Lee Joon Gi: Outstanding Korean Actor (Gunman in Joseon)
Honorary Ambassador For Ritz-Carlton Hotel: Fans Meeting
Honorary Ambassador For Ritz-Carlton Hotel: Promotion for the hotel
Lee: Looks good in a suit
Lee: Charming smile
Kim Sung Yeol: Drop-dead gorgeous vampire
Lee: Mysterious look
Lee: Handsome soldier
Lee: Rugged soldier
Lee: Younger days
GOOD TRIUMPHS OVER EVIL
PRELUDE TO THE BIG BATTLE
A challenging question. ‘Do the Black Robes agree with Kim Sung Yeol’s plan to eliminate Gwi?’ That is the question posed by viewers at the opening of Episode 20, the final episode of ‘The Scholar Who Walks The Night’.
It is revealed at the meeting of the Blacks Robes which is secretly presided over by Kim Sung Yeol, not Lee Yoon, that Kim Sung Yeol’s controversial plan of using explosives to destroy Gwi in his underground palace and that he would die with Gwi seems to be agreed upon without resistance. No one protests against his obsession about his own death probably due to the demanding insistence in his voice.
Would one not think that the plan is a bit too whimsical? Sacrificing one’s life without a second thought? It seems being the sacrificial lamb or obsession with one’s own death is getting to be a popular trend. First the hero’s beloved, then the hero of the tale. As instructed, the explosives would be moved to the underground palace during the chaotic period when the people are protesting. Kim Sung Yeol rallies the men to follow him and it is agreed that all preparations for the final battle have to be completed before the sun sets when Gwi is immobile. Kim Sung Yeol narrows his eyes as he thinks of Gwi’s last day.
It is learnt earlier that Kim Sung Yeol has superseded Lee Yoon as the rebel leader because he does not want the former king’s safety to be jeopardized. The impending uprising is rapidly gaining traction in the kingdom.
There are no guarantees in the planning and execution of a revolt. But Kim Sung Yeol is far-sighted in that he has a contingency plan. In case the plan falls through, the priority is that everyone has to get out of the palace grounds immediately and the rebels or protesting people have to be moved out as swiftly as possible to prevent life-ending injuries. There is the possibility of collapsing structures or flying debris.
There is good news for King Lee Yoon as he has a strong supporter. The vampire-scholar reminds the Black Robes that they should plan for the future together with King Lee Yoon when everything is over and after Lee Yoon has staked his claim over the kingdom again. Kim Sung Yeol is determined that the next day would be his last day on earth.
The following day, the rebels gather at the palace grounds and demand that the militia open the palace door. During the uprising and ensuing chaos, Kim Sung Yeol and the Black Robes move the explosives into the palace grounds.
They realise that the palace is unusually quiet, with no one in sight. Kim Sung Yeol sniffs the air. It dawns on him that there is no scent of Gwi anywhere, even at the underground palace. Gwi seems to have inexplicably disappeared. It is apparent that the palace is deserted. The palace looks like a ghost palace. A bold claim. Everybody seems to have vanished into the thin air. Kim Sung Yeol is right.
Viewers are also wondering about the disappearance of all the bodies that have been feasted on by Gwi and has been strewn on the ground in the previous episode.
Crazy Gwi: Angry with Kim Sung Yeol
AN ARMY OF VAMPIRES
Kim Sung Yeolvolunteers to check out Gwi’s underground palace. It is strange that Gwi has literally vanished, and what more, during the day time. He is a nocturnal creature and cannot withstand the sun. He couldn’t be far from his lair. Kim Sung Yeol looks at the empty throne. It suddenly strikes him like a bolt of lightning that Gwi has set a trap for him.
Suddenly, vampires are swarming all over the underground palace. Does it shock the viewers that Kim Sung Yeol is mobbed by an army of vampires? He realises that it is a trap set for him. Why has he not thought of it before? The palace is flooded with vampires created by Gwi to help him in his fight against the rebels For Kim Sung Yeol, it is not an unusual experience, having fought large groups of vampires on many occasions. It is all part of the job. The corpses of the undead have risen and look sickly. Their eyes are twisted into very rigid death masks and they are killing at Gwi’s behest.
Kim Sung Yeol bares his teeth and snarls at them and stabs them with his sansa or hawthorn dagger. He turns around, flies into the air and kicks them. Again, he fights the vampires and defeats all of them. His hanbok swirls in a flurry of indeterminate colours as he flies into the air. He runs out of the underground palace and he immediately realises that the palace has become the playground of vampires.
It seems from this scene that viewers understand that Kim Sung Yeol has expected to battle Gwi during the day time in the underground palace but unexpectedly, the fights with the undead vampires become hurdles that he has to overcome. Because of the obstacles strewn across his path by Gwi, Kim Sung Yeol’s plan goes awry and the battle royal only begins during the night time.
THE PRIME MINISTER
GETS HIS JUST DESERTS
Gwi is still pining away for Choi Hye Ryung but he seems to sense his impending death. His hands are full of blood. In his sorrow, he sees Kim Sung Yeol as the root of his problems. He wants a confrontation with his rival so that he can kill him and send him to eternal perdition.
A palace maid, Hong, watches in horror as Gwi succumbs to his bloodlust and feasts on the blood of the members of the palace community while on his nocturnal prowl. It is not wrong to postulate that the cracks in his control must have widened. The palace grounds are littered with corpses.
Meanwhile, the avaricious Prime Minister has stolen the kingdom’s silver and money and plans to escape to Qing China. But it is shocking that before he sets sail for China, his greedy leech-like character gets the better of him as he helps himself to more silver ingots from the palace. He is literally cleaning out the silver from the palace. Has it not occurred to him that looting and plundering the coffers of the kingdom is a sinful crime against the people?
silver ingots
Gwi has an impeccable sense of timing, and suddenly appears and looms large in the surprised Prime Minister’s presence. The covetous man does not miss a beat nor does he cringe with guilt as he gives his far-fetched explanation that he is in the palace to report to him about the uprising that is raging outside the palace walls.
Does the Prime Minister seriously think that Gwi’s brain is the size of a pea? Evidently, Gwi is not easily fooled and questions him with scepticism as to why he is not there in the underground palace to report to him instead? The Prime Minister is caught-red handed for failing the lie-conjuring test.
There is no sense in pretending anymore as the evidence of his unmitigated rapaciousness, the silver ingots, falls from his hands onto the floor. Gwi arrogantly boasts that he is not immobilized during the day time.
The viewers are not surprised as he is sheltered from the sunlight within the palace walls. He tells the Prime Minister off for making a muck of his life and for not knowing his station in life. He has previously spared him but Gwi is not giving him another chance. He sarcastically tells the Prime Minister to take it all to the world beyond.
It is ironic that the evil and unremorseful vampire feels justified in meting out justice to someone who is a carbon copy of himself, someone who is incorrigible and degenerate, and has never learned his lesson!
Gwi smiles evilly and swiftly dispatches the scumbag with a powerful, piercing thrust on his belly. Spitting derisively at the Prime Minister’s corpse, he says it is beneath him to drink his vile blood because it would befoul even his strong stomach.
Knowing what Gwi is like, it is amusing for the viewers to note the venom that he hisses around the Prime Minister’s body. Well, it is important for one to be able to guesstimate one’s belch levels.
THE DETERMINATION TO FIGHT FOR THE KINGDOM
UP IN ARMS OVER GWI
Upon rousing from his self-pity, the former king, Lee Yoon, becomes a different man and is determined to show that his queen has not died in vain. Previously, during the grieving process, he has been hard-pressed to figure out what his responsibility to his kingdom is.
He is shocked to learn that Kim Sung Yeol has already gone to the uprising by himself. It is no surprise that he wants to join in the battle against Gwi but Ho Jin, with whining insistence, says he cannot because when the dust settles, if they win, they would need someone to lead the kingdom. It is Kim Sung Yeol’s last request that the king is safeguarded towards this end.
The truth hits home. The furious but disheartened king delivers a devastating rebuke and orders Ho Jin to get out of his way. Probably, to him, this is the biggest misconception they have of him. Everyone wants to be a hero but the king is not allowed to be one. Is this not a great insult to his ego? They do not appreciate the fact that he wants to be seen as a good king and above all, to be treated with respect. Do they think so poorly of him that he is too cowardly to sacrifice for the cause?
It seems to the viewers that it is time for him to rebuff the myth that he is just a figurehead. He is not their king for nothing if he does not fight his battle for the kingdom. The viewers get a good idea of what a leader must contend with in his quest to find out his identity.
Jo Yang Sun also joins the fray, dressed up like a male. She is restrained by Soo Hyang who thinks that she does not understand the gravity of the situation and warns her that the militia are out looking for her but she cajoles Soo Hyang to relent.
Jo Yang Sun worries that if The Night Scholar fights Gwi, there is a possibility that he might die. Has she taken leave of her senses when she insists that she wants him to suck her blood so that it would give him the strength to overpower Gwi?
She argues that she is confident that only her unique blood can strengthen him. If Kim Sung Yeol drinks her blood, he would ‘find’ himself. He will know who he is. The viewers can read her mind that she thinks that Kim Sung Yeol would be infused with inexhaustible energy to overcome his Evil Self and his beastly instincts, and this will allow his Good Self to have a resounding victory in his fight against Gwi. Kim Sung Yeol does not want to be outwitted by his Evil Self. His Evil Self represents his vampire instincts and his Good Self is his human instincts. If he uses his evil instincts to battle Gwi, who is the epitome of evil, it would be a meaningless fight even if Gwi is vanquished. His Good Self and Evil Self are mutually exclusive. Therefore, if Kim Sung Yeol wants a decisive victory over Gwi, he has to overcome himself spiritually first before he tries to overcome Gwi, who symbolises the evil of the Physical World.
The meaning is clear: One has to overcome one’s own personal weaknesses first (Spiritual Life) before trying to change the world (Physical Life).
It would be a conclusive battle between Good and Evil and obviously, Jo Yang Sun expects Good to triumph over Evil in the end. It is both a spiritual and a physical battle for Kim Sung Yeol.
However, Soo Hyang fears that she might be captured by Gwi and become a burden to Kim Sung Yeol. If that happens, Jo Yang Sun reassures her that she would commit suicide.
Jo Yang Sun beseeches Soo Hyang to let her go not just because of her love for The Scholar but because she is one of Gwi’s descendants and she is part of the Secret Plan as recorded in Prince Jung Hyun’s diary. The Scholar, has risked his life and the lives of the others in order to find her throughout his 120 years as a vampire. To a large extent, she is the key to Gwi’s defeat. She is unshakeably convinced that if she does not submit to her destiny and assume her responsibility, she will be accountable for the rest of her life.
She implores Lee Yoon to allow her to protect the Scholar. She now demands that he fulfil his promise of repaying his debt to her by bringing her along. Lee Yoon agrees but his eyes seem to appeal to her as he makes her promise not to think of dying as both of them are precious to him.
Soo Hyang gives her blessings and tells Ho Jin to come back safely with their master.
Soo Hyang is worried about the uprising
LEE YOON’S LEADERSHIP
Lee Yoon and his supporters appear at the palace gate and he demands to be let in, but the head of the sentry refuses. Lee Yoon gives him a dressing down on his lack of awareness of the reality of the situation. While the palace militia are fighting with the rebels outside the palace walls, Gwi is freely making vampires inside the palace.
The former king reproaches the sentry for being irresponsible as he obeys an evil vampire king, Gwi, who wreaks havoc on the Joseon kingdom and relentlessly slaughters the people. Lee Yoon and his supporters are trying to go inside to ferret Gwi out and exterminate him. It is ironic that the former king has to fight his way to enter the palace which is his former residence.
Finally, won over by the former king’s powerful reasoning, the sentry complies with his order. The palace is too dangerous for the commoners to enter so Lee Yoon forbids them from following him.
He does not want to endanger their lives but instructs them that if the group does not return by sunset, they should be united and band together to block those who force their way out during that time because those who do so are definitely vampires. In this sense, solidarity is of acute importance. There is safety in numbers. Lee Yoon must have been proud of his people because when adversity confronts them, they stand firmly together.
Lee Yoon, Jo Yang Sun, Ho Jin and the former bodyguard of Queen Choi Hye Ryung proceed to the armoury room to get guns and silver bullets to kill Gwi. They test out the guns.
Soon it is dark. Later, the former bodyguard of Queen Choi Hye Ryung reports to them that Kim Sung Yeol has gone into the underground palace.
With their guns, the four of them move to the stone-paved courtyard of main palace building. They are surprised by the placidity of the place. On entering the palace, they are met by a horde of slow-moving undead, the vampires created by Gwi. The dead are alive!
Kim Sung Yeol appears in time to fend off the vampires. Jo Yang Sun’s fearful screams draw Kim Sung Yeol’s attention. He demands to know why she is there. He orders Ho Jin to take the young lady home and he quietly obeys. Jo Yang Sun’s protest is silenced.
Kim Sung Yeol has gotten rid of all the vampires in the palace, except one, the Evil one. He informs Lee Yoon that he would lure Gwi to the underground palace to fight the final battle with Gwi to end everything, once and for all.
Seeing that Kim Sung Yeol is so obsessed with such an ending, King Lee Yoon hands him the King’s Sword to be used in the battle, saying that if he doesn’t get it back, he would be humiliated and would be ashamed to face his ancestors. Wouldn’t he have to be accountable to his descendants as well? What is implied is that he expects Kim Sung Yeol to survive the battle against Gwi. He expects that even if the underground palace collapses, Kim Sung Yeol has to find a way out.
The viewers can reason out that if the explosives are only detonated aboveground, the explosion may not be powerful enough to blow the underground palace into smithereens. The Black Robes have not managed to plant the explosives inside the underground palace, so there is a possibility that if Kim Sung Yeol is able to defeat Gwi, he might survive. By now, the viewers also realise that the battle is not carried out in the day time but night time so it makes the battle more exciting and interesting.
Kim Sung Yeol accepts the King’s Sword. He demands that the king promise to abide by what has been planned down to the last detail. ‘When the explosives are ready, they must be detonated without hesitation.’
Jo Yang Sun proves to be wily enough to outsmart the slow-witted Ho Jin. She enjoins him to return to help the Scholar while she goes back alone. Worried for his master, Ho Jin agrees readily, trusting that she would keep her word. He makes her promise to get out of the palace and wait outside.
Instead, she secretly makes her way into the underground palace to help Kim Sung Yeol.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONFLICT
THE BATTLE OF
THE VAMPIRE TITANS
BATTLE ROYAL
KIM SUNG YEOL VERSUS GWI
EXTERNAL (PHYSICAL) CONFLICT
The Palace Grounds
Kim Sung Yeol waits for Gwi in the courtyard in front of the main palace. He takes on an impressive stance with his back towards the viewers and with feet wide apart, facing the main palace. Gwi’s stealthy appearance does not shock him.
The evil vampire looms large in his presence and snorts sarcastically, ‘Did you wait for me until the sun has set?’ He receives no response.
However, Gwi’s provocative wisecracking about whether Kim Sung Yeol likes his present or not eventually has the vampire scholar riled up. Drawing a deep breath, he thundered that Gwi’s blood rage and the slaughtering of humans is not something to joke about. In a venomous voice, he promises to give as much pain as he has received from Gwi, and he would return the pain suffered by the dead tenfold. Gwi has been too flippant about his animalistic attacks on humans.
Upon seeing the sword in Kim Sung Yeol’s hand, Gwi sarcastically asks him why he is playing with a human toy. Kim Sung Yeol takes the bait and rises to the challenge.
Kim Sung Yeol smirks. With a blood-curdling roar, Kim Sung Yeol charges at Gwi. Gwi swings around and Kim Sung Yeol brandishes his sword at Gwi. They rise and swirl like dervishes in the air. They fly towards each other, and kick and shove off the other. Kim Sung Yeol bellows. Like two raging bulls, they charge again and rise up in the air, with Gwi being attired in his Blue Dragon robes while Kim Sung Yeol being resplendent in his dark blue hanbok.
Gwi proves to be the stronger of the two. Kim Sung Yeol staggers under the assault even with the explosive strength of his legs.
Gwi cannot resist a sneer at Kim Sung Yeol’s physical exhaustion at the beginning stage of the fight. Kim Sung Yeol rolls to a partial squatting position with one leg stretched out and a hand holding onto his sword to stabilize his body. Kim Sung Yeol realises that he would not be able to defeat the evil vampire or tie him up at the pace the fight is going. It is shown here that Kim Sung Yeol’s plan is not working in his favour. He has been too idealistic. Man proposes but God disposes. In the vampire world, God is also watching and has other plans.
Gwi flies to a higher part of the palace building to cockily mock at Kim Sung Yeol. Kim Sung Yeol points the King’s Sword at Gwi, turns and flees.
KIM SUNG YEOL VERSUS GWI
EXTERNAL (PHYSICAL) CONFLICT
The Underground Palace
It is either fight or flight. It seems to Gwi that Kim Sung Yeol has decided to battle elsewhere. It is a cat and mouse game all over again. Kim Sung Yeol purposely races into the underground palace, pursued closely by Gwi. Gwi thinks that Kim Sung Yeol wants to go there because his first love has died in that place. It would be a meaningful place for them to end all their conflicts and enmity.
Kim Sung Yeol arrives almost breathless at the underground palace. Surreptitiously, Jo Yang Sun emerges from the shadows and calls him. He is shocked but his eyes seem to soften.
The gentle, soothing and patient tone of his voice speaks volumes about his love for her. He instinctively understands why she is there. She avows that she is with him in both life and death and pleads with him to drink her blood. He has realised by then that he would not be able to defeat Gwi by his own efforts. His love for Jo Yang Sun has compelled him resist what is inevitable, to put the Secret Plan written in Crown Prince Jung Hyun’s diary into practice. He knows that he would lose his connection with his fast eroding humanity if he drinks her blood, unless he can control his Evil Self, his Inner Beast.
Initially, Kim Sung Yeol tries to resist by disclosing to her that he has been trying to protect her so that he would not lose her. His hushed voice is infused with tenderness and regret. He has lost his first love because he has sucked her blood. He wants to spare Jo Yang Sun that similar fate.
But, she tells him that he would not lose her because wherever he goes, she would follow. She urges him to quickly drink her blood lest he would not be able to fulfil his plans.
The viewers can understand the urgency in her voice for they know that ‘what has be done eventually, has to be done immediately’. It forces him to come to a decision. Gwi would be there soon. Telling him that she would stand by him, would be with him in life and death finally gives him the impetus to accept the special blood that she offers to him.
Kim Sung Yeol thaws and has a mini meltdown. Tears well up in his eyes preceding the deeply emotional blood-feasting scene. He feels as if he is sucking the life out of her. It is an eloquent message of unspeakable love. She is the chink in his armour.
Before he drinks her blood, he draws her into his arms and tells her he loves her. There is a miserable look in his eyes and he promises her that he will fight to protect his humanity. She cries in response. He tries to dislodge a lump in his throat. Then, he kisses her tenderly and slowly moves his mouth to her neck. She screws her eyes shut to suffer no distractions. Both of them grip each other tightly. Kim Sung Yeol sinks his teeth into the nape of her neck and drinks in a few precious ounces of her blood. With it comes feelings of sorrow mixed with relief. She faints and lies limp in his arms. He lays her down on the ground. He is breathless from biting her. The scene is, in a way, more sensual than any other kissing scene in the drama.
Kim Sung Yeol sucks Jo Yang Sung's blood
All along, the viewers have been hoodwinked to assume that if Gwi drinks her blood, he would die. But now, it seems that if Kim Sung Yeol were to drink her blood, he would be physically strengthened. This is another twist in the tale that makes the drama more exciting and interesting. There is nothing wrong with Kim Sung Yeol drinking her blood because she has descended from the matrilineal line from Gwi’s coupling with a human, and that means she has vampire blood in her. She is not fully human. Moreover, she has been bitten by her father, also a vampire but she has been saved by Kim Sung Yeol who has healed her wound. Although she has not turned into a vampire, basically, her blood is tainted, so, there are no vast differences between the Jo Yang Sun and Kim Sung Yeol.
After ingesting her blood, he goes into vampire mode. He rolls his eyes at the back of his head and he throws his head skywards, and closes his eyes in vampiric pleasure. Then, he cries, gulps and gushes ugly, otherworldly sounds.
It is then that Gwi breezes into the underground palace and catches Kim Sung Yeol in his tortured anguish. On seeing Jo Yang Sun’s motionless body on the ground where Kim Sung Yeol has laid her, Gwi smirks and sneers disdainfully at him and insinuates that he needs to strengthen himself by drinking her blood.
Slowly, Kim Sung Yeol stands up, his back facing Gwi. When he turns, his expression is no longer human. Something numinous flickers in his eyes. He stares at viewers with such stunning effect that whoever looks at him is mesmerised! His fiery eyes gleam a bluish glow. Even the trickles of blood on his chin do not diminish his fascinating looks. In fact, they enhance the fact that it is what a gorgeous vampire should look like.
My, my, my, wasn’t Gwi intimidated by his shocking good looks and his blazing blue eyes? His vampire looks evoke excitement and awe!
The two otherworldly creatures confront each other. The eyes of the two men lock. But, what is unexpected is the horrible, low demented laugh that one would not associate with Kim Sung Yeol but only with the likes of Gwi. The sound is more akin to the laughter of demons than human laughter. And what a menacing look that is projected by Kim Sung Yeol!
With a thunderous snarl, Kim Sung Yeol flies at Gwi and clash with him. The powerful impact forces them to reel away from each other and to stagger.
Gwi flicks some imaginary dust off his robe. Our hero Kim Sung Yeol has no time for such showy stuff and fancy-dancy pretences.
A strong neck is important as it is able to withstand head punches. Kim Sung Yeol stretches his neck muscles for resistance. He tilts his head, moving his head towards his shoulders. He turns his neck round to relax his stiff muscles to ensure that it is able to sustain punishment and to prevent injury. As he rotates his neck, impressive neck sounds are heard. He keeps his shoulders flat so that a brutal hit will not demobilise him. Now, that’s what viewers call a practical fighter. No flashy business!
Gwi, again, makes another dig at Kim Sung Yeol. He jokes derisively about whether his rival has ingested enough of his lover’s blood. If not, he would wait for him to take more of it. The evil vampire’s arrogance knows no bounds. His haughty taunts, however, fail to have any effect on Kim Sung Yeol as the Scholar seems to be having a struggle within himself.
GOOD SELF VERSUS EVIL SELF
INTERNAL CONFLICT
(SPIRITUAL FIGHT)
The Underground Palace
There seems to be a psychological conflict or an internal struggle within Kim Sung Yeol. His emotions change from euphoric to melancholic. His balance seems to be impaired. His body movements seem to be uncoordinated. He staggers and slumps to the ground, much to the annoyance of Gwi. It is a highly charged scene. His head hurts and he is unable to get up, disabled by his pain.
Gwi knows of a way to get him out of his internal struggle. He moves towards Jo Yang Sun’s sleeping form. Kim Sung Yeol seems to be immobilised by his suffering and reaches out his hand apparently to try to stop Gwi from hurting Jo Yang Sun but could not.
At that opportune moment, Lee Yoon appears and shoots Gwi with his gun but Gwi, with the speed of light, is able to capture the silver bullet in his palm. It shows how alert he is. He catches hold of Lee Yoon and sends him flying to the other side of the palace like a ragged toy.
The tale becomes more gripping. The viewers feel fear for the scholar asKim Sung Yeol’shead seems to be hurting. His spiritual fight is beginning.
His Evil Self, with his long hair hanging loose, smiles and taunts his Good Self. ‘Are you still alive?’ his Evil Self, with a maniacal gleam in his eyes, mocks his Good Self. Kim Sung Yeol is determined to fight so that he will know whether he has what it takes to triumph over his evil side.
They soar through the air, fight and his Good Self swings the King’s Sword, and tornado kicks his Evil Self but barely grazes him. The Evil Self spin punches as they fly past each other.
It is an impressive display of fighting skills. His Evil self has given a perfect blow because his Good Self is seen crouching in pain on the ground and hanging on to the King’s Sword, while his Evil Self lands with perfect balance and resumes a fighting stance. His Evil Self has inflicted some damage on his Good Self and thinks that his other self has been cornered. They are not evenly matched. The hairs on the back of the viewers must have stood up.
The Evil Self’s lip curls, and like a demented parakeet, he implies that the blood that runs in Kim Sung Yeol’s veins has been corrupted by Jo Yang Sun’s blood. There is a roughness deep in his throat. The voice of the Evil Self, low with menace and malevolence, argues that since Kim Sung Yeol has died long ago (120 years ago), it is therefore time for him to disappear from the face of the earth for forever. His Evil alter-ego deserves a whipping for not realising that he is as old as his Good Self. Does it mean he should go too?
Kim Sung Yeol’s anger burns hotter but he steels himself to be in control of his senses and not to stray from his human side. If he is not alert, he would be swamped by his vampire instincts, leaving no room for reason or control. His Good Self is not immune to the insults but he must not to be intimidated. He has to overcome his deadly rampage. His Evil Self should be of no consequence. His deliberate refusal to take the bait is noted by the other self.
At that crucial point, enlightenment hit him. He has figured out a way to defeat his Evil Self. Finally, the hero demonstrates out-of-the-box thinking. He throws his sword away. His eyes narrow into slits and he goads his Evil Self by saying that when he goes, his Evil Self will go with him.
THE TWIST IN THE STORY
Then comes the TWIST in the tale. The viewers do not see it coming, neither does his Evil Self. It is a complete surprise to everyone concerned.
His Good Self lifts his hands and dramatically draws out his sansa or hawthorn dagger from inside his sleeves. It is wise of Kim Sung Yeol to have taken precautions.
On seeing the dagger, his Evil Self laughs uproariously and derisively at him, crackling in pleasure. It is fortunate that he is unprepared for what his Good Self is springing on him. It is here that one sees the contrast between the Good Self and the Evil Self; the intelligence of the Good Self versus the Ignorance of the Evil Self. By now, the viewers hearts must have been thudding like a sledgehammer.
His Good Self raises his hand, and with a thrusting movement, and quick as a bullet, stabs himself in his hip to the horror and consternation of the viewers. Shock is registered in the eyes of his Evil Self; both of his orbs widen in disbelief and agony. The action draws blood.
Sounds crazy but, miraculously, it is effective. It is something undreamed of by the viewers and somewhat unimaginable. Their jaws must have dropped. This has given them an insight into the intelligent mind of the Scholar. He has accumulated that intelligence for 120 years!
His Evil Self does not know what has hit him. A look somewhere between bewilderment and hurt crosses his face. He looks down at his hip where blood is forming.
Taking advantage of this, his Good Self swiftly draws out the dagger from his hip and charges at his Evil Self, and deftly, jabs him with his sansa dagger. A laugh of surprise escapes his lips. His Good Self must have twisted the dagger because a look of disbelief passes over the face of his Evil Self. He is mortally wounded. Shaken and weakened by the violent blow, the limbs of his Evil Self jerk as if pulled by invisible strings and his Evil Self slumps to the ground dead. His Good Self also collapses in exhaustion.
The viewers, by now, are gleefully applauding Kim Sung Yeol’s ingenuity. One can hear the laugh of evident relief. This is victory for the hero. He has finally conquered his inner demons! Good has triumphed over Evil.
After the spiritual struggle between his Good Self and his Evil Self has ended, Kim Sung Yeol proclaims in relief, ‘I am no longer a human or a beast.’
Does it mean that he has emerged victorious from his spiritual struggle? It, indeed, is the end of his spiritual struggle. It is time for him to face his physical conflict.
Blood is trickling out of his lips. After having overcome his spiritual weakness and vampire instincts, he is transported back to reality.
Full of power and confidence, he discards his hawthorn dagger. Running at the speed of light, he lunges at Gwi, lifts him and throws him down. Gwi gets up menacingly. Gwi is an unusually formidable foe and this is what has been bothering the viewers.
Kim Sung Yeol glances at Lee Yoon and nods at him, ushering and signalling to him to flee. Lee Yoon quickly scoops Jo Yang Sun in his arms and darts out of the way.
The viewers must have swallowed nervously as they watch Kim Sung Yeol and Gwi being embroiled in a verbal exchange. Kim Sung Yeol seems to be using delaying tactics to keep Gwi amused as well as field his questions.
Gwi taunts him that he is allowing his prey, Jo Yang Sun, to leave.
Without hesitation, Kim Sung Yeol caustically informs Gwi that he won’t be able to step out of there. The underground palace will be their grave. Gwi responds that if his enemy wants to die, he could very well bury himself there.
Kim Sung Yeol chastises Gwi for wanting to live forever.
Gwi explains he can get his heart’s desire if he has power and immortality. Kim Sung Yeol snaps that desires are unlimited and can never be satisfied.
He rebukes Gwi abrasively for not understanding what life is all about. If Gwi’s life is temporary, he would see the world differently. Gwi’s rejoinder is that Kim Sung Yeol has not lived as long as he has, so who is he to teach him.
Kim Sung Yeol does not waver nor back down, and compares their lives. Although Kim Sung Yeol’s life has been comparatively short, he feels that it has been blissful and he chides Gwi for not even trying to 'live' even once in his very long life. ‘Gwi, you're forever dead!’ Kim Sung Yeol is treading on thin ice. He must have touched a raw nerve because Gwi thundered Kim Sung Yeol’s name.
His feathers, being thus ruffled, Gwi is ready to pounce again. He springs up, and they fight fist to fist and then jump into the air and as they land, Gwi heckles Kim Sung Yeol.
It is a no holds barred clash, an all-out battle of strength and fortitude, with both lives on the line. They lunge at each other. They box, throw deadly punches and take devastating blows, aiming at each other’s vulnerable spots. They whip themselves into a frenzy. They fly and twist, and as they swirl in the air, Kim Sung Yeol's hanbok and Gwi's robe billow and swirl in a flurry like dervishes. They land nimbly on their feet.
They snarl, growl like beasts, fly, weave back and forth like burning tornadoes, touch down and fly up again. When Kim Sung Yeol growls and bares his fangs, shivers must have coursed through the viewers’ spine.
Dawn breaks. Explosion sounds could be heard. Lee Yoon has lit the explosives. They send shock waves all over the underground palace.
Then, as if on cue, the ground shakes and the walls crack. The fractures splinter across the floor. An avalanche of debris fall from above. Thick clouds of dust fly everywhere. Everything seems to be collapsing like cards.
Gwi is thrown to the ground. Even when the ground under them rumbles, the two vampires are still snarling at each other and refuse to surrender. They want to end their decades-old conflict once and for all. They charge at and attack each other.
The palace caves in and a huge hole appears overhead. The sunlight breaks through. It is daylight!
Shocked, Gwi shakes. Light is his Achilles Heel. Kim Sung Yeol grabs hold of him. They clench each other violently in a vice-like grip. Blood drips from Kim Sung Yeol’s mouth. Gwi is thrown to the ground.
A smile momentarily lights Gwi's face. He sinks to the floor. Wisps of smoke emanate from his body, and he seems immobilised. He has got the short end of the stick in this battle. The darkness seems to leech out of the underground palace and dazzling sunlight fills the place.
Gwi is blinded by the glare of the sun. He stares at the light. Acceptance seems to overcome him. He seems to welcome death. It is as if he were tired of his long, meaningless life. His death is amazing. A blaze of blinding light radiates from above. The darkness in him seems to diminish. Light blanches his body bathing it all in a white glow. He looks beautiful in death. Gravity makes a mark on his body and his clothes fall slowly to the ground. His body crumbles to dust and ash.
Gwi is not brought down by his nemesis’s physical strength but by his utter intelligence. Kim Sung Yeol knows that if he could stall for time, dawn would come. This again comes from his 120 years of accumulated intelligence!
But one thing that cannot be discounted though is the presence of the Spiritual Being that some refer to as God.
Kim Sung Yeol expects to die and remembers his past. It is said when one is dying, a tape recording of one’s life is played in the head like a reel of film. He tilts his face upwards. His skin lightens and begins to glow with a white aura. His face seems to reflect an inner peace. A piece of evidence of violence, traces of blood dripping from his mouth, is juxtaposed with his look of peace and tranquility. He is prepared to meet his doom. There is a sense of wonder when he takes a deep breath and embraces death.
Images of the past must have cycled through his mind. Shrouded in bright light, he says in a dreamlike state to an imaginary Jo Yang Sun that although he has lived like a beast in the past, he has seen the light through her. She has touched his life and let him see his good side, his human side.
Fan Art
Finale: Battle of the Titans
The underground palace caves in. Dust, dirt and debris fall from the roof. It is a spectacular finish to the battle royal.
Vampires: The Final Battle
A SHOCKING END
Outside the underground palace, King Lee Yoon, and Ho Jin watch the crumbling structures being reduced to rubble. Ho Jin sinks to his knees. Thankfully, they themselves, are safe and sound.
All has ended. Ho Jin cries, and when Jo Yang Sun wakes up, she understands that he is somewhere deep in the rubble. She begs them to hurry and save him. Ho Jin believes that he has died but Jo Yang Sun holds onto the stubborn belief that he is still alive. She crumbles and cries in desperation as nothing can be done. As viewers watch, tears course down their cheeks as well.
Later, the group knocks on the palace door, and Soo Hyang is waiting there and tells the guards to open the door. Since it is already daylight, those behind the door are humans, not vampires. From Ho Jin's tearful face, she instinctively knows that Kim Sung Yeol has died.
Having waited for several hours, the crowd excitedly crane their necks to see those coming out. They are relieved and roar with happiness when they realise that good has triumphed over evil. It is a feather in the cap for King Lee Yoon but celebrating Gwi’s death hardly seems appropriate for Kim Sung Yeol’s household. Energy has sapped out of them but it is in no one’s interest to rake over what has happened.
ONE YEAR LATER
One year later, the people are living comfortable lives and the market place is bustling with life. The people indulge in gossip and are having a field day discussing the writer of ‘The Night Scholar’ series, who has stopped writing and has gone to live in the mountains.
A scholar goes to Hwayang-gak to seek Soo Hyang’s help because he wants to get his hands on some Confucian novels. Ho Jin is seated in a room full of luxurious items and divulges to the visitor that he is temporarily in charge of his master’s inheritance. They are already under-strength so he might well play the role of the master until the real master returns. He thinks his master will return when the kingdom is in chaos again. He eyes Soo Hyang meaningfully and they both smile. This seems to veer into the category of a private joke.
Meanwhile, King Lee Yoon discusses the history books in the Royal library with some scholars. Someone reports that there seems to be a trend in the production of fictitious books. The King says that the wings of imagination must take flight. ‘Isn’t reading fiction more fun than reading non-fiction stuff like Silla History?’
Later, when he is back at his palace, he looks at his King’s Sword and reminisces about his past adventures with Kim Sung Yeol.
LOVERS’ REUNION
In the intervening year, Jo Yang Sun has become a teacher and teaches children reading and writing.
As her usual practice, she goes to the cliff at the top of the mountain to wait for her beloved. She appears to have her mind set on eventually meeting him again. She seems to expect him to appear at any time. She must have taken comfort in the fact that the King’s Sword has been returned to King Lee Yoon. This means that Kim Sung Yeol is still alive.
Jo Yang Sun’s varied experiences have made her a matured young woman. The journey she has taken with Kim Sung Yeol has changed her from a naïve, giddy-headed girl into an emotionally stable young lady.
It would be completely wrong to say that hardly anyone expects Kim Sung Yeol to emerge from the shadows again. In actual fact, every viewer roots for a reunion for the couple.
Jo Yang Sun surveys the panoramic scene around her. Suddenly, she becomes aware of Kim Sung Yeol’s presence. Their eyes meet and lock. He eyes her and smiles lovingly at her. She rushes over to him, and he knows the answer that he has been waiting for.
Who is Kim Sung Yeol? Kim Sung Yeol’s life has been a jigsaw puzzle to her, someone whom she has never fully understood. It is nothing short of miraculous that she has fallen for him, and after knowing that he is a vampire, she has continued to stick by him and love him. Now all the puzzle pieces have fallen in place. He, on his part, has come to terms with the vampire in himself. She now fully understands who Kim Sung Yeol is.
Reunion of lovers: Kim Sung Yeol and Jo Yang Sun
She looks at him in mute appeal and then, rests her head against his shoulder. This speak volumes about her feelings for him. He takes his fill of her with his eyes, smiles and feathers a kiss against her loosened hair. He drinks in her soft, pleasing scent. She seems to provide the peace that has eluded him.
Time seems to stand still. This a scene of a quiet, magical moment. The lack of an actual dialogue is interesting. Instead, there are voiceovers.
FINAL DIALOGUE (VOICEOVERS)
He: I guess I’m late.
She: I did not realise that you’re already here. I’d thought that I would have to wait another fifty years.
He: Let’s leave.
She: Where to?
He: Where do you want to go?
She: If it's with you, I’ll follow you anywhere.
He: Hold on tightly, then.
They are both vampires. He has sucked her blood. Why did he come back so late? Why wait one year? There are no easy answers to the questions.
Well, he might have been watching over her. Who knows he could have been hovering in the background protecting her. Perhaps, he has wanted to give her time to see whether she misses him dearly, or to reflect on their relationship. One year is considered a very short time for vampires. But it is a long wait for lovers.
Viewers have to find out the answers themselves. Perhaps, what it means is, if Kim Sung Yeolloves her, he has to set her free. If she belongs to him, she will come back to his arms. He wants her to be sure whether she wants to follow him wherever he goes. Perhaps, he wants her to be sure that she is able to live the preternatural life of a vampire. Will she be afraid of what she must become, after facing horrors aplenty?
She must have wanted to be with him as she has waited for him to come out of the shadows, and he has not disappointed her.
Or perhaps, this is the ending of the novel that she has envisaged and one that she has promised to write for her Scholar? Has he actually fulfilled her request to return to read the ending of her story, or is she in a dream? Truth be told, he was the one who set their romance in motion. Had he not tried to recover Prince Jung Hyun's lost diary through her, she would not have met him. There would have been no romance, without his hand. Perhaps, he has not returned and she is still fantasizing about him. Could the voiceovers be an indication that he has not returned? The ending seems to be an imaginary one as his dreamy smile seems to be like one of those that one sees in beautiful dreams. Why is the ending ambiguous? Nobody knows.
The top of the scenic mountain is a perfect romantic setting for the ending. The two lovebirds stand there for just a fleeting moment. The viewers are caught by surprise when they vanish into the thin air. They seem to have teleported somewhere else. Does it imply that they are able to fly into the air when he says, ‘Hold on tightly!’
Whatever one’s questions are, one should not knock oneself out by trying to find the answers. Believe what you want to believe. Who bothers as long as Good triumphs over Evil and as long as the lovers are reconciled and the ending is happy!
Commentary
Lee Joon Gi’s acting in ‘The Scholar Who Walks The Night’ is nothing short of STUPENDOUS. His acting has won him the impeccable reputation of being an ACTOR PAR EXCELLENCE. The majority of the viewers, his legion of fans, entertainment writers and commentators of ‘The Scholar Who Walks The Night’ are thoroughly in awe of his SUPERB acting talents, and have nothing but absolute praise for the handsome actor and his AMAZING ACTING RANGE. He has FLESHED OUT the ICONIC VAMPIRE CHARACTER and BROUGHT HIM TO LIFE.
Lee Joon Gi's AMAZING eyes: should be considered
'The National Treasure of South Korea'
WOW: incredible 'Phoenix Eyes'
And those EYES of Lee Joon Gi’s have also been used to STUNNING EFFECT in the drama. His beautiful and unique eyes seem to speak a language of their own. They can convey EMOTIONAL MEANING without him speaking at all. One Caucasian netizen, probably American, in one of the entertainment websites has proclaimed that his eyes should be considered to be ‘The National Treasure of South Korea’! WOW!
Breathtaking: Lee Joon Gi's unique eyes!
Lee Joon Gi, as the death-obsessed vampire who undergoes a phase of neurosis and has been forced to face his internal and external conflicts, is the OVERWHELMING FAVOURITE ACTOR of the year. Lee Joon Gi has given the BEST PERFROMANCE of the YEAR and there is a fast rising tide of viewers, including foreign viewers who stand in awe of his ACTING SKILLS and can’t seem to get enough of him. The drama has been highly rated, especially by overseas fans, even by the American and the European audience.
The struggle between Good and Evil
It would be an injustice if he does not win the ‘GRAND PRIZE’ (DAESANG) for MBC drama awards, Drama Fever Awards and other TOP drama awards.
The snarl of THE vampire
Jang Hee Jin and Lee Yu Bi have not done too badly either. One cannot decide which one of the two is more deserving of the ‘BEST ACTRESS’ award or EXCELLENCE award. But, both certainly deserve to win the BEST COUPLE award with Lee Joon Gi. The two of them have their SPECIAL CHEMISTRY with the actor. The fans of Lee Joon Gi would demand that Lee Joon Gi go onstage with both ladies to receive the award. Lee Yu Bi plays his beloved in the drama but Jang Hee Jin, in spite of her unrequited love for him, shares a SINGULARLY UNIQUE CHEMISTRY with him.
Behind the scenes: Smiling faces
Loving embrace
Max Shim Chang Min is a shining example of an actor who has GREATLY IMPROVED his acting. He will make a fine actor one day. Lee Soo Hyuk’s acting is interesting and his good looks have been noted by many admirers. The rest of the cast, including Kim Soo Eun, have also done very well.
King Lee Yoon
Gwi
The MAGNIFICIENT story and the script of ‘The Scholar Who Walks The Night’ has been WELL-THOUGHT OUT and WELL-WRITTEN. The tale flows smoothly and is well-paced. The sceenwriters must be highly commended for their amazing CREATIVITY, INNOVATIVE TALE and GROUNDBREAKING STORYTELLING. They deserve praise for the very UNIQUE PLOT with its many interesting TWISTS and TURNS. They deserve the BEST WRITERS AWARD. The drama, ‘The Scholar Who Walks The Night’ is an exciting and gripping tale which is told in the style that is similar to a story within a story. The story has many layers. In the Teaser-Trailer, at the beginning, we hear the voice of Kim Sung Yeol narrating the vampire tale that is set in an imaginary or parallel Joseon Kingdom. He is the first layer. He, as the narrator, is telling the story of his and Jo Yang Sun’s life. The story that the viewers are watching is the second layer. In that second layer, Jo Yang Sun is writing ‘The Night Scholar’ series, a fictional tale about Kim Sung Yeol and herself. ‘The Night Scholar’ series is the third layer. This is a very unique and interesting way of telling a story.
The viewers have been taken on a journey with Kim Sung Yeoland Jo Yang Sun, and they understand his problems, his conflicts and their romance. The viewers care about them and they have raged and cried as the tale unfolds. They made general comments, written opinions, offered suggestions, criticised, and they have also given wonderful praises. The majority of the comments have been positive. They empathise with Kim Sung Yeoland what he is going through, especially his internal struggles. They feel as he feels, they cry when he cries. They also care about the other characters. They are made blissful by the romance and the viewers also dream of such romances.
There are many fascinating themes: Romantic Love, Unrequited Love, Family Love, Love and Hate, Friendship, Reality versus Imagination, Fact versus Fiction, Addiction, Internal Conflict versus External Conflict, Sacrifice, Death and Life.
It should be noted that just because we have watched every episode of ‘The Scholar Who Walks The Night’, it does not mean that we ready to dissect the whole drama. The tale has a compelling storyline and discusses many thought-provoking issues. It is impossible do justice to the drama without a comprehensive study of it from the beginning till the end.
The Scripts
And of course, for the story to COME TO LIFE, the director’s skills have to come into play and Lee Sung-Joon has played a crucial role in BRINGING OUT THE TALENTS of the actors and actresses, and also, the TELLING of the tale.
Centre: Lee Sung-Joon
Lee Joon Gi with the director, Lee Sung-Joon
The other production staff should also be commended. The hanboks and robes are beautiful. The make-up artists did an amazing job. The fight or action choreography is excellent and Lee Joon Gi's action scenes are spectacular. The camera man did a fine job. The music is marvellous. All the OSTs are suitable for each part of the drama and are very well-chosen.
The Intensity of Lee's eyes
The drama, 'The Scholar Who Walks The Night' is the BEST KOREAN DRAMA OF 2015.
The honours must go to the right people and there should not be any oversights.
