THE SCHOLAR WHO WALKS THE NIGHT
EPISODE 13
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Lee: having a scrumptious Korean meal
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Lee: reading his script
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Kim Sung Yeol: Tears in his eyes
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Lee's snap back: unique headgear
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Lee: Left profile
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Lee: Squatting in the shade
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Lee: Handsome long-haired vampire
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Lee Joon Gi (r) and Lee Hyun Woo (l) (Crown Prince Jung Hyun)
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All men are brothers
CHANGES
CONFRONTATION
BETWEEN
KIM SUNG YEOL AND GWI
In Episode 12, Kim Sung Yeol whirls like a dervish in his fight against the Prime Minister’s lackeys. After defeating them, the royal family escapes and he rushes into the new palace grounds. Kim Sung Yeoland Gwi charge at each other like bulls. Being weaker, Kim Sung Yeol is thrown to the ground but he deftly rolls and springs up to lunge at Gwi. They are both at each other’s throats. Kim Sung Yeol spins away and then sends a weapon sailing through the air. It lands on Gwi and inflicts enough damage to slow him down.
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The royal family escapes from Gwi
The viewers are breathless with anticipation and breathe a sigh of relief when they realise that Gwi has made a mistake of underestimating Kim Sung Yeol, who escapes with the vampire hunter, Baek In Ho. The evil vampire, whose murderous animalistic rampages cannot be curbed, is defeated yet another time by Kim Sung Yeol.
The vampire hunter, Baek In Ho, before he loses consciousness, informs Kim Sung Yeol that Jo Yang Sun is the key to Gwi’s destruction.
KING HYEONJO’S REVELATION
JO YANG SUN
IS THE SECRET WEAPON
Jo Yang Sun: A victim
The royal family retreat to their own palace. King Hyeonjo reveals to his grandson, Crown Prince Lee Yoon, that the Investigation Bureau has discovered that Jo Yang Sun is the secret weapon to defeat Gwi. Her genealogy is exceptional because of her mother’s lineage. According to King Hyenjo’s postulation, the moment that Gwi bites her, he will die. Gwi is oblivious of Jo Yang Sun’s lethal and fatal power over him. The king wants his grandson to quickly capture Jo Yang Sun and offer her as sacrifice to Gwi.
Crown Prince Lee Yoon, upon hearing the crucial piece of news, organizes a manhunt to apprehend Jo Yang Sun despite the fact that she is his childhood friend to whom he has once given a calligraphy or writing brush box. Saving his grandfather, King Hyeonjo and the Joseon kingdom are his priorities. If by sundown he has not captured Jo Yang Sun, King Hyeonjo will surely die because Gwi will definitely come out of his underground palace or hideout to mete out punishment to him.
The Crown Prince promises his grandfather that he would capture Jo Yang Sun and bring her back, but he fails in his quest.
MANHUNT
Crown Prince Lee Yoon launches a manhunt for Seo Jeong Do’s daughter, Seo Jin or Jo Yang Sung.
Kim Sung Yeol confronts him. The Crown Prince explains his position on Seo Jin that is, she has to offer herself to Gwi but both the vampire scholar and the prince are at cross purposes.
The vampire scholar has conflicting feelings and is torn between saving Joseon and following his heart. The Crown Prince demands that he chooses either Joseon or Jo Yang Sun, meaning either patriotism or love.
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Crown Prince Lee Yoon meets Kim Sung Yeol
They stare each other down. Kim Sung Yeol responds by saying he actually does not know her whereabouts. Crown Prince Lee Yoon despairs because it is getting late.
The Crown Prince does not give up but manages to discover Kim Sung Yeol’s house. Ho Jin, his aide, explains that his master is out looking for Jo Yang Sun, so he leaves.
He searches everywhere for the missing girl. He leaves no stone unturned.
Kim Sung Yeol does not want to surrender Jo Yang Sun
THE DEATH OF KING HYEONJO
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King Hyeonjo: at the mercy of Gwi
Crown Prince arrives back to the palace too late and without Jo Yang Sun. He has failed to bring his promise to fruition.
Before King Hyeonjo meets with Gwi and his death, he mandates Crown Prince Lee Yoon in his edict to ascend the throne and be responsible for the people’s safety and the Joseon kingdom’s future. His edict is written in his own blood to emphasize the importance of his decree. Failing to oust the evil vampire, the king has passed on the baton to him to kill Gwi.
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Defiant attitude: King Hyeonjo
Gwi has absolute power over the palace, and viewers know that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Gwi is invincible and therefore, treats the king abominably and brutally. Those who defy him would be killed without a second thought.
King Hyeonjo has previously obeyed Gwi without question and has even sacrificed his son, Crown Prince Sadong.
After the disastrous failure to kill Gwi, the grizzled, shrivelled king with his weasel thin face courageously surrenders himself to Gwi in his palace grounds. This sad state of affairs is a lesson to be learnt. It is the result of the king’s sloppy planning and his failure to get a stamp of approval from his tactical advisers. King Hyeonjo realises this too late.
Gwi lets fly a series of insults at the king, snorts and smirks at the king. King Hyeonjo has just been greatly humbled by his unsuccessful plot of killing Gwi in his new palace which he had hoped would be the burial ground of Gwi. Although he has failed miserably, the king is still high spirited and reminds Gwi that the people’s will or unity will one day topple him.
The evil vampire, goaded by words of the king, advances menacingly, lifting his hands like a vulture in flight and about to swoop down on its prey, and tear the king to pieces.
Gwi threatens King Hyeonjo
The king beats a hasty retreat towards the well where his son, Crown Prince Sadong has been imprisoned before. During the heated exchange, viewers watch in fascination as he lifts his royal sword. Most might have thought that the king is trying to fend off Gwi, but to their horror, he slashes his own neck! Then he plunges into the very depths of the well, but not before berating Gwi. In death, King Hyeonjo has summoned up his courage, and in defiance of Gwi, kills himself to show the courage of human beings.
Gwi has not expected that the king would have the courage of his own convictions - to take responsibility and be accountable for his failed actions. He accepts responsibility and does not dodge personal accountability for the badly planned grandiose scheme. He does not weasel out his accountability and does not want to shift the blame on his grandson or others. He has to reconcile himself to the fact that he has not been able to defeat Gwi in his lifetime. The King finally shows his true mettle and what he is made of. He has a backbone after all. Gwi seems shocked and confused by the whole incident which has happened so quickly.
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King Hyeonjo wields his sword
King Hyeonjo, in this instance, can be seen to be defiant right up till the end. His courageous act speaks volumes about him. He can be held up as a king who has fought for his people and is not as spineless as viewers previously think he is.
King Hyeonjo writing his edit
THE CROWN PRINCE
DANCES
TO GWI’S TUNE
After his grandfather’s death, Crown Prince Lee Yoon discovers that he is as fragile as glass. He would like to defy Gwi but being a human, he is weak and helpless against the vampire, Gwi, and has to ‘kowtow’ to him. He is compelled to prostrate before Gwi. He is a weakling in the face of the monster vampire as he begs that his life be spared. He lies cowardly that he has played no part in the insurrection against Gwi.
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Crown Prince Lee Yoon 'kowtows' to Gwi
Gwi humiliates Prince Lee Yoon
To ensure his mind is held captive, Gwi bites his close friend and aide, Nok Hak Yong. Nok Hak Yong, the grandson of the Deputy Prime Minister, who has pledged his life to serve the Crown Prince, takes the blame for everything, including organizing the manhunt to capture Jo Yang Sun.
Gwi bites Noh Hak Yong and turns him into a vampire. The new King can only stare in horror and helplessness. History repeats itself. The Prince has turned into his grandfather, quite helpless against the powerful and intimidating Qwi.
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Noh Hak Yong
The new king, King Lee Yoon, has to face the harsh reality and is compelled to dance to Qwi’s tune.
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Crown Prince: dejected
Being a king is a heavy burden. One has to shoulder so many responsibilities and to be responsible to and for so many subjects.
How is it possible for him to challenge the physical might of the powerful Qwi?
How does an inexperienced king downplay the fears of the population who are incredulous that vampires live among them?
How does he explain why he is not conducting the funeral rites for the deceased king nor call for a general mourning for the Joseon people?
The failure to uproot Gwi and the appearance of a new vampire have stoked concerns about the possible security and safety of the population.
The new king has to concede defeat to the unassailable Gwi. With the shock defeat by Gwi, the scattered bodies and mass casualties and the new palace grounds being almost in shambles, he is forced to 'kowtow' to Gwi. Beating Gwi at his own game is now a distant dream. He has to toe the line.
As ‘The Lustful Scholar’, he is admired by the people for his courage in speaking out. Even Jo Yang Sun admires him. But now, he has turned from hero to zero – from the courageous ‘Lustful Scholar’ to the weak King Lee Yoon. After the putsch, the humiliation seems almost complete. But he still has an ace in his hands, his childhood friend, Jo Yang Sun.
KIM SUNG YEOL
HIS DESTINY: JO YANG SUN
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Jo Yang Sun's love confession
Jo Yang Sun's confession that she loves Kim Sung Yeol
Ho Jin, Kim Sung Yeol’s aide finally reveals to Jo Yang Sun that his master is not human, having believed that he has died since he has not returned before sunrise from the royal wedding in the palace grounds.
Jo Yang Sun, being worried for him, goes in search of him as she fears for his safety and wants to find out for herself if he is really dead.
Jo Yang Sung fears for Kim Sung Yeol's life
When she sneaks into the palace, Crown Princess Choi Hye Ryung meets her by chance and Jo Yang Sun confesses that she loves Kim Sung Yeol.
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Crown Princess Choi Hye Ryung tells Jo Yang Sun some truths
The princess taunts her by saying that Kim Sung Yeolis single-minded and has not forgotten his first love, Lee Myung Hee who shares a remarkable resemblance with the crown princess. She proceeds to expose Kim Sung Yeol’s vampire identity to her, and implies that she knows nothing about love.
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Kim Sung Yeol overhears the conversation
between the crown princess and Jo Yang Sun
Kim Sung Yeol being a witness to Jo Yang Sun’s distressing experience, suddenly appears before her after the departure of the crown princess.
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Jo Yang Sun expresses her love for Kim Sung Yeol
Jo Yang Sun reveals her feelings for him, but she has yet to understand the life of a vampire and the implications of vampirism. She confesses to him that she is not afraid of him being a vampire. He has given her a reason to live because he has saved her life and she promises to stay by his side until the day she expires.
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The vampire is touched by her declaration of love
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Tears in the vampire's eyes
She wants him to remember her in the same way as he has remembered Lee Myung Hee, if and when she dies. At this stage, Jo Yang Sun seems to be living in her own romantic fantasy world.
Jo Yang Sung is sent to hide in Hwayang-Gak, the house of the gisaengs or courtesans. Her idea of Kim Sung Yeol is that of a romantic vampire in her book, ‘The Night Scholar’. Ho Jin tries to tell her that there is a difference between her ‘Night Scholar’ and the real vampire that he is. She argues that even so, her heart will not change.
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Do her feelings for him border on romantic fantasies?
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Does she realise that Kim Sun Yeol needs human blood to sustain his vampire’s life?
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Doe she understand that vampires are prone to excessive behaviour like going on a rampage, if they do not drink blood during the full moon?
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Will she have to pay the price of loving a vampire?
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Does she know that one day he might bite her in one of his frenzied moments and she would be completely and physically transformed?
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If she knows that he is her father’s killer, can she totally forgive him? If she can forgive him, can she forget?
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Is she willing to turn into a vampire to be his lifemate? Is she willing to allow him to drink her blood? A beloved’s blood seems more fragrant and sweeter.
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If she does not turn into a vampire, can she reconcile with the problem of aging? He will be forever young but she will age with the passing years.
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What about children? Will they be vampires too?
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Will she sacrifice her life for him?
Jo Yang Sun’s confession and profession of love forKim Sung Yeol, moves the 120 year old vampire, and he cries – probably, tears of momentary relief.
Her love heals his heart and cleanses him. It is the fire – the passion in her heart that is of vital importance. She is his destiny. Those years must have been very hard for him. Kim Sung Yeol embraces her with love and enthusiasm.
He obviously and truly loves Jo Yang Sun as he has, so far, tried to refrain from biting her. But what about her? She finds him irresistible. But the test for her is not over. She has to be tested many times before she understands what it means to love a vampire!
Gwi sends a coffin with the body of the new vampire, Nok Hak Yong to the gisaeng house, Hwayang Gak. Nok Hak Yong, the former aide of Crown Prince Lee Yoon, goes on a killing rampage there.
Kim Sung Yeol appears in time to save Jo Yang Sun
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Kim Sung Yeol: shocked at Jo Yang Sun's terror
The defining moment of Jo Yang Sun's love for Kim Sung Yeol has arrived. Noh Hak Yong, attacks the residents in Hwayang-Gak. He approaches her aggressively but is thrown by Kim Sung Yeol. The full force of her memory of Kim Sung Yeol killing her vampire father hit her like a thunderbolt. Kim Sung Yeol raises his hands to kill Noh Hak Yong with his hawthorn dagger but she screams in terror at him not to do it. Remembering her father biting her and then, he being killed by Kim Sung Yeol, Jo Yang Sun does not want Noh Hak Yong to suffer the same fate.
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Jo Yang Sun's memory of her father being killed
Reality sinks in. She is shocked to discover that Kim Sung Yeol is like a cold-blooded killer, almost without reason or compassion when in the heat of his vampire passion.
QWI PLAYS WITH HIS FOOD
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Flirting with each other
Flirtatious: Gwi and Soo Hyang
Gwi carries the unconscious Soo Hyang back to his underground palace or hideout after he lost his fight against Kim Sung Yeol.
Soo Hyang dreams of Kim Sung Yeol saving her as a child from a vampire. She has stayed with him since then. Upon her rude awakening, Gwi proclaims to her that he is the actual king of the Joseon World.
There is a seductive exchange between Gwi and Soo Hyang. He flirtingly tells her that a beautiful woman like her is mere food to him but because she looks elegant, he may have other thoughts.
Soo Hyang, being dauntless and quick on the uptake, responds enticingly that in order for him to appreciate the true taste of good food, he needs to be hungry and she asks why not savour his food slowly. Her alluring, seductive looks and coquetry weave a magic spell on him and makes her irresistible.
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