The one who bears the most power can protect the least
Moon Embracing the Sun (episodes 1 - 20)
This show was the stepping stone for me in watching period dramas and supernatural themes. I used to fear that the application of historical ideologies might turn me off period dramas, and supernatural themes may come off as awkward and cringe-worthy. However, my concerns quickly disappeared. Moon Embracing the Sun brought to life so many strong female characters and the supernatural themes were all necessary to the plot and delivered well. The characters were complex and dimensional and while the plot is primarily heavy, comic interactions between certain relationships ensured a good balance to allow audiences to breathe. But I think the highlight of the show for me were the younger counterparts of the main characters who were all so captivating to watch and since then, have grown as actress/ors with their own shows.
But this post is not about any of the above (although, I could dedicate a post to the strong female characters because good or evil, they are worth talking about).
Moon Embracing the Sun is, of course, a period drama revolving around a love story and a political war against the backdrop of the Joseon dynasty. But I want to put focus this time on those who are perceived to be the most powerful, despite actually being the most vulnerable.
King Sung-jo (played by Ahn Nae-sung) was a wise king who greatly loved his family. However, despite holding the most powerful position in Joseon, King Sung-joo was powerless when it came to his own family.
From the very first episode, the brother’s king is murdered and wrongfully accused of treason against the king. However, despite King Sung-jo knowing that he wasn’t betrayed by his brother, he was forced to stay silent as his brother’s honour is destroyed and his brother’s lover is tortured and executed. As king, Sung-jo is burdened by the need to protect his throne in order to fulfill his duties to his nation. And with that obligation comes the burden of protecting the Queen Dowager’s dark secret even if it came at a price of his brother’s honour.
12 years later, King Sung-jo did not have the power to intervene with the selection of his son’s future betrothed even when he knew that the selection was manipulated by those who wanted to take control. Only with the power given to him by the Sungkyunkwan scholars was he enabled to be able to control the selections to ensure that only the rightful person would become the Crown Princess. But when the rightful Crown Princess Heo Yeon-woo (Kim Yoo-jung) was dishonourably removed from the palace due to the selfish schemes of the Queen Dowager, King Sung-jo once again turned a blind eye, even when he knew that his feigning of ignorance effectively sacrificed the family who has remained loyal to him and sentenced them to live in disgrace.
The King once again is forced to put his duties to his nation ahead of his desire to protect his son from losing his love, his desire to protect the rightful Crown Princess, and his desire to protect his loyal servants.
But perhaps the most painful from all King Sung-jo lost because of his power, is the loss of his first son, Prince Yang-myung (Lee Tae-ri) . Prince Yang-myung, born first but forever second to his younger half-brother, Lee Hwon, lives to gain his father’s acknowledgment. However, in order for the King to protect his sons and protect Lee Hwon as the future king, King Sung-jo sacrifices his relationship with Yang-myung to ensure stability within the nation he serves.
King Sung-jo protected the dark secrets of his family and made sacrifices until his death because he thought it was the right thing to do to serve his nation.
And King Sung-jo’s powerlessness as the King is reflected onto his successor. As Crown Prince and then King, Lee Hwon (played by Yeo Jin-goo and Kim Soo-hyun) struggles with protecting all those important to him: from his childhood love, the Crown Princess Heo Yeon-woo, his loyal teacher, Scholar Heo Yeom, his brother, Prince Yang-myung, and his new love, Shaman Weol. Instead of holding the power as Crown Prince and King to protect his loved ones, it was they who protected him instead.
The King, believed to hold the most power in the nation, was instead the most powerless and the ones who sacrificed the most as they bear the weight of their crown.
