(Cue thousands of Obama GDxYN fans shouting, “YES YOU CAN!”)

We realize that this is just a dream, as we see Enok sleeping uneasily, murmuring Gil Dong’s name. Chang Hui sheds a tear and begs her to look at him - even once! She says Gil Dong’s name again, and Chang Hui kisses her.

A few miles away, Gil Dong is alone in his room, grieving for the end of this happy part of their relationship. He has a flashback of Enok in that very room, promising to always stay by his side. He tosses the new pouch she’s made for him in the stove/heater, and puts his arm over his eyes. The pouch is reduced to cinders.

Rofling at JGS, honestly

Go watch this! 16 year old Jang Geun Suk being goofy and cute. I think I split something laughing. Thanks to Pris, for pointing it out.

Working on 21,

Sevenses

Tidbit, for you

I’ve been dreadfully beset by midterms, so all apologies for the delay in recap release. Here’s a tidbit to tide you over: a behind-the-scenes interview, Chinese subbed, given by KJH, SYR and JGS.

Notable infos:

- The crew is impressed at SYR’s ability to eat virtually anything on demand for this series… as are the rest of us, I assume.

- During the opium scene, KJH’s stomach was grumbling, which caused some NGs.

- JGS speaking about the significance of the spoilery thing that happened after spoilers and spoiler (end of episode 20). Also, some cuteness, because, hello, he actually smiles. The spoilery thing was too short, he thinks.

- Some more behind-the-scenes shots, then JGS saying that episode 24 will air on March 26, and for us to keep watching, because there’s a huge twist at the end! (And SYR tells us to keep watching, lol, like we need telling. )

Ta,

Sevenses

Chang Hui, again

(Psst, in case you’ve missed it, HGD 22 airs next week.)

I was typing out a response to the lovely Soruyo, who asked, “So would CH go mad now and GD has to stop him in the last episodes?” and then I realized that it got too long, and I should probably make a proper post of it, so here, Soruyo, your answer in full:

I don’t think so, no. But I’m optimistic. Personally I think he’ll go into a period of self-doubt and pull out of it a better person and a better king. I mean, this YN thing is making him sad, but there’s a difference between puppy love angst and going into megalomania mode. Spoilers next, though if you’re reading this I assume you’re not afraid of them.

I think when Chang Hui finds out that the sword is fake, and since that’s the foundation for his life for the past 20 years (and for which his mother, YN’s parents and so many other people essentially die for), he might be feeling terribly shocked. Lost. Finding out that he wasn’t the designated heir, that would hurt quite a lot. He’s pretty singleminded, as we can see, and having that purpose, that sense of entitlement and a place in the world gave him a reason to live on after his mother’s death - now it’s gone.

It’s a particularly hard blow to him, because now he’s just another outlaw. Legally speaking, the real sword has no inscription, which means that the present king might just be the real heir. So Chang Hui would have been committing treason, and while that might not matter to those who love him (GD, YN, Chisu - I exclude Noh, for reasons outlined below), it would to those nobles that are flocking to him precisely because he is the Crown Prince. So they will desert him, and CH will realize who really stands behind him - GD, and those who believe in him.

As a side note, he can also no longer offer YN the possibility of being Queen without feeling somewhat guilty about his own legitimacy - he’s sort of less highly noble, even if he does have the sacred royal blood. (And if YN’s father did conspire with the Queen, well, that just makes the entire thing stink.)

Remember that scene in 15 when Chang Hui met his brother in the cemetery and said, “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t the legitimate heir so I could get up and help the people with Gil Dong“? Foreshadowing like woah. So now’s the time for him to really find why he wants to be king (he hasn’t found it yet, if you look carefully), and to assume the throne with the correct frame of mind according to Gil Dong (he’s not the titular character for nothing, you know, though the way I talk about the series, it’s hard to tell. I’m all about the prince, yum.)

A friend of mine swears that he’s going to go crazy. (Looking at you, Pris.)

I don’t, because I like the character, and I think the Hong sisters have spent too much time carefully crafting him for him to go crazy 3 episodes till the end. I hope he’ll pull through, despite all odds, and become the hottest best king ever. (Also, JGS is just too cute - though in Doremifasolatido he does have to portray a bit of insanity.)

And the Hong sisters do generally write a happy ending - I know, Pris, you’re going to say that they want to try something new - and I see your point - his older brother, after all, went crazy after he thought he wasn’t the proper heir. But Sharp Blade Hong Gil Dong presents many morality tales, with the central theme of contrast between different choices made by people in similar situations (GD and CH, Hong and GD, YN and GD, YN and CH, etc), so I think they will make Chang Hui’s ultimate fate different from that of his brother’s.

Alright, I release you from your reading obligations. The rest is pure rambling.

- Noh not included in list of people loving CH: She cares for CH, she treats him as her master, and she has done a sterling job of keeping CH safe these past 20 years. However, and this is a big one, she thinks she can make decisions for him. Chisu may make suggestions, GD may make infuriatingly sharp comments, YN may outright contradict him, but none of them take away Chang Hui’s right or ability to make his own choices. They respect his intellect and trust him to make the right decisions. Noh? Negative on all counts.

- Also, a staff member has said that the script for HGD is finished, and that the beginning of episode 1 is not going to be seen again. That’s okay - but he/she also said that YN will look back on that incident with fondness as her time with HBD. That rings slightly more ominous bells. I think that episode one’s beginning has yet to come, because a) hairstyles, b) YN is not la ninja de doom yet. Maybe she gets married to CH, maybe she and GD leave for China like they planned… we don’t know.

- Next 3 episodes better be good, as they’re tying up all the loose ends they began in 19 (or, speaking broadly, episode 1). Sit tight and enjoy the ride, folks.

Love,

Sevenses

Episode 22 preview

Omg. I have to study! (And pass!)

But, here’s the preview for 22. No subs.

Will write midterm, then come back to interpret. Am bad student. *is resigned*

Text summary:

GD realizes the danger, kicks guards - the revolution goes as planned. (Yay MN and SG seem fine. Good fighting.) CH walking in with great ceremony. GD and YN meeting in courtyard, GD will not let YN come to him. CH overhears.

Later, he collapses on his knees in the empty room. (Either he’s devastated at YN or he found out about the fake sword. I vote for the sword. Poor baby.)

Bye! *runs off at speed of arrow*

Sevenses

Waaaaay too twisty

People are getting traumatized, apparently, so SPOILERS WARNING!

Since there’s only one episode of Sharp Blade Hong Gil Dong airing this week, they’re really pulling all the stops to make it as suspenseful as possible. 21 stuff:

• Oh my, so the Sa Yin sword is a fake?!
• And… KH might be the rightful heir after all.

Death. By. Suspense.

Sevenses