chongjasmine
Singapore
This episode explored the theme of gender inequality. A woman needed to bear a child before she could be considered seriously. The queen dowager refused to let lady Jang became a royal consort but she changed her mind as soon as she heard that Lady Jang is pregnant.This episode explored the theme of the king's affection for Dong Yi. The king is beginning to fall in love with Dong Yi without being aware of it. He visited her to pass her a book which he thought she might like to read. He wanted to talk to her more, but Dong Yi was unaware of his affection for her and caused him to leave her without talking more, instead.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of the king's love for his subject. When Dong Yi surrendered herself to the Qing embassy, the king was determined to get her back from the Qing at all costs, even wars, Even though Dong Yi was just a lady investigator, the king truly cared for her.This episode explored the theme of appearance versus reality. In appearance, it appearance that the Qing's smuggler was killed, but in reality, it was not, as discovered by Dong Yi, through her investigation of the corpse.This episode explored jealousy among court ladies. Lady Jang noticed the king's seemingly affection for Dong Yi and expressed her jealousy while playing a game of chess with him, something which she had not noticed in herself before.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of the king's love for his subjects. When Dong Yi was almost caught by the Qing emissary, the king stepped out to protect her. The King was worried that his identity was found out by Dong Yi and scared to be scolded by her even though he was the king.This episode explored the theme of integrity in the midst of crisis. Dong Yi was wanted by the Qing emissary, and although she had an opportunity to escape, she chose to turn herself into the Qing emissary, instead.This episode explored the theme of the king's desire to be a commoner. Even though Dong Yi now knew of his identity as the king of the nation, he still wanted Dong Yi to treat him like before she knew his identity as king. This showed how much he wanted to be a commoner.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of kinship. Dong Yi was separated from her loved ones since a young age and when she was reunited with Chun Soo, she was beside herself with joy. That is because Chun Soo was like an elder brother to her.This episode explored the theme of appearance versus reality. On the surface, it appeared that the Lady Investigators made a mistake and was found out by the Qing emissary. In reality, they were betrayed by the higher officials who wanted to help the smuggler.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of perseverance. Dong Yi failed her examination but did not give up on wanting to be a palace maid. She proceeded to find faults with the laws and even knelt in the rain to protest the unfairness of the examination. Her perseverance led to Lady Jung and Lady Bong fighting for her rights and gained eventually the respect of her peers.This episode explored the theme of how it is important to work hard. Dong Yi studied hard for her examination, with the help of the king and ended up doing better than the other girl. As a result, she passed her examination and could remain as a lady inspector, she also gained the respect of her peers through her hard works.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of politics. Lady Yu did not want Dong Yi to be a palace maid so she attempted to cast her out through an unfair exam, where she was tested on what she did not learn. In this way, Lady Yu managed to maintain the rules and yet get rid of someone she did not like.This episode explored the theme of how good people will have friends. Dong Yi was always kind to the musicians around her even though she was low status as a result, they celebrated with her when she was promoted to lady investigator, a court lady. Even though her status was higher than them now, they not only not mind but rejoiced over it. That was because Dong Yi was always kind to them.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of the king's kindness with his subjects. Though he was the king, he was able to mingle with the low born musicians and enjoyed spending time with them. He also rewarded Dong Yi for her service by buying a jewelry for her.This episode explored the theme of class inequality and not to give in to it. Dong Yi often lamented the fact that she was a slave and thus could not accomplish much in life but she did not give into her social status and still tried her best to live a fulfilling life. She managed to get Lady Jang out of being wrongly framed and this not giving in to social status led her to get promoted to be a palace maid of the inner court.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of being loyal to one's superior. Dong Yi tried her best to defend Lady Jang's innocence. She told the court ladies investigating the case how it was not possible for Pinella to be among the herbs she carried because she was aware of what herb it was she was carrying and she was aware that Pinella was not there.This episode explored the theme of using one's intellect to achieve a purpose. Dong Yi proved by applying vinegar to the hands of the corpse that the herb Pinella was not in the list of herbs she carried because the vinegar did not turned color when it touched the hands of the corpse.This episode explored the theme of court politics. The dowager queen knew that Lady Jang brought in the herbs and made use of this opportunity to frame her from bringing in Pinellia, a herb that is toxic, that she is framed for trying to use on the queen.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of how your intellect could get you out of troubles. Dong Yi did not want the guard who arrested her to know that her medicine was for Lady Jang so she quickly thought to tell that it was for the musician and could explain her lie because she made use of her intellect.This episode explored the theme of friendship. The head musician wanted to beat Dong Yi at first for always going in and out of the police bureau, but when he saw her cried, he changed his mind. The musician who was Dong Yi's friend proceeded to comfort her. That was what friendship, even among the lowly musicians and Dong Yi was about.This episode explored the theme of being loyal to your superior. Dong Yi refused to acknowledge that she was under the order of Lady Jang to bring in the herb because she was loyal to lady Jang and did not want to get her into trouble, even when it meant that she might be tortured.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of what goes behind politics. Lady Jang used a game of baduk to get the king to stop prosecuting the culprits who tried to harm her. She did this because if the dowager queen is punished as a result of the prosecution, the king will distance himself from Lady Jang.This episode explored the theme of not giving to your lowborn status. Lady Jang was a lowborn but she made it to a high status because she would not give up. Her example inspired Dong Yi as well and made Dong Yi thought about her own status.This episode explored the theme of the king showing love to his subject. When Dong Yi tried to climb over the palace wall because she was late, the king ordered the guards aside and let Dong Yi entered the palace without any problem.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of how one person's fortune can affect the other people. Because Dong Yi is rewarded by the king, the bureau of music stand to gain a feast in which they can enjoy eating in.This episode explored the theme of the king's love for his subject. The king not only never forgot Dong Yi's service to him but he rewarded her greatly as well. He not only rewarded her with monetary benefits but he gave her a feast to enjoy eating in, as well.This episode explored the theme of how the king wanted to connect with the low born. He was proud that he learnt the commoner's phrase for lie, which is blow wind. And he showed that off to Lady Jang as well.This episode explored the theme of class inequality. Because Dong Yi is a slave, the bureau of music director's son Ho Yang was able to do what he wanted with her and she was helpless toward him. He approached her in a sexual way and yet when she resisted, he wanted to beat her. If not for Lady Jang summoning Dong Yi, Ho Yang would have gotten his wish.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of the importance of using one's intellect. Dong Yi was tied up and locked in the storage, but she thought of using the dead man's tool to her advantage. She was thus able to get out of her ropes. She further thought to use the beam to her advantage and used it to knock against the door. As a result, she was able to get out of her captivity.This episode explored the theme of superstition. The whole country is in panic because they perceive a meteorite falling on the palace when Lady Jang is about to enter the palace as a bad omen. People even rushed for rice because of that.This episode explored the theme of the importance of diligence. Police chief Yong Gi is diligent in reading all the patrol records everyday and that is how he discovered that someone reported seeing a chime-maker's dead body near Mt.Samhak.This episode explored the love of the king for his subjects. The King wanted Dong Yi to escape without him and bend over for her so that she could climb over the wall. Dong Yi is a lowly slave yet the King does this for her.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of the importance of intellect and how it helped you. Dong Yi helped the gardening department people with fish by explaining about the gill of the fish and how it was the cause of their deaths. In return, they gave her decayed urine for the musician. Dong Yi's intellect helped her in this case.This episode explored the theme of class inequality. Dong Yi played the musical instrument haegum and had to be hidden because slaves were not supposed to play with musical instruments. This showed the depth of class inequality in this episode.This episode explored the theme of superstition and its effects on the ancient world. A meteorite fell on the palace and all the officials took it as bad omen for the king. As a result, they thought that it reflected back on lady Jang.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of sense of betrayal and how it affected judgement. The police chief felt betrayed by Dong Yi's father and that affected his usual perspective on things and clouded his judgment. He was driven by rage to destroy the sword fraternity.This episode explored the theme of compassion. Dong Yi was chased by the police and ended up in a place where a person sold flying balloons. He had compassion on Dong Yi and gave her a free balloon even though she could not afford to pay for it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This episode explored the theme of comradeship. Dong Ju and those who were caught did not want those in the sword fraternity to rescue them because of their love for their comrades. Yet, Chun Soo and those who were not caught still chose to try to rescue them out of the same love of their comrades.This episode explored the theme of human compassion. Dong Yi's father was innocent of the crime of murdering chief Seo's father but to spare chief Seo further pain, he did not defend himself when he was questioned by chief Seo and accepted the blame for his father's death.
Was this review helpful to you?
