Knight Flower: Episodes 1-2
by Unit
Tis the season of moonlighting heroines, and Honey Lee has joined the league! Knight Flower kicks off on a scores excessive, and with its thrilling debut week, it’s not onerous to see why. The drama invitations us on a journey of comedy, motion and thriller, and I’m seated on the desk and able to feast.
EPISODES 1-2
Proper off the bat, the drama introduces us to the key lifetime of our heroine, JO YEO-HWA (Honey Lee). A mixture of Robin Hood and Batman, Yeo-hwa dons a masks to get justice for the downtrodden people within the society, distribute aid supplies to them, and educate the unhealthy guys a lesson whereas she’s at it.
In a gap scene that does nicely to ascertain the comedic tone of the present, Yeo-hwa raids the Pil inn the place she prevents a power gambler from parting along with his home deed and plunging his household into extra distress. Her effort is rewarded with pushback from the inn’s thugs who chase her right into a room the place there’s an ongoing commotion, and the chaos escalates. Yeo-hwa finally ends up with a slash on her wrist, however she holds her personal towards the thugs.
Within the midst of the chaos, she lands within the arms of PARK SOO-HO (Lee Jong-won), one of many preliminary occupants within the room. Yeo-hwa stutters in shock, and her female voice provides away the gender behind the masks. But it surely’s a short-lived assembly between the 2 because the morning curfew bell quickly rings, and Yeo-hwa has to rush dwelling. Fortunately, she arrives simply in time to vary into her White Hanbok of Widowhood earlier than anybody realizes that she’s lacking.
Yeo-hwa’s mother-in-law, LADY YOO (Kim Mi-kyung!), is a standard mother-in-law who strongly advocates for the propriety and etiquette of widows — particularly the half in regards to the widow staying at dwelling all day with only one meal for sustenance. Aigoo! Simply say you need her to starve till she joins her husband within the afterlife.
Yeo-hwa spends her days praying for the soul of her late husband, transcribing books, and having nightmares in regards to the punishment that awaits her if she will get concerned with one other man. As if getting repeatedly scolded by Woman Yoo isn’t sufficient, she additionally has to place up together with her sister-in-law’s rants about how she ought to have simply died together with her husband. Ouch!
A minimum of Yeo-hwa has a a lot better relationship together with her maid and forever-stressed confederate, YEON-SEON (Park Se-hyun), and a servant woman, KKOT-NIM, the daughter of the power gambler from earlier. Kkot-nim is very keen on Yeo-hwa, and she or he embroiders flowers on handkerchiefs for Yeo-hwa’s viewing pleasure as a result of she isn’t allowed to go away the home. With a restrictive life like that, it’s no marvel Yeo-hwa turned the Batman of Hanyang. As a result of it’s higher to see the surface world at midnight than by no means.
We come to study that Soo-ho is a newly appointed officer on the Capital Protection Command. He’s additionally the adopted son of a prestigious household, and his brother, PARK YOON-HAK (Lee Ki-woo), is the royal secretary and childhood buddy of the KING (Heo Jung-do). If Yoon-hak had his approach, Soo-ho would lay low all his life and by no means switch to Hanyang. But it surely’s not a case of trying down on the adopted son or not wanting his brother to make a reputation for himself — Yoon-hak is simply frightened about Soo-ho’s security. From his dialog with the king, there appears to be a sure 15-year-old incident that ought to stay buried with the intention to shield Soo-ho. However is there any secret that stays buried in dramaland?
By the best way, it appears the latest crop of Joseon kings held a gathering and determined to not stress themselves out, as a result of this king is so unbothered by the “ruling” facet of his position. I wouldn’t be shocked if his nonchalance is deliberate, however for the time being, it’s the Left State Councilor, SEOK JI-SUNG (Kim Sang-joong) who makes the large choices. Lord Seok doesn’t brazenly oppose the king, and at face worth, he appears real in his interactions with everybody. However his non-hostility is unsettling as a result of Joseon Left State Councilors are to not be trusted.
In fact, Lord Seok is Yeo-hwa’s father-in-law, and his graciousness extends to his household as nicely. He’s very thoughtful of Yeo-hwa, and he manages to steer his spouse to let her depart the home every so often to get some air. So, Woman Yoo reluctantly brings an excited Yeo-hwa alongside to the Moran Gathering, a gathering for VVIP noblewomen on the Myeongdo inn.
As anticipated of a gathering of elegant noblewomen, gossip flows like wine, elegant disses fly up and down, and daughter-in-laws are in contrast. Woman Yoo wins the “my daughter-in-law is healthier than yours” battle of wits, and she or he brags about Yeo-hwa’s portray expertise within the course of. But it surely seems that Yeo-hwa’s famed orchids are literally Yeon-seon’s handiwork. Ha! That is why we should always by no means subcontract our duties to others.
All eyes are on Yeo-hwa to copy her portray on the gathering, however her orchid is a catastrophe as anticipated. Yeo-hwa is saved by one other catastrophe: the top service provider of the inn, JANG SO-WOON (Yoon Sa-bong), “makes a mistake” whereas grinding the ink, and the ink splashes all around the paper and Yeo-hwa’s garments. However Woman Yoo has already been embarrassed by her daughter-in-law’s subpar portray, and Yeo-hwa and Yeon-seon get punished at dwelling.
It seems that So-woon and Yeo-hwa are on pleasant phrases, and Yeo-hwa moonlights below So-woon. Apparently, Yeo-hwa as soon as saved So-woon’s life, and consequently, So-woon is keen at hand over the moonlighting enterprise to Yeo-hwa each time she is prepared. However Yeo-hwa turns it down as a result of she’s unsure of her identification outdoors being Lord Seok’s daughter-in-law. And whereas taking up the enterprise could also be a approach for her to start out a brand new life far-off from Hanyang, Yeo-hwa doesn’t wish to depart as a result of she’s ready for her older brother.
Yeo-hwa and her brother was once actually shut, and he was the one who taught her how one can combat. However 15 years in the past, he went on pressing enterprise into the palace one evening and by no means returned (15 years, huh?). With no different family members round, Yeo-hwa’s uncle married her off to Lord Seok’s son, and sadly, she turned a widow on her marriage ceremony day. Regardless of all the things, Yeo-hwa believes that her brother continues to be alive, and she or he maintains a caring disposition towards the individuals round her.
When Kkot-nim is dragged to Pil inn as fee for her father’s playing debt, Yeo-hwa involves her rescue. However as an alternative of her masks, Yeo-hwa dons a colourful hanbok and veils her face with a hat. Yeo-hwa sees Kkot-nim with a nobleman, and she or he assumes the woman has been offered as a concubine. However the nobleman seems to be Soo-ho, and he was taking Kkot-nim away out of concern. Yeo-hwa’s veil reminds Soo-ho of the masked girl he met the opposite day, however she denies the encounter.
Yeo-hwa wins an impromptu public sale for Kkot-nim, and takes to her heels to keep away from Soo-ho’s interrogation. She flings her shoe at him as a distraction, and earlier than he can meet up with her, he’s accosted by the proprietor of Pil inn, KANG PIL-JIK (Jo Jae-yoon), and given a stern warning to not mess along with his enterprise. Yoon-hak — who just isn’t brazenly affectionate to Soo-ho — steps in to defend his brother, and Pil-jik backs down. For now.
Soo-ho makes certain to carry on to Yeo-hwa’s shoe as proof, and Prince Charming’s investigation into the masked girl leads him to Myeongdo inn. So-woon maintains an air of neutrality, and whereas she acknowledges that she has are available in contact with the masked individual, she doesn’t disclose Yeo-hwa’s identification.
However Soo-ho is nothing if not persistent, and also you simply know he’s not going to relaxation till he unmasks Yeo-hwa. It’s identical to how he turned all of the extra considering Pil-jik after Yoon-hak’s warning to keep away from the man as a result of he’s unhealthy information. Though Soo-ho’s curiosity in Pil-jik additionally stems from a sense that he has met the man someplace. Hmmm.
As a service provider, Pil-jik has allies among the many higher-ups, and he greases their palms every so often in alternate for corrupt favors. One in every of such higher-ups is the petty and useless Minister of Finance, YEOM HEUNG-JIB (Kim Hyung-mook) — who has no drawback beating an previous servant to near-death as a result of the servant unintentionally splashed a drop of water on his prized tiger portray.
When Yeo-hwa hears about this, she sneaks into Minister Yeom’s home, and Yeom virtually has a coronary heart assault when he discovers that his beloved tiger portray has been switched with a sketch of an enormous home cat. LMAO! Soo-ho launches an official investigation into the theft, and he’s additional pushed by witness statements which level to the masked girl because the offender.
The week wraps up with Soo-ho and Yoon-hak visiting the temple for Soo-ho’s delivery household’s memorial. By a flashback, we see that Soo-ho witnessed his whole household’s bloodbath, and this bloody incident is most definitely related to no matter occurred fifteen years in the past. Talking of which, Yeo-hwa additionally journeys to the temple to hope for her brother’s secure return, however she’s ambushed by hungry bandits.
Soo-ho and Yoon-hak occur on the scene, and Soo-ho jumps in to combat off the bandits. However you know the way it goes in dramas. The hero saves the heroine from hazard, and she or he one way or the other occurs to finish up in his arms. Once more. They twirl in sluggish movement to a voiceover the place Soo-ho states his mission to catch the masked girl, and he urges her to remain out of his line of sight. Ha! How thrilling!
This was an entertaining and fast-paced premiere, and I liked each minute of it. I used to be a bit skeptical about coming into Knight Flower so quickly after The Matchmakers as a result of each dramas have comparable plot components. However what this drama lacks within the appeal of The Matchmakers, it makes up for within the enjoyable. Though some scenes felt a bit repetitive, Knight Flower is charting its personal course — particularly in terms of its characters. There’s a clear distinction of their characterization and the motives that drive them, and the world they stay in appears bigger and approach completely different from that of The Matchmakers.
As anticipated, Honey Lee is wonderful on this, and she or he effortlessly embodies the character of Yeo-hwa. Whether or not it’s in her comical sides because the masked heroine, her piousness with a touch of mischief as a daughter-in-law, or in her extra refined moments the place she’s hit with the restrictions of being a widow. Yeo-hwa is a really likeable and simple to root for character, and I can’t wait to see extra of her and her noise cancelling earplugs.
The opposite characters are simply as fascinating, they usually left me desirous to know extra about them and their interpersonal relationships. I’m within the brotherly relationship between Soo-ho and Yoon-hak, and Yoon-hak and the king. Yoon-hak, the king, and a secret third get together are investigating a case, however for now we don’t know what that’s. There may be additionally no clear reduce antagonist when it comes to palace politics, however I’ve received my eyes on Lord Seok. Apart from the bumbling Minister Yeom who looks as if a small fry within the grand scheme of issues, Pil-jik has additionally been launched as a villain, and he appears much more menacing due to the actor enjoying the position.
There’s unhealthy blood between Pil-jik and So-woon that goes past a easy service provider rivalry, and there additionally appears to be a narrative with him and Minister Yeom’s spouse — whose character is shaping as much as be extra than simply your common noblewoman. As with the drama choices of late, Knight Flower has arrange a enjoyable story and paired it with a not-so-fun/bordering-on-dark aspect, and I stay up for seeing how nicely this present balances each elements.
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