Il Ji Mae (sbs 2008)

I overall liked the ending, but the show had production issues much like The Legend. First, I think SBS originally wanted Iljimae to extend to 24 episodes, but the Iljimae production crew (note that it was originally supposed to air in the fall, and that it only got moved due to Dae Mul) struggled to finish the story in time. If you notice, the show starts out fairly slowly, building all of its interrelational bonds, and then toward the last 2 episodes, a bunch of it just gets flattened without real resoluition. Also, it sounded like Jung Ki developed a cold or something as the show was finishing. Jung Ki isn't really in the last 15 minutes of the show. What you get is a redux of the first episode and a close-up of him posing in front of the tree. Literally edited together on the same day as airing time.

In terms of the king dying, the problem there is this king actually did exist. If you killed him off, that's like making a TV show where, say, Grover Cleveland was killed by Johnny Appleseed. Sometimes, you see a sageuk that messes around a lot with the noble timeline, but not in this way. (Jung Ki does get to pop a few guys in Time of Dog and Wolf . . just to remind people he's totally bad ass too ;) ) His "No Kill" oath reflects his master's philosophy, just as Shi Hoo's reflects his master's ruthless/demonic philosophy (thus him killing his own teacher at the end.) At the same time, it also explains why he doesn't die at the end. Sa Chun reaches for Iljimae's edgeless sword instead of his own. As a result, it badly hurts Iljimae without actually killing him.

My hunch is that, right after that scene, Shi Hoo (who also needs to go into hiding) helps Yong-ee escape, and they probably together head for the mountains. So, we can assume that they've reconciled their differences. My guess is that the young boy's story is true. Iljimae probably goes to China, perhaps to save Dae Shik's father. Because his identity has been revealed, he can't return to his family or to Eun Chae.

What confuses me about the end with regards to Kong He. From what I read, when he picks up the shoes, there's two shoes and he gripes about "that girl" (from the subs.) However, sevenses points out that the more accurate translation is "that rascal." Girl would be Bong Song. Rascal would be Yong-ee. It appears, given their mutually dishevelled look, both Bong Song and Kong He reconciled. If the translation reads as "rascal", then it's possible that Yong-ee eventually ran off with Bong Song (as he had originally promised) and Kong He to live on the island again.

belleza wrote:

Sa Chun reaches for Iljimae's edgeless sword instead of his own. As a result, it badly hurts Iljimae without actually killing him.

I like this. "If you use a sword to kill that sword will eventyally kill you" And since he didn't kill kill he was left alive

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My hunch is that, right after that scene, Shi Hoo (who also needs to go into hiding) helps Yong-ee escape, and they probably together head for the mountains. So, we can assume that they've reconciled their differences. My guess is that the young boy's story is true. Iljimae probably goes to China, perhaps to save Dae Shik's father. Because his identity has been revealed, he can't return to his family or to Eun Chae. What confuses me about the end with regards to Kong He. From what I read, when he picks up the shoes, there's two shoes and he gripes about "that girl" (from the subs.) However, sevenses points out that the more accurate translation is "that rascal." Girl would be Bong Song. Rascal would be Yong-ee. It appears, given their mutually dishevelled look, both Bong Song and Kong He reconciled. If the translation reads as "rascal", then it's possible that Yong-ee eventually ran off with Bong Song (as he had originally promised) and Kong He to live on the island again.

I agree about a bit unclear ending. Kong He's words confused me too since the subs said girl but he definitely said something else. Then I read that director himself said that Kong He bought the shoes for Bong Soo. Why would he buy exactly same pair of shoes for himself and his daughter (I mean don't women use different kinda shoes)? Also when he shout "Where is that rascal?!" they showed us Iljimae.

Kong He and Bong Soo must have reconciled indeed but why were they at different places at the end? Was Bong Soo really able to forgive him? If they ended up apart from each other isn't Bong Soo then the most pitiful character? First her family got killed, then she found out a man who killed her family had been next to her for all her life, then the guy she loved didn't love her back and she ended up alone. What did she do wrong to deserve such fate?

Bong Soo and Young-ae might have run away together but then again why did Kong He buy 2 pairs of shoes in the first place?

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I like this. "If you use a sword to kill that sword will eventyally kill you" And since he didn't kill kill he was left alive

Very much so. Part of Iljimae's image to the people was that he didn't kill, that he was something purer than other men. And, of course, the irony goes that his Robin Hood adventures were actually a smokescreen for his lust for revenge, and that various people he loved lost their lives due to it. For the sake of this drama, he had to overcome his lust for revenge.

There is also interesting contrast between him and his brother, who after all finally killed the man who killed their true father, who also happened to be his master.

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First her family got killed, then she found out a man who killed her family had been next to her for all her life, then the guy she loved didn't love her back and she ended up alone. What did she do wrong to deserve such fate?

Oh I agree. As painful as Yong-ee's past was, I thought Bong Soo had suffered far, far more. The man she loved as a father was the one who brought her the most suffering. I don't know how she can reconcile with him, and yet I don't even know how she can revenge upon him. Because make no mistake about it, she still very much loved him as her father, and he very much loved her and waited for the day to atone for what he had done to his daughter.

My favorite emotional scene was in episode 19 when she and Kong He were at the cliff. You can see the despair in her eyes -- "you wouldn't daddy?!?" -- when she believed that Kong He would kill her. And the same, Kong He most clearly expressed his regard for Bong Song as his own daughter in his own red, scared eyes and "you'll be okay. you'll be okay" sincerity. In this show, it was their most essential moment as surrogate father and daughter.

Surely by that point of the story, Yong-ee would have realized that the truth between Bong Soo and Kong He and knew that, she TRULY shared the same scars, and that the spiritual burden would be so great as to render cheerful Bong Soo into a lost, utterly broken soul. There would also be karmic reciprocity were he to stay with Bong Soo. His 2nd father loved and took Dani in even though Swe Dol knew Dani would always love Lee Wong Ho. Over time, Dani did fall in love with him, realizing almost too late. Yong-ee promised to take Bong Soo with him, but this was all before Bong Soo nearly sacrificed her life and before Yong-ee had to feel that loss. If Yong-ee was not necessarily in love with Bong Soo the way he was with Eun Chae, I would like to believe that he too realized almost too late the bond that they shared. Eun Chae loved Geom, loved Iljimae, but didn't love Yong-ee. Bong Soo loved Yong-ee. After everything, Bong Soo also needs Yong-ee.

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. Then I read that director himself said that Kong He bought the shoes for Bong Soo. Why would he buy exactly same pair of shoes for himself and his daughter (I mean don't women use different kinda shoes)? Also when he shout "Where is that rascal?!" they showed us Iljimae.

You know, I thought about that awkward scene between Bong Soo and Yong-ee's two moms. My hunch now is that it seemed awkward not because Bong Soo was now a lost soul, but because she knows where their son is, and she can't reveal it to them.