Janggeum’s Dream: Episode 44 Commentary

Sun and Moon Protestantism

Another scene with the young queen’s father in an ill state is shown. Either I completely missed what happened to him, or I completely forgot about it. All I know is Lady Han recalled something about it, and now this.

I take it the yellow paper slips with red paint are some kind of charms. They remind me of what the hunter in Yobi, the Five Tailed Fox uses.

The slip Janggeum noticed looked familiar to me, but it wasn’t until the very last moment it was shown when I realized where I had seen it. The two 古 marks on the bottom, as well as the look of the three marks on the top were too familiar to be a coincidence (not to mention Janggeum recognizing that she has seen it before). It looks like the slips used as a calling card for the drops added to the young queen’s dish, as well as the ones placed in Sin-ssi’s home.

Could it be one or both of the men shadowing Janggeum will turn out to be of the two assassin ninjas? They look to be worshiped by a cult now, perhaps as a single sorcerer able to change his shape (thanks to their ninja skills), even if they’re being led by the eyepatch man (whose outfit I wouldn’t mind having one of). They’re just enjoying the ride, I imagine. But could they also be working for him near the palace? Come to think of it, did the shadowed figures ever shadow the kids, or were they keeping an eye on Lady Han, and other adults?

I don’t know why Yeonsaeng was able to stay behind when Yeong-ro and the others had to go check out the eyepatch guy’s place. From a story standpoint, it makes sense, as she needed to be there to witness something going on, and in turn fall through the revolving door. I’m not sure what to say about her sneaking in, though. She obviously believes the charm Yeong-ro has will give Yeong-ro a huge boost in the way of love, and wants one for herself to ensure her being with Hwan.

I wonder if the cups of drink Janggeum and the others drink from are the original cult Kool-Aid. I’m not sure what the 蟲 at the button of Janggeum’s cup meant, other than it uses the character for “insect” three times.

The group looks tired at the cult ceremony, so I can only guess they’re up past their bed time. The incense later also leaves them looking positively zoned out.

Another piece of cultural interestingness: the two ninjas play “rock, paper, scissors” to see which will appear before the kids and Suro. When and where did this game originate? Did it exist back in the 1500’s, and in Korea, or was this simply something put in as a recognizable way for the two to make a selection? I’m guessing the latter. I’m surely overanalyzing it.

The eyepatch man says something about Janggeum’s pouch figure she carries at her belt. Could there be something about Janggeum’s mother coming up?

I like how Yeong-ro gives Janggeum a little elbow nudge so she can get in a few words about her charm. I don’t think she’s trying to show off to Yeonsaeng so much as she wants to show it off a bit. Without knowing what she says, however… I do know Janggeum mentions Sato when Lady Han appears, asking Lady San something about him, but I wasn’t able to pick up anything more than that from that conversation.

This episode’s ending is a good “series one” ending, where things at the end of one episode go right into the next. It’s not the first for series two, as there have been plenty, such as when Janggeum and Yeonsaeng were trapped in the ice warehouse (a good one) and when Suro fell down the waterfall. It is, however, a very good ending, with a lot of anticipation at to what happens next. Maybe that’s mostly because I cannot determine what comes up the same as I could with when Suro was washed away.