for a mountain of a show, for which every episode outdoes its last, this tenth is breakthrough.
it opens, further clarifying shin jae's place and purpose in the bigger picture. the tragic foreshadowing of his arc terrifies me.

Episode 10 on TV Time https://tvtime.com/r/1m1hh 

seeing shin jae struggle, rightfully so with identity and belonging tugs at the heartstrings. the truth of the parallel worlds was ironically difficult for him to embrace, knowing his origin. his and tae eul's dynamic is beautiful to watch. the poetry of this show is my favorite.

'you're here. you were here all along.'
'but am I supposed to be here? will you welcome me?'

this exchange, and how tae eul validated him....this show's visuals storytelling is just as poetic, how it illustrates wishful thinking, parallel universes, the mind's and the heart's

inner workings, the in betweens and the transitions are incredibly creative, and speaks to the heart.
it must be the effect of the times we are in, but when a show gets political without standing on a soapbox, it stands out. in this fantastical world, with so much at stake,

the king puts the people first, and reminds those around him, the prime minister, especially to put the people first. the king fictional characters in a fantastical world and yet, hearing him stand for and by his people is comforting.
the prices to pay, for peace, for love is

proving to be expensive, and it does so at such an intentionally slow pace, so that when it delivers its final blow, it is undeniable. and it hurts. from eun sop, who faithfully followed the king's orders, to the tragic end of the eldest of the royals. that stung, personally,

because moments up until the end I thought he was a gray character. just thinking about it has me shaking. the poetry and visual storytelling extends to the battles and the villains. I don't comment much on the visual treatment, because it is not my forte. I just know beauty when

I see beauty. these visuals leave me in awe. villains are afforded insightful poetry. imagine finding the prettiest words, writing the most beautiful lines to state such selfish, malicious intentions of greed and destruction? it must be a tall, and heroic order for a writer.

and it makes me emotional just thinking about it.

'forget noble blood, the sword must be drawn by those who know how to use it.'

'what If the villain draws the sword, someone who is not just?'
'justice doesn't make the sword. the sword decides what justice is.'
'it seems that the things in your world keep changing...'

how much I internally cheered when malice was challenged by a child...

now the love story....the pace at which these risks come crashing down on our heroes almost blindsides us, and before we know it, they are suffering before our eyes.
the love story most tragically so.

'I realized I never gave you a single flower, that is why I crossed the universe for you. but the thing is, I have to go back now.'
'going back?'
'right. I also realized I never told you this...i love you.'

heartbreaking, selfless. and a love that is true.

'when it seems that I've disappeared. I don't want you to worry too much when that happens. it just means I am walking through frozen moments in time.'

the play on pacing, stops and starts as it relates to everything noble isn't lost on me.