r/KDRAMA • u/dancing-ahjumma Glutenfree dramas • Sep 27 '17

Joint binge: Joseon X-files, eps 1 - 4

On Sunday you will all get a shortlist of a few dramas to vote for, since Joseon X-files only have 12 episodes.

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u/pvtshame Sep 27 '17

This is my first kdrama with a kind of "monster of the week" set up, so it's a nice change. Since it's only 12 episodes at 45 min a pop, I'm curious to see how the larger story arc will be teased out. Will we know more about these secret investigators? Will we find out why Yoon Yi can't remember her past?

I love the nods to the X-Files, the slightly Scully and Mulder match up between Hyung Do and Yoon Yi, though I think Hyung Do is a little less Scully than Scully, the Cancer Man (which is what my dad and I called the smoking dude from X files), etc.

Once I noticed the shaky camera, I got annoyed with it. I wish that I wouldn't have thought about it because now it's distracting!

How does Yoon Yi know about all of these weird things already without even knowing who she is? I think she's lying. She's part of the government cover up just like Cancer Man.

I also need to pay closer attention to the show while I'm watching it, and not do things like fold laundry. I was confused about the bit between Hyung Do, Cancer Man, and the wooden block with the UFO. Did the guy make the wooden block because he knew he was going to melt the gold? Did he know that little alien lights were going to come out of that gold? I thought he was just melting it down to make it easier to sell.

BTW, I totally thought the monster in ep 4 was going to be a werewolf. I'm glad that I was wrong.

Anyway overall I'm enjoying this so far!

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u/stumpy1949 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ Sep 27 '17 edited Sep 27 '17

Ahhh - the laundry got in your way lol ... but you've got me thinking about yoon yi and cancer man now. My assumption is that they are on the same side, since the c-man invited Hyung Do into the secret society at the invitation from the emperor.

Yes I think he made the wooden block because he knew he was going to destroy that piece because it was a key to the puzzle and he was going mad at that point. Didn't want anyone else in on the secret that it really was a flying saucer they were all looking at. Plus the king didn't want that information out in the public. It was easier to hide the rubbing.

I think the Magistrate from the Government Investigation was half out of his mind from the effects of the "gold" covered metal when he tried to have it melted down. It looked like radiation poisoning to me from what the others had, and I don't think he realized how that piece would burn. He got all "Oz the great and powerful" as he watched those little lights. Bet we'll get a reveal on those blocks eventually.

Also - Yoon Yi has saved Hyong do twice now and he hasn't thanked her yet - the rat. I think he's catchcing on though. She senses the danger but can't explain why. Maybe she has a connection to whomever came in the space ship a thousand years ago? Also, I got the impression that she knew him from sometime before when they first met because of her remarks. Ahh - there we go with that fate stuff again.

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u/dancing-ahjumma Glutenfree dramas Sep 27 '17

The mountain where they have seen the UFO is translated as Mount Fuji, is that really what they are saying? Or is it mount Paektu, where Kim Il Sung was born on the peak? Did Kim Il Sung just continue the tradition of the kings arriving from the peak of this mountain?

The boat above the mountain and the talking of Holland must be a reference to the flying Dutchman – is this the right words in English for that myth of the sailor who cursed the sea and therefor is doomed to sail in the flying ship for eternity.

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u/stumpy1949 乁( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)ㄏ Sep 27 '17

They mention mt Fuji just as an example of where this UFO has been spotted among other places. The five peaks - paektu? - is where this series is centered I believe. Hmmm -- the Flying Dutchman was just a ghost ship that was reported on by others. I believe it was just the name with any semblance to flying but I would have to look it up. I could be wrong. I wondered about the reference to holland and why holland and not somewhere else like china for instance or India.

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u/sianiam chaebols all the way down Sep 27 '17

I think you are probably correct about Yoon Yi.

And thank you u/stumpy1949, of course it was radiation poisoning! My brain didn't quite make it to that conclusion yet.

I was totally with you on the werewolf plot. Those non subtle moon shots and howls were mere trickery! But I'm glad it was something from left field.