Pretty much the most amazing episode of anything ever. I have already rewatched it twice.
Even in the middle of a desperate situation, surrounded by killers on all sides and likely framed for treason, I love that Eun Soo can make Choi Young smile like that (with her incredibly pragmatic take on things :P)
He tells them to run and that he will find them and then pretty much turns into an angel of death, wiping scores of men by himself simply and efficiently. It's somehow sad however - that he has to do that.
This scene! Gibbering here! She hears a noise and attacks with a knife he gave her and it's him and he tells her to only strike if she is prepared. I love that she is teaching him how to live but he seems to teach her how to survive...
She sees his bloody face and worries he's wounded and he tells her quietly the blood isn't his - so she throws him a towel to wipe his face off. I adore that she's unhappy he's had to do that to protect them...
The way he watches her - the funny, pragmatic, efficient, oh-so-very-alive, caring woman. I melt...
She realizes he hasn't slept and actually manages to keep trying and finally to convince him to rest on her shoulder, despite his protests. I love that he's comfortable enough with her and secure enough with her to actually lean on her - for someone as self-sufficient and emotionally armored, it's huge. I also love how he opens his eyes a little while resting on her - it's probably the most peaceful he's felt in years.
The morning after - the way she takes the kid's mind off his pain with her clowning and the way she actually makes the desperate, blood-weary Choi Young grin like a kid, all pure happiness, looking a decade younger. Just! He shines around her kind quirky competence. He might save her life over and over, but she saves his soul. (Also, they would make amazing parents).
Ummm, I could ship those two.
This scene! Every scene between Nogook and Gongmin bristles with so much wounded thwarted feeling, passion and pride! I love how they start icy-polite far on opposite sides of the long table and then they end up a scant millimeter away, all barriers gone. And Gongmin is jealous of her (supposed) feelings for CY and the way he changes when she tells him she thinks CY is more necessary to Gongmin than she is which is why she is willing to be a hostage to Gi Chul. It's as if the intensity trebles. And he asks her why and she is about to tell him she loves him when frelling ministers interrupt. Die die ministers!
I think the way he watches her when she isn't aware is fast becoming one of my favorite things about this drama. And the whole exchange with the flower - her tricking him into wearing her 'gift' and his looking utterly bewildered and then the fun turning into emotional core - when she tells him she wanted to mask the smell of blood on him. A lot of this episode is how Eun Soo is a modern person, a healer - while CY is a 14th-century warrior - and neither is wrong - killing is wrong and must be avoided, but if the only way to protect those you care about is to kill their potential killers, than that must be done. I want to see how they will meet the middle ground.
How I want Gi Chul to die horribly. This scene is appalling - he is tormenting a small, sick child.
It's pretty clear by this point CY is fine with ES going back to 'heaven,' order or no order. But what gets me is her asking him to come with her, so that way he won't have to kill, and his face.
They return to find the little deposed King dying. This scene tore out my heart - the way the child drank that awful poison to protect Young, the way Young freaks out at Eun Soo about the child, the way the child keeps crying from pain and CY is holding him as tightly as possible, telling him about heaven, and crying. OMG. And then asking the kid's permission to end his pain and, on being given it, he hugs the child to himself and stabs him through the heart. OMFG. OMFG. No wonder Young tries his best to shun any attachments (not that he succeeds - his capacity for caring is too great) - he keeps losing those he loves (because he didn't really see the kid as a King but as a younger brother who needed to be taken care of). No wonder he is so fixated on protecting Eun Soo - so far he's failed to protect anyone he loves, and he desperately doesn't want her to be yet another victim. Also, Gi Chul is an idiot because before, sure CY was going against him, but he had no personal investment in it - it was duty and that is all. Now, CY will not rest until GC is in pieces.
I get that stoicism is CY's protection but it kills me that he wipes his tears and pretends he feels nothing to ES. And ES doesn't think it through - all she sees is that CY killed a child and now is calmly telling her they must go. But oh God, when she tells him not to touch her with those dirty hands - his face kills me. And the way he grabs her and holds her and begs her not to go anywhere so he can protect her - he is so terrified of losing her too.
But she leaves anyway and his face! And then she gets taken by Gi Chul and I love the terrible anger on Choi Young's face as he tells him to put Eun Soo down as he, CY, has business with Gi Chul. And he keeps taking his assailants down, not stopping even when surrounded.
But then, he sees Gi Chul and his posse threaten Eun Soo (he doesn't know GC would never hurt ES because he needs her). And even though he wants to avenge the little King, even though he could take all these men on without breaking a sweat, even though he is the epitome of warrior pride, he drops the sword. To protect her. He gives in. To protect her. He is made to kneel. To protect her. You see the exact moment in his eyes when he makes that choice. And then, on his knees before the man he hates, he stares up only at Eun Soo. And she turns her face away because she is crying and because she cannot bear to see him like this, and the look on his face when he sees her turn away from him! And he lowers his eyes as well! OMFG OMFG I cannot breathe.
I need ep 8 right NOW!