16 comments:
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I actually posted an unfinished recap! The part about General Man and Susanna.
Yes I do feel bad for Kam Ling, but only just. Why? She made a calculated move. I agree Sam Hou is special in everyone's heart and bit OTT in those scenes but you must admit she is a nice girl and everybody who knows her knows that.
Kam Ling act on a need to better herself, which isn't wrong but Sam Hou was totally selfless and without a motive except to make us all go awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
I get that.
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But Sam Hou is not just ANY maid...she's a maid that is credited with saving the current emperor and empress dowager's lives. She's the maid that the current emperor can confide in...and loves. She's the maid that Susanna and Michelle's characters treat like their daughter. If this is the case, then all the attention she's getting is not too much. Furthermore, the majority of the people surrounding her when she is injured are the imperial bureau people...
I didn't think Kam Ling took a complete turn in character...I just saw it as a golden opportunity. I still think she cares for Sam Hou and wishes she recovers...no she wouldn't risk her hand so steadfast if it wasn't for her own benefit but that doesn't mean she doesnt care for Sam Hou. Just a golden opportunity for her to get close to the emperor. Why do you think she did something out of character?
As for your comment regarding Sam Hou and her natural talent, if you recall when they were kids...Susanna was already very impressed with her jewelry skills. The reason she wasn't chosen for the jewelry dept was because her hairpin came apart. Following that scene, Susanna's character told Sam Hou there was no point if it looks good but not sturdy. Sam Hou didn't defend herself but quickly amended the hairpin and impressed Susanna even more. Furthermore, child Kam Ling said that Sam Hou's mom has taught Sam Hou so she would be chosen for the jewelry dept for sure. There were gentle, implied things that Sam Hou was naturally gifted and well taught by her mom since young. But yes, they could have showed her mature more in her skills but they did not.
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JJ,
I know Sam Hou is not just any maid, but that entire scene of the treatment and recovery makes you think her position is more than just a maid. Not even concubines or officers were shown such concern. I know she is well loved and all but it is ridiculous; in the hall, surrounded by almost everybody. Palace have protocols and this one is less palace. Imagine this emperor who is not powerful at this moment, breaking all protocols for a maid, even if a maid who saved him. I am surprised no enemies used this point to say he is wasting time, money, resources and all. It didn't feel right.
"Why do you think she did something out of character?"
If you notice, in the past Kam Ling never immediately volunteer herself WHEN IN TROUBLE. It was Sam Hou. Only in the last minute she would jump up, but not immediately. This time, she jumped. Maybe she is concern about Sam Hou but she is an opportunist. However all her concern, praying, eagerness, etc is suspicious (in her motive) because her primary concern is herself and not sam hou. I don't like this sudden turn of character. I always thought she is nice to Sam Hou because Sam Hou is nice to her, there is no motive when with Sam Hou but suddenly in this episode her perspective change. The next episode will explain my point. If you say Kam Ling didn't have a complete turn,that means you say Kam Ling was all along that calculative when it comes to Sam Hou. To me that is not true.
Ahh Sam Hou and her natural talent. I think I did say the entrance exams was insane; expecting a 6 year old to do embroidery, cook, make jewelry. That was stupid. Yes she is naturally gifted because it runs in the family. And that makes me bump my head on the wall. Why? Isn't anything about Sam Hou is not naturally gifted? Whilst Kam Ling had to climb, claw her way to the top, for Sam Hou eveyrthing just seems to be handed to her on a silver platter. Hardly any hardship. Janggeum even had to work on her so called natural talent, not just practice, but experiment, fell down in failure, climb back up again... for Sam Hou, it was too easy. The entire characterisation is just badly written.
In fact I should just say watch Jewel In THe Palace to know what I mean.
BUT NONE AS WORSE AS THE NEXT EPISODE which I haven't written yet but I will tell you, COMPLETE AND UTTER CRAP! I think the writer must have hit his head or something to write a 360% turn of character.
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Believe it or not, I have not seen Jewel in the Palace and I'm not planning to lol. There's something about K-dramas that I cannot stand!
A lot of what we discuss are opinions so I'll just leave it at that. But as far as Kam Ling's character...I have a few more comments :)
When you say she never immediately volunteers WHEN IN TROUBLE, that is because there would be NO BENEFIT associated. With this golden opportunity to impress the emperor and perhaps get close to him, she would immediately risk her hands - I don't see how her character has been presented all along would make this shocking. Furthermore, with this particular opportunity, she's not hurting Sam Hou in anyway for her own advantage...
So in this situation what would be considered Kam Ling-like to you/how should Kam Ling have acted to be in accordance with her character all along?
Kidd, if you're reading this...what do you think? :)
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I agree with Funn this treatment of Sam Hou is OTT. She's a maid and I doubt she's credited openly for saving the Emperor. If she is, someone would have suggested to the Emperor to give her an honour status instead of her remaining a maid and supervisor. The everyone attending to her other than the villains is quite stupid. The officials have nothing to do? They have no other important task at hand?
But, I guess it still make sense. Emperor can do whatever he likes. Because of his love for Sam Hou, the Emperor will always bend the rules for Sam Hou. Maybe the other officials all knew Emperor loves Sam Hou. So, they all gather around her to show support so that they will look favourable in the Emperor's eyes. :P
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Which is why I say change of character because my perception of Kam Ling was she was always genuine when with Sam Hou. Your perception is she is an opportunist and so not genuine. And someone who is not so genuine will in the end hurt others which will be consistent in your perception but for me this is a change of character.
You should watch Jewel In The Palace. It is long winded, you can skit about 30 episode since they talk on the same thing but there is a reason why this is the highest rated show in HK and is still making rounds all over the world. This will widen your perspective as well. I am rewatching this because my sister is watching for the first time and I remember feeling the show was rather long winded but now I am watching again, I feel the story and characters are well told, their function well told, the characters well cast except for a few. There is a reason why this series is a classic and BTROC... will not be regarded in that same category.
Not that ALL korean dramas are great. But a few of them, when they're good, you gotta admit, they're great.
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But Kidd, at this point it is well established the emperor can't do everything as he pleases, maybe except when it comes to women? I still don't get why he is so darn scared of that General Ma. It is implied but you know it would be nice to see General Ma surrounded by croonies instead of him alone. We are just to assume he is head eunuch and all head eunuchs are powerful.
Even Lee Lin Ying's power is derived from being a favourite of that stupid woman.
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Why suddenly ask my opinion on Kam Ling? Lol
Ok, here's my opinion. Based on this current episode and not further, I believe Kam Ling's personality has not taken a 180 degree change. It's still a gradual change. And I agree with JJ's assessment of Kam Ling's volunteering. In the past, when we see Kam Ling kept quiet, it has always been when trouble was brewing. But, this time, it's not. It's a golden opportunity. It benefits her and Sam Hou if the experiment is successful. Yes, she's taking a huge risk, which didn't seem like her earlier character of her always in hiding. But, we can also see from prior episodes that she's tired of being a maid and servant and always being scolded and punished unfairly. She's very determine to be a concubine. She has given up being a good person. But, she still has some care for Sam Hou.
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Yeah then I think she's an opportunist...but that doesn't mean she can't truly care for Sam Hou...UNTIL something comes up.
With her crying uncontrollably when Sam Hou got prommoted and not herself, and she had to REMIND herself Sam Hou is her good sister...I felt she would put herself way above Sam Hou in any extraordinary situations. In ordinary ones, I feel she too is genuine...like caring for Sam Hou when she got hurt by the animal trap.
Oh I'm sure there are great Korean dramas out there (just like there are TVB ones) but I have given too many chances. JITP seems like an exception, but then again there's no such thing as a universal classic...someone's got to dislike it - that might just be me haha.
LOL Kidd, I was asking for your opinion regarding Kam Ling's change in character....or not :)
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Whoops...when I started replying I havent seen your comment Kidd...so disregard the last sentence of my previous post.
Haha and I asked for your opinion because I know you're more than likely reading this :)
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Funn,
Yeap, this is the failure of the series. We were told but not shown how powerful General Ma is. He's just one person walking alone around the palace being loud (not to mention dishing out petty revenge on a maid that serve no purpose).
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Actually to me, Kam Ling was genuine to Sam Hou when the Grand Empress Dowager questioned Sam Hou about the phoenic hairpin in ep 2, and Kam Ling jumped out to share the blame. She could have just stayed hidden and stayed out of trouble. There was no benefit if she came out but she did anyway to save Sam Hou.
In this case, I think she has double motives. She cares for Sam Hou a lot despite her jealously, but she also wants to attract the Emperor. I do agree that she is an opportunist but don't agree that this is a sudden character change.
There are events that gradually shape the Evil Concubine that we saw in ep 1 and it is progressive. So far, Kam Ling has experienced the neglect by the 4 heads, unfair judgment by Lady Yuen, and betrayal by June. She was actually still quite naive when June betrayed her and since then, she no longer trusts people save Sam Hou.
Kam Ling has always been more suspicious of people whereas Sam Hou appears brainwashed into thinking that everyone is nice. I don't blame Kam Ling for taking this opportunity - everyone takes risks to get ahead (except for Sam Hou).
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Elizabeth, how can anyone be genuine with anyone if she is an opportunist? All along I see her being wronged , bullied, etc but she cries, she wipes her tears and move on. I don't see her being an opportunist earlier. She did come into Sam Hou's defence, but reluctantly, not quite as fast and definitely not eager. Takes her a long time.
And I don't think Sam Hou is brainwashed! What makes you say that? She chose to see the good side of people.
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A person can be a opportunist but genuine to a few special person. In this case, Kam Ling is genuine to Sam Hou in the past. Yes, she didn't put herself out immediately, but, she always did put herself out at the end when it comes to Sam Hou. But, despite being in hiding during troubled times, you can also see the opportunist side during the Concubine Wai's case. You can say that Sam Hou will also do the same. But, Sam Hou would not have expected any reward like Kam Ling did. (But it's still very unfair how the 5 heads scolded her. How would she knew there would be something wrong with the pills earlier on? Sam Hou would also have kept quiet in this case).
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Sam Hou is brainwashed in a way where she believes that good deeds reap good results. to see the good side of people is a good thing but to only take into account the good side of people is also denial.
She has no reason to protect herself cos 99% people love her so she feels Kam Ling is wrong to take the initiative to defend herself. She can forgive other people for betrayal and bitchiness, but she fails to put herself in Kam Ling's shoes and understand her actions. Seriously, I don't know how Sam Hou survives in this world.
Genuinity to me means coming forward despite no gain. Opportunist behaviour to me means taking opportunities for gain. Despite Kam Ling taking time to assess her situation, she still came forward to help Sam Hou even with little gain.
Even if a person is evil and ruthless, they can still genuinely care for someone they love. The two qualities can exist separately yet together without cancelling each other out.
December 17, 2010 at 7:22 PM
I feel bad for Kam Ling. Lady Yuen and Lady Chung didn't bring sweet and hanky for her when she's testing Sam Hou. Only Sam Hou has this special place in everyone's heart.
But Kam Ling didn't need their hanky and sweets. She only need the Emperor's care. :D