American Perspectives: It's Getting Interesting Again! 동이 Ep.21

Episodes 19 and 20, especially 20, had the potential to be really riveting.  Actually, 19 was, but since I watched 20 right after, it kind of ruined 19.  Sort of like how a bad kisser will ruin the end of a really good romantic date.  What ruined Episodes 19 and 20 for me was that Episode 20 continued to drag out the investigation of the Queen.  Yes, I get it, the Queen has been wronged.  We already touched on this in Episode 19, and it should have been wrapped up midway through Episode 20.  But no, we had to drag this out, and there's only so many shots of the devastated Queen that I can look at before I begin to lose my patience.

As I've said before, 기황후 really raised the bar for me when it comes to the 사극. It's like the writers paid attention to all the weak spots and pain points in other 사극, and improved the hell out of them.  I haven't found anything comparable since. Don't get me wrong, there are still many good 사극, including 동이, but 기황후 is definitely a tough act to follow!

So, I was feeling hesitant about Episode 21.  I almost wanted to just stop watching 동이 because Episode 20 seriously dragged, and I was hoping that wasn't going to be indicative of the pace of the rest of this show.  (And it may very well be during certain points.  The Childhood backstory also dragged along very needlessly.  That seriously did not need to be four episodes long).  I am relieved to say that with Episode 21, 동이 is once again interesting. We see 동이 getting a huge spoonful of the complexity of palace politics, how she can no longer look cute and "Stand Up for What's Right!" without devastating consequences because the person who allowed her to get away with that (Lady 장) is no longer on her side.  Another hard lesson learned regarding the complexity of palace politics: when you bite the hand that feeds you in the name of "stand up for what's right!" You're in an extremely precarious position.  It's a position that can be exerted when you have the necessary people to back you up, and sometimes, having the flirtatious interest of the king just isn't enough, as 동이 has also been learning the hard way.  Contrary to American belief, no the King does not have absolute power, because if he does something that the powerful people en masse do not like, and he has no way to back it, he's screwed.  I think the same applies to American politics today, even though my people are in extremely strong denial.  There's an assumption that the powers that be can just change everything with the scribble of a pen, not realizing that some important folks that we depend on for our daily needs are behind the scenes, lobbying, and holding on to the stuff we want to do away with.  What I appreciate about the 사극 is that I've learned to be a little less self righteous and presumptuous when it comes to many different issues.

동이 is beginning to learn the consequences of pissing off Lady 장 when she is reassigned to work in the finance office, as the Eunuchs there answer to no one.  However, she doesn't let the Eunuchs get to her, and she reacts in ways they don't expect her to.  I am very interested in finding out if she and the Eunuchs will come to some sort of agreement, and if she'll be able to move them to her side.  That's another thing I like about these old 사극, they indirectly teach women how to effectively network, negotiate, and ally with people who are not initially on your side, instead of wringing your hands over every single slight and labeling it as bullying.