WEDNESDAY ON TIMELESS LOVE - EPISODE 97

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Last night we concluded with Renata arriving at the fauxlorio (fake velorio). She looks extremely hot in her funereal dominatrix garb. Jero rips into her that she is not welcome at La Bonita!

Oh snap, without missing a beat Nata retorts she’s not there for him but to support Kari, now step aside.

Renata offers her condolences (pésame) to Kari and they hug. I’m still blown away by how great Renata looks. Did Augi buy that outfit for her? Nice hair too. Everybody stares at Nata as she tells Kari that when someone treats you well you never bury them from your life (don’t forget them), but when someone easily causes you pain you can bury them far away from your life and your heart .

Jero stands just behind them hearing all of Nata’s words. But does he feel bad or guilty? Does he realize she could be talking about him? Not at all. He pipes up, “I totally agree with you Renata, now take off.” Nata firmly explains she doesn’t like being there either, she’s done what she came to do and now she’s leaving. Jero, still not content that he has proven what a jerk he is, grabs her arm, pulls her away from Kari, and escorts her toward the door. Nata shakes him off and proudly exits. Doc Tata watches. Do you like what you see doc? Because you could be on the receiving end one day. Or maybe you’re one of those chicas who think they can change a man? Nopis, never gonna happen.

Manuela stops Renata and tries to explain Jero’s bad behavior but Nata will hear none of it. She’s in a rage and snaps at Manuela (I think SN really made Manuela jump) that Jero is a bum. Everyone says she should understand him but who ever tried to understand her? Manuela speaks of their great love and Nata is all “Excuuuuse me, you call the way he spoke to me a great love?” Errrr, not exactly, admits Manuela, she adds that Jero is acting out of pain and jealousy. Nata corrects her, Jero never loved her and the jealousy is only his bruised ego. Manuela insists she has seen with her own eyes how he’s cried over Nata.

Augi discovers Nata has gone to the funeral without him and he’s in a right snit. Yep, there go his bottom teeth jutting out. (Thanks RLO for pointing that out.) Berta, hanging out by the pool which is her favorite pastime no matter where she is, gloats and giggles that Augi has a meltdown.

Doc Tata enters Jero’s study to console the brooding cretin, She kneels at his feet and pats his knee. Oh gag me with a spoon. He gripes about Nata showing up but Doc Tata wisely tells him that when he agreed to have the velorio at his house he opened it up to all people, including Renata. He behaved badly in front of a lot of people and had no right to humiliate her. Jero scowls and sulks that Renata humiliated him more, ending up with his worst enemy, boo hoo. DocTata reminds him they are divorced, plus an engagement doesn’t mean she loves Augi. She could be seeking refuge. Jero whines that he doesn’t know if Renata ever really loved him.

Manuela tells Nata she can’t keep quiet when she sees someone making the wrong decision, like Nata becoming engaged to Augi for example. Does Nata really think she can be happy with Augi? Nata’s not sure but she hopes so. Besides, one nail drives out the other, right? Manuela warns her that can also leave you with a wall full of holes (hoyos). Manuela knows that Nata and Jero love each other. Nata tells her that sometimes love isn’t enough.

When Nata returns to Cruz de Amor Augi jumps up and demands to know where she was. Nata snaps it was a last minute decision and she doesn’t need to ask his permission. He backpedals and uses the “I was worried for your safety” excuse. He wisely changes the subject, how about they go to the beach tomorrow? She wiselier* tells him she can’t marry him and wants to leave forever. Augi is all “Wahhh, stay with me.” She rolls her eyes. (*made up word)

It’s a full moon (as always) over the wine country and Laz visits the Padre, still clad in his colorful, purple robe. Laz wants to confess something right here and now. He feels bad because he’s happy about Alvaro’s death. The Padre stops him right there, “Me too bro. That guy was evil incarnate; may he rot in hell, God willing.” Hee, I made that up. The Padre stops Laz and suggests that what he’s feeling is liberation because Alvaro is no longer an obstacle for Laz and Kari. The Padre absolves Laz, no penitence.

Jero calls Regina to offer condolences. I wish Gonzo would be there to grab the phone, tell Jero he’s not welcome and then hang up on him. I wonder how Jero would like it? No such luck. Jero tells Gina they have lots to talk about and he’ll see her soon.

Gonzo visits Honorio in jail and fills him in on Cata’s death. He says Gina’s all torn up because she and the metiche mama were on the outs and Cata died before Regina could shut her pie-hole, er...I mean before they could reconcile. Hons says that’s why you have to tell your peeps you love them when you can. Gonzo reveals to Hons that today they are going to entrap BSCBlanca and Hons will be free.

Regina tells gal pals Cons and Inez that she is doomed to be alone. Um, they remind her about Gonzo. Oh yeah, that guy she's supposed to marry. Gina is still whining about mom not forgiving her (for what exactly?) and adds that Cata said something about Pepa and Gonzo’s wife. Cons repeats "about Pepa and about Fina". Why did she say that? Gina says they were Cata’s last words. Think Cons, think!

Creep me out, Augi is playing a little game with Nata. He’s covered her eyes and is leading her into a room. It doesn’t seem like she’s enjoying the game. Probably because it’s just a lame excuse for him to manhandle and clutch her. He’s got a grand surprise for her...LOOK!

He uncovers Nata’s eyes and she sees a huge mock up of his new Renacer (or something like that) label featuring Nata’s silhouette, she’s his muse. Big whoop, say Renata's eyes. Roberta spies and skulks off with her lips curled in a snarl.

Over at La Bonita Kari thanks Jero and he tells her she is a beloved by the entire hacienda. She says finally it’s all over. “Not all,” slips Jero. “Que????” ask Kari and Manuela. “Err, your life continues,” he ad-libs, “and all your friends are here to surround you.” Mati offers up her room since she and Carlos are moving out right after the wedding. Mati’s headband is too tight and she can’t see the big gigantic anvil hurtling towards her.

Oh HO, I see Dr. Tatarrific has decided she won’t be outdone by Nata’s hotness. Her exuberant bosom threatens to burst from her dress as she tells Jero today she discovered not only is he generous but he’s got the most noble heart she’s ever known. Maybe she didn’t agree with how he treated Renata but it showed he has passion. He has been a great surprise in her life. Wow, she’s good. She baits her hook, she casts her line, and he bites!! Her reward is a big mouth bass beso from Mr. Passion. Be careful what you wish for honey.

Nata tepidly tells Augi that of course she’s happy about his label. Mutual thanks back and forth,yawn. He says after they are married this will be the first picture they have in their home. Nata’s smile disappears. She sighs that her divorce with Jero wasn’t easy and she doesn’t want to experience the same with him. Augi gives his word (hack hack) that will never happen.She’s uncomfortable with him always speaking of her as his woman, his wife, and she asks for his patience. He responds, “All that you need...just so long as I can lock you in my prison palace, control your life and boink your sister until the end of our days.” (I made up everything past the dot dot dot.)

After Marina leaves Jero berates himself for the kiss. It’s not fair for him or for her. She deserves better than to be in his failure of a life. I believe he's talking about Marina even though he flashed back on kissing both Marina and Nata. I'm going to set my stopwatch to see how long it takes Jero to go sniffing after La Doc.

Laz sees Kari in the vineyard and he makes his move. Turns out his move could have been as easy as passing gas because Kari jumps on him. Falling into his arms she declares she needs him more than ever.

As they stroll happily through the vineyard Mati steps out behind them and comments at last they’re together, and she’s with Carlos, and they can all live happily at La Bonita. The anvil continues to hurtle toward La Bonita.

Elsewhere in the vineyard Alfonsina and Carlos inspect the vines and determine that the combination of insecticide and their mysterious neon brew is doing the trick. Now they need to get the word out to the other haciendas. Alfonsina is worried because they haven’t invited Cruz de Amor to play, what with all the bad blood between Augi, Jero and Renata. Carlos sets his jaw and says they have to do what’s good for the valley and not get wrapped up in personal problems. Give the plant cure to Ezequiel.

Coni asks Regina if she has any pictures of her daughter. When Gina dashes off to get more pictures Coni tells Inez she’s interested because Gina saw Pepa close by her house. She wants to be on high alert. Inez says thus far all she and Isidro have had are red herrings.

Regina shows Coni some age-progression drawings and Coni gasps. Regina already knows why, they look like Gonzo’s daughters don’t they? But the family investigated and they could be projections of thousands of girls.

BSCBlanca meets Daniel in a cafe. She tells him to open his computer and send her the info she requested. Daniel looks guilty and the employees look like suspicious plain clothes cops.

Matias visits Adri to stop by with a burrito and steal a kiss while the coast is clear (sin que hay moros en la costa). Unfortunately he has to rush back to work to monitor the BSCBlanca sting operation. He tells her that Daniel went to the dark side for Adri, so he could be rich and deserving of her. Adri feels sorry for Daniel and says he’s not really a bad person. I'm sorry Adri, but he's not really a good person either.

Blanca gets the information and Daniel tells her she’s a genius. She admits she’s got a bit of experience at this, more than he knows. The plain clothes cops hover closely to catch every word. Blanca becomes frustrated while waiting for some sort of confirmation to load on her laptop, glances at the suspicious behavior around her, and warns Daniel this had better not be a trap.

She pretends to go to the bathroom and makes her escape while Daniel kvetches ineffectually. Once again BLSBlanca’s big bazongas carry her forward at lightning speed and she leaves the cops in the dust.

The La Bonita ladies are happily cooking and discussing the upcoming familial fun when wet blanket Kari informs Mati she won’t be doing any partying for awhile. It wouldn’t be prudent since she’s in mourning (de luto). Manuela confirms that it’s tradition. Mati’s bummed that Kari won’t be able to meet her in-laws tonight. FF>>

Jero and Carlos are in the vineyard inspecting the vines. They are happy to note that their cure is fixing the plant plague. Carlos says something about meeting his parents to go on a wine tour before dinner. Jero wants a lift into town to “clear up” something with Marina. Yeah, right. Thirteen minutes including commercials.

Nata and Augi are looking all over for Roberta. Ezequiel runs in to say Berta borrowed a horse, one of the Aztecas that nobody but Augi is allowed to touch. Nata is surprised, Berta doesn’t even like to ride. Augi yells first at Ez and then at Nata, doesn’t she understand about someone being under his protection? No, well, yes of course, she says, staring inquisitively into his crazed eyes.

Roberta is fine and doing her own tour. She wanders over to the love tree, sees “Renata y Jeronimo” and laughs that this heart is roto, roto, roto! (broken) She made me laugh, too, as she whacked it with her little stick. She moves up the branch (Hey Berta, I think your sister had sex on that branch!!) and sees the “Berta y Rafael” heart. She flashes back to yet another sexy but scruffy galán who professed that he wanted to shout out his love for her to the four winds.

Roberta sheds bitter tears and reflects that Rafael should be by her side. Instead she is lonelier than ever. She’s not like Renata, whom everybody adores and wants to marry. She hugs the branch and cries how much she misses Rafa. Truly a sad scene. Luckily I plan to hate her again in about 2 seconds.

BSCBlanca disguises herself by donning a baseball cap (cachucha). She skulks around town hiding from cop cars.

At the same time the police and Team Monterrubio are getting a debrief from nervous Daniel. Blanca is now more dangerous than ever. They need to find her soon so that Hons can get out of jail.

The Comandante yells at someone on the phone, if they lose Blanca now they’ll never find her. Daniel says he has an alternate address for her, she lives in Parish (parroquia) 3-0. The Comandante puts out an APB. Car 54 where are you??

Jero and Carlos arrive in town. Jero tells Carlos not to wait for him and to wish him luck. Blech.

Jero knocks on Doc Tata’s door and they make goo-goo eyes at each other. They’ll meet soon. Marina asks her grinning patient, “now where were we?”

Fina paces and soothes her headache by abusing and insulting the maid. I think I’ve used this line in at least three recaps. Surely this poor maid can find another job? Oh well, times are tough.

Fina asks if Berta has called. Of course not; Fina wonders where her daughter has gone. She demands the phone which the maid picks up from right next to Fina and hands to her. I wonder if she chews Fina’s food too?

Fina dials Berta but gets voice mail yet again. She demands that Roberta return immediately. She mutters something about very little time left to give the final blow to Regina.

Berta strolls the Ensenada plaza enjoying her ice cream cone when she runs into Jero. She rubs it in that she’s staying at her future brother-in-law’s. She casually comments her sister changes boyfriends more frequently than her socks. When they like her she gives them the boot. Jero retorts that Berta is no paragon of virtue (dechado de virtudes). Surprisingly Jero sticks up for Renata and says she never had it on with his brother Rafa.

This charming conversation is interrupted by Tatas. As in Doctor. “Doctora?” says Roberta, muy pero muy impactada to recognize the woman who could blow her lies out of the water.

Avances: Pride before love, betrayal before heart, and spite before reason.

WEDNESDAY ON MY AMAZING BOYFRIEND - EPISODE 4 ON JOY PRIME @ 6: AM

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Ling Qiao wakes up with Jing Zhi closely listening to his heartbeat. She’s pretty hyped up that she discovers where the strange heartbeat sound comes from. It’s from him obviously. He then explains that because she woke him up, their heartbeats become in synced. They will only stop hearing the sound if they are either too close or too far from each other.

They go outside to test the range distance requirement for them to hear the heartbeat. And Jing Zhi observes that the hearing range is between 100 meters to 1 kilometer. She then gets a brilliant idea to ditch him by pretending to hear the sound even though he’s already way outside the range. When she’s sure he’s already too far, she cuts the call and jumps for joy. But to her dismay, he’s already surfing the net and waiting for her inside. He even complains that she’s slow as ever. Haha! Okay, so she forgot he’s the fastest living thing on earth. Ling Qiao then resolves that he must find a way for Jing Zhi to voluntarily make him stay.

Jing Zhi’s parent summons Dong Dong at their home. They learn that he’s Jing Zhi’s new assistant and they want him to report her daily activities to them. He insistently refuses to agree, not only because he is loyal to Jing Zhi, but more importantly because he’s scared that she will skin him alive if she finds out. Haha! But in the end, he gives in because of the monetary compensation. Haha!

The location for Jing Zhi’s and Xuan  Xuan’s new project is at the research facility where Ye Chen works. Professor Li, Ye Chen’s mentor, co-scientist and the one who discovers that Ling Qiao is alive in episode 2, chats with Jing Zhi. He’s obviously up to no good when he forces her to have a blood test. Good thing Jing Zhi ain’t too trusting and excuses herself right away.

Meanwhile, Ling Qiao is busy eavesdropping around Jing Zhi’s parent’s house. There he learns that her parents are getting frustrated that Jing Zhi can’t find a suitable husband despite their low qualification standards. Haha! They agree that if ever she meets a man, they must definitely prevent another break-up and marry her off. Haha! Ling Qiao takes note of the new-found information and smiles knowingly.

At the film set, Xuan Xuan is walking in slow mo when her heels gets stuck. Haha! It’s funny that even an A-list actress like her tends to have klutzy, awkward moments too. Because fans already gather around her, she can only smile and sit over the hood of the nearest car. She poses for the camera and signs autograph, all the while subtly trying to loosen her heels from being stuck. Haha!

Just in time, the owner of the car, Ye Chen, comes to tell her to move away. Since she can’t, she just pretends she knows him. Ye Chen goes along with her story and grabs her around the waist. He tells the fans that they are indeed close friends and asks for some privacy. When the fans are gone, she distances herself and angrily tells him that what he did is already harassment.  However, he ignores her complaints and asks why she knows his name. She tells him that she’s friends with Jing Zhi and that he’s quite popular for two-timing her. Ye Chen draws close and mocks that if she’s really one of Jing Zhi’s friends, then she must know that his ex-girlfriend who appears to be a perfect barbie doll, is in reality, a foul-mouthed and short-tempered woman. He then swiftly unstuck her heels. I’m loving the tension here. Kyaaah!

Ling Qiao is learning how to cook, and he’s doing this so that Jing Zhi will make him stay. But it seems, he’s doing a terrible job. Haha! When Jing Zhi tastes his broth, she chokes and whines that the amount of salt in the dish is enough to preserve her body for 200 years. Ahaha!

The next day, Ling Qiao is still busy cooking. Jing Zhi teases that it’s unfortunate for a man like him to live for 500 years and yet, still doesn’t know how to cook. He retorts that him not knowing to cook is just the same as her not knowing how to act. Haha! She’s pissed and insists that she’s a good actress, in fact, she’s going to the film set to act. So he better just cook all day and not to put kitchen on fire or she’ll have his head. Haha! Ling Qiao then tells her that he’s going to meet the person who contacted him online about the old painting he resembles.

Back to the film set again, Jing Zhi feels the strange heartbeat but thinking that Ling Qiao is only there to criticize her acting, she goes on with her work. She’s playing her part in a confrontation scene. And according to the script, the actor will have to cut her palm using a fake knife, but unknown to everyone, someone switched the fake knife with a real one and it wounded her.

Ling Qiao, who is supposed to meet the anonymous person online in the area, feels Jing Zhi’s abnormal heart rate and tries to go to her. But he’s trapped inside the elevator. The anonymous person turns out to be the enemy himself and Ling Qiao walks right into his trap! The elevator is designed to be a giant freezer and the enemy plans to freeze Ling Qiao to death!

After being treated, Jing Zhi is advised to go home early. At home, she watches the news of her latest accident. The reporters comment that because this is a very unlucky year for her, she needs interventions to change her luck. Jing Zhi grumbles that she has already been unlucky for 28 years. She already spent all her money for digging 3 wells for luck, but still she’s cursed! Haha! She then notices that Ling Qiao is still not home. At first, she feels greatly relived that he’s finally gone. But after awhile, she feels worried for him. After all, he did say he was meeting someone he just met online.

Jing Zhi goes back to the film set where she last felt the heartbeat and phones him. And because her call can’t go through, she assumes he’s trapped somewhere in the empty building. Once inside the building, she shouts his name. By now, Ling Qiao is almost frozen. Thankfully, he has enough strength to respond to her call.

Once she learns he’s inside the elevator, she immediately tries to open the trap door. She successfully puts a gap, but since Ling Qiao’s too weakened by the cold, he can’t lift the heavy door. Jing Zhi then looks for some materials to make an improvised heater. Dun-dun-dun!

WEDNESDAY ON REBEL - EPISODE 27 ON JOY PRIME @ 8: AM

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The people shout as they come to save Gil-dong and the rest of his men from the royal forces, “We’ll come to your rescue this time, General.” With an expression mixed with gratefulness and awe at the miraculous salvation, they begin fighting again with a reinvigorated fervor, and soon the royal army turns back to retreat with their tails tucked between their legs.

When the general comes to report his crushing defeat against the rebel army, Yeonsangun sits in his throne room clearly upset at this new development. His courtiers cower while his general delivers the disappointing news, and when the king hears that it’s Gil-dong leading the rebel army, he becomes infuriated.

After the end of the battle, despite their victory, many have been injured and some have even lost their lives, including the man that Gil-dong once personally encouraged (who later led the rescue efforts that saved the rebel army). Gil-dong and the Hong band stand in front of the graves of the fallen, and he resolves: “I will never forget you.”

Back at the cave, people are being treated for their injuries, including some of the more experienced members of the Hong brotherhood. Eorini sees Yonggae being bandaged up, and tears come to her eyes as she first witnesses the tolls of battle on the closest thing to an uncle-like figure in her life. She reaches out to hold his hand, and despite the pain, he grits his teeth, smiles, and welcomes her back.

Alone, Gil-dong ponders words that Yeonsangun said to him in prison regarding violence and how to control the citizenry. While he’s lost in deep thought, Gil-hyun comes up to him, and when he sees his brother, Gil-dong playfully says that he’s fallen a long way from being a close advisor to the king to the nation’s most wanted traitor.

Gil-hyun replies that it’s just his luck for having such a rascal for a little brother, and then Eorini joins them. She covers Gil-dong’s eyes with her hands, and it’s an instant deja vu moment back to the days when life was simpler at Ikhwari, under Amogae’s protective presence.

It’s been such a long time since this familiar action, and it makes Gil-dong emotional, but he replies as he always does and asks if it’s Ugly Girl (“Motnani” is an affectionate term that connotes ugliness) who’s covering his eyes. Soon, the rest of the original Amogae Avengers show up, and together they all call up to Amogae to thank him for reuniting their family.

At the palace, the king meets with Scholar Song only to tell him not to come into his royal presence for the time being (as he’s still annoyed by the Park Ha-sung/Gil-hyun revelation). He assigns Choongwongoon to be his temporary replacement as the head of the Sugwidan.

After they leave the king, Scholar Song expresses his discontent at Choongwongoon’s uppity behavior against him, but there doesn’t seem to be any remnant of loyalty in that quarter. Choongwongoon just coldly tells the scholar that he seems to be forgetting his place and forgetting the fact that Choongwongoon was born a royal, implying that this role reversal should have been the original relationship dynamic all along.

When Choongwongoon gathers the Sugwidan members in a meeting, he pushes his own agenda to isolate and expel Scholar Song from the organization. To his fellow Sugwidan members, he tells them that Scholar Song is no longer in favor because of his mistake with Park Ha-sung, adding that they need to find Gil-dong in order to regain the king’s favor and stay safe under the bloody tyrant’s reign.

In Hyangjumok, some young students post up flyers that spread ideas protesting the king’s unjust actions. However, they’re caught by soldiers who chase after them. One young man manages to get back home, and his mother reprimands her son, telling him not to engage in any activities that are against the king, no matter how unfair his actions may seem. He quickly makes his excuses to go hide further inside the house, but soon the soldiers barge in and forcefully take him away to the mother’s great distress.

Tracking down the other students, soldiers raid anywhere that seems to be a hiding place. One young woman makes the mistake of glancing to the large jar containing one of the young men who posted the flyers. He’s immediately taken, tied up, and the group of women who hid him are also dragged along. When people try to free them, they’re beaten and even killed by the soldiers in broad daylight on public streets.

Meanwhile, Gil-dong and his crew are still back at their lair discussing how to best go about the situation, which looks dire because of the king’s endless troops and resources. Then, Yonggae explains his own personal story, saying that his one goal in life was not to die like his own father, a poor thief hanged for his crimes.

He says that he enjoyed living the high life of a rich merchant when they were in Ikhwari as well as Hanyang, but he knew that they had turned a blind eye to the citizens, and so he says they have a duty to go to Hyangjumok and rescue them. Yonggae continues by saying that he doesn’t see this rescue as being an optional endeavor—he’s doing this in order to repay a long-time debt. His speech puts the entire situation in a different perspective for Gil-dong an the rest of the Hong brothers.

Finally sparking on an idea, Gil-dong approaches one of the women, whose eyes become wide at the fact that the general is speaking with little ol’ her. He tells her his plan, and although she looks a little starstruck at first, she quickly gets the gist and helps implement it.

His plan is to use the women to smuggle their weapons into Hyangjumok so that they can conquer from the inside out. Hyangjumok’s version of the TSA is not gender-equal since they only give men the full pat-down, which means that the women are able to hide the swords and knives in their skirts.

Eorini, wanting to do her part for the rebel effort, joins the women and pads several weapons in her underskirt, although Uncle Soboori protests. He tries to persuade her from it, thinking it’s too dangerous, and he even tries to get Gil-dong and Gil-hyun to help him. However, they just laugh, having given up, and say that she’ll still do what she wants to because that stubborn side of her, inherited from Amogae, exists in all of them.

In the magistrate’s courtyard, citizens and students alike have been rounded up and beaten. They kneel in front of the soldiers who begin an unfair investigation to find out the “truth.” They ask who’s behind the spread of the rebellious propaganda, and when a woman refuses to name any names, she’s immediately slashed down by the guard behind her.

Seeing her being killed right in front of their eyes, the people rally to stop the soldiers, but without weapons, they’re all ruthlessly cut down. And just as they’re about to lose all hope, Gil-dong strides in with the Hong brothers to the rescue. As Gil-dong makes the king’s soldiers retreat, he tells them to send this message to the king: “Hyangjumok doesn’t need soldiers that kill its citizens.”

Gil-dong and crew fight and defeat the soldiers, but at the end of the takeover, it almost seems like an empty victory because they’re standing in a sea of dead bodies. Although the citizens call for others to come out now that the battle is finished, no one else appears because half are lying dead at their feet.

Later, the bodies are organized in rows, some covered in white shrouds, others still just bloody. The mother who nagged at her son not to go against the king finds her beloved son in the midst of the still corpses and weeps her heart out.

When Yeonsangun hears that his soldiers in Hyangjumok have also been defeated by Gil-dong, he laughs at the absurdity. But it’s definitely not a joking-ha-ha-type laughter; it’s an angry chuckle that promises revenge. When Jeong-hak offers his life in return for his failure to capture Gil-dong, Yeonsangun is very tempted to kill him. But someone calls him, bringing him to his senses and preventing him from doing so. Instead, the king says to Jeong-hak that he’s only alive through the grace of his mother’s initial good deed of telling Yeonsangun about the deposed queen.

Jeong-hak tells Yeonsangun that he will willingly die for him on the battlefield by confronting Gil-dong. The king asks him whether he has an army willing to die for him like Park Ha Sung/Gil-hyun does, but Jeong-hak replies in the negative, giving an alternative answer that pleases the king.

Jeong-hak says that while he may not have an army loyal to himself, he does have an army that’s only loyal to the king. So, he’s dispatched to confront Gil-dong at Hyangjumok, and Mistress Jo tells Jeong-hak not to come back until he’s killed Gil-dong, otherwise he’d be dishonoring her and his late father. An immense force lead by Jeong-hak and Mori then heads to Hyangjumok.

People gather in Hyangjumok to debate their situation: A speaker stands up and asks the crowd whether they think they’re really committing treason by complaining about being forced to pay exorbitant taxes, having their land taken away, and their daughters forced into the king’s harem. Surely, these are reasonable complaints that don’t pass the boundary to treachery. But another man rebuts with the practical argument: The people of Hyangjumok are helpless—they have no way to fight against the relentless influx of royal troops.

The mother who lost her son through this past incursion then rises and tells the people that her biggest regret is letting her son learn to read, because that’s where he got the ideas of becoming an honorable man. When he saw the injustices being perpetrated by the king, she adds, he became motivated to do something about it, and was thus killed for his actions. In a powerful statement, Segul adds on that they aren’t choosing to pick a fight—they’re just fighting in order to not be killed.

Jeong-hak arrives at Hyangjumok with a formidable battalion of soldiers behind him, and he shouts for a parlay before they actually begin battle. Gil-dong and Gil-hyun descend from the gate to face Jeong-hak and Mori. The scene is absolutely delicious in a meta sense, because the four-way meeting is shown like a mirrored image of foils: We see the two scholars, one slave-born and one noble-born with Gil-hyun against Jeong-hak and the two Mighty Children—one choosing the right path and one choosing the wrong one with Gil-dong against Mori.

Despite Jeong-hak wanting to lord over the fact that Gil-dong and Gil-hyun were once his father’s slaves, Gil-hyun just smirks because he knows now that social birth is not an indicator of potential, especially since he (as Park Ha-sung) was able to rise much higher than Jeong-hak when they still worked together for the king. Needless to say, the discussion doesn’t end well, and the battle begins.

Meanwhile, the king is at the palace playing catch-me with his musical troupe girls. Nok-soo and Ga-ryung watch from the side, not participating in the jarringly playful festivities. For the first time, they have a real discussion about Gil-dong, the man both of them love.

From Ga-ryung, Nok-soo learns that Gil-dong did come back for her, and that he pined for her for a long time. However, Ga-ryung won him over because she patiently waited for him. Still perhaps a little insecure about Gil-dong’s love for her, Ga-ryung says some hurtful things to Nok-soo, saying that perhaps she was the main reason that Ga-ryung ended up with Gil-dong. When she’s back alone in her room, Ga-ryung confesses aloud that she’s jealous of Gil-dong’s powerful and passionate past love for Nok-soo.

In Hyangjumok, there’s an air of hopefulness despite all the recent tragedy, and the people gather to help each other for the communal good. Ilchung brings up the need for medical supplies, and everyone pitches in ideas about how to procure them. Because they’re scarce on herbs, they organize groups to go gather them. Because they’re low on food, they decide to share amongst each other.

But the king’s soldiers have destroyed all the roads that lead to Hyangjumok and have spread false rumors about how all the people there are liars and thieves. So unfortunately, the rest of the Joseon people don’t know about their plight and can’t/won’t come to their rescue.

In the palace gardens, Nok-soo and Ga-ryung have another discussion where Nok-soo comments to Ga-ryung that love is a passing fancy, but this just makes Ga-ryung angry. Having witnessed the deepness of Gil-dong’s longing for her, and having painfully experienced the one-sided love of one who loves another, Ga-ryung can’t understand how Nok-soo can be so cavalier about her time with Gil-dong.

The jealousy bug strikes again, and Ga-ryung pointedly retorts that it must be so, because Yeonsangun has stopped visiting Nok-soo’s chambers. This remark tips Nok-soo into a highly dangerous mood, and she lashes out, asking whether Ga-ryung would be equally as impertinent if her life were put on the line. She replies that she stopped being afraid of death when Gil-dong died.

Nok-soo resolves to meet the king again, despite his direct orders not to come near him for the time being. She explains to Wolhamae that the king doesn’t actually want her dead because if he did, he would have executed her already. And while she can withstand insults about her character and her person, she hates being told her choices were wrong, which is essentially what Ga-ryung said by implying that not waiting for Gil-dong was a mistake.

When the king is walking down the hallway, Nok-soo kneels in front of him and begs his forgiveness, confessing her previous relationship with Gil-dong. He grabs her in a stranglehold, but she looks straight into his eyes, promises him that she knows another way to catch the thief, and asks if he’ll trust her when Gil-dong is caught. He looks furious, but the scene cuts to Ga-ryung being taken away, so it looks like Yeonsangun decided to listen to Nok-soo after all.

Ga-ryung is dragged in front of the king, who demands for her to reveal everything. She says that she’ll tell him the absolute truth, but requests that he come nearer to her. Once he’s a few inches from her, she goes toward him as if she is going to whisper in his ear, and he leans in.

However, instead of telling him anything, she bites down on his ear so fiercely that blood is drawn. He stumbles back in shock, and she lets out a crazed laugh about how he is the beast that killed her husband, which causes Yeonsangun to become angry again. In a moment of fury, he wants to chop off her head, but Nok-soo reminds him that they need to use Ga-ryung effectively, and in order to do that, they need to keep her alive.

Nok-soo visits Ga-ryung in prison, and she finally lets Ga-ryung know that Gil-dong is alive. She tells her that she’s fine no matter how the scenario turns out—it’s a win-win situation for her, because if Gil-dong loves Ga-ryung, he’ll lose the battle, and if Gil-dong sacrifices Ga-ryung for the battle, then it’s a validation that Ga-ryung isn’t as important to him as perhaps Nok-soo once was. Ga-ryung is completely dazed by the news that her husband is alive, but once she realizes the implications of that, she calls out futilely to Nok-soo.

However, the meeting took more of a toll on Nok-soo than she let on to Ga-ryung, because her eyes are watery when she comes out. Wolhamae asks why she’s crying, and Nok-soo doesn’t answer, but it’s like she is mourning the last vestiges of her humanity that she’s given up by betraying both Ga-ryung and Gil-dong.

Outside, a soldier keeps repeating for Hyangjumok to surrender, and in order to drown out his cries, the people begin to sing. Soon, everyone joins in, including commoner soldiers from the king’s army. Through song, the people gain courage to move to their assigned tasks, whether it be standing at arms or evacuating the weak and infirm.

An epic battle ensues with arrows, cannons, and spears all thrown in the midst. Gil-dong is at the front and defends the wall by shouting orders to the archers. When a battering ram comes close, jugs of flammable alcohol and fiery arrows are shot down, and the soldiers scream below. But they keep coming closer to scale the wall with ladders while continuing to fight on ground. While there are massive casualties on both sides, at the end of the day, Gil-dong is successful in protecting the wall.

Yeonsangun is disappointed to learn that Hyangjumok has not fallen, and decides that if he wants a job done right, he has to do it himself. He announces that he will be going on a people-hunting expedition to Hyangjumok, and he expects a large retinue of entertainers as well as troops from every province to support him.

Back at Hyangjumok, Jeong-hak blows up at Mori for not being able to open up the gate doors when he’s notified of Yeonsangun’s arrival. The king says he’s brought a present that will make Jeong-hak’s task easier—and to Mori’s surprise, when he peers into the darkened cage, he sees Ga-ryung gagged and cuffed.

Later, she’s tied up in the prisoner’s tent to the central pole, and he goes to free her of her bindings to give her some breathing room. But as soon as she’s taken off the pole, she tries to commit suicide by ramming her body toward a pitchfork and slamming her head against any hard surface she can find. Taken aback, Mori stops her, and between tears, she explains the situation. She asks him to kill her because she needs to die without Gil-dong knowing so that he won’t be faced with an unsolvable dilemma.

Gil-dong walks the ramparts, looking over the hurt men and surveying the scene. But he’s also tired, so he sits down and dozes off in a moment of fatigue, and he dreams of Ga-ryung.

In his dream they’re in a field, and she holds flowers to his nose while gazing up at him lovingly. She tells him: “I’m coming to see you soon, but don’t be surprised at what state you find me in. You have to promise to do as I say.”

Before he can respond properly to her, he wakes up. She’s gone, and it’s Eorini holding flowers in her place. His sister vaguely mentions that she remembers an unni at the palace (referring to Ga-ryung) who had been kind to her. It’s a foreshadowing of what’s to come, because in that moment, Keutsae tells Gil-dong that he needs to come quickly.

When he gets to the central outer gate, Gil-dong sees his wife again: Ga-ryung has been blindfolded and strung up to a post facing the Hyangjumok. She screams to him: “If you stop because of me, I’ll never see you again!”

He shouts her name, and it’s the first real confirmation that she has that he’s alive. It’s a bittersweet moment as she feels simultaneous joy at finding him again and despair at their current situation. They shout and cry in deep longing and sorrow for each other while Yeonsangun watches with great relish at the scene unfolding, eagerly anticipating his enemy’s anguish.