Thoughts on ‘Daebak (The Royal Gambler)’ Episode 13

WARNING: If you haven’t watched this episode, please be aware of spoiler from reading this article. If you do not want to see, please do not click the link “Read rest of this entry”. We welcome all the comments and please share your thoughts too about ‘Daebak’. Thanks.

Author: Carole Dela Rosa Alcala (a.k.a. chinkyrol) from ECI
Photo credits: SBS

First off, let me be honest to you dear Eel sisters and brothers. I haven’t seen any of the episodes except for this one since it was assigned to me. I have been quite busy these past few months, so please bear with me. I will try to make this one as interesting as much as I can.

Before I dive right into it. I must say that seeing our JKS in the small screen again is such a delight. In spite of not being in a drama for quite a while, he has never lost his skills. He actually improved and I am thoroughly impressed (*banging head on the wall for missing 12 episodes).

The episode started with the scene where Baek Dae Gil is talking to Gol Sa’s daughter. He let her know that he will defeat her father and that he was the one who defeated Six Ghost. She was a bit shocked but then warned Dae Gil that he will never be able to get to Yi In Jwa. Dae Gil shot back that if she does nothing, change will never come. It seems to me that Dae Gil is trying to encourage her to take action against Yi In Jwa.

As he was leaving, he saw Seol Im outside and was surprised. Seol Im was thinking back on how the fortune teller told her that the only way to counteract her bad omen is to leave so she won’t be responsible for another’s misery or kill the one she loves (who could that be, I wonder, hmmm…) It was then that Dae Gil asked what was wrong and she said nothing. Dae Gil shared that Gol Sa’s child was a girl. Meanwhile, the Fortune teller came to Gol Sa’s daughter’s room. She told Gol Sa’s daughter that Baek Dae Gil’s horoscope revealed a calling to the monarchy. The fortune teller informed her that since she has studied horoscopes, Gol Sa’s daughter must have a better understanding of what that means. Dae Gil and Seol Im went back to Yeoning to relay to him what happened with Gol Sa’s daughter. Dae Gil said that regardless of her trying to save her father by staying under Yin In Jwa’s control, he will still pursue his plans of defeating Gol Sa. Yeoning admitted that it will not be easy while Seol Im expressed her worry for Dae Gil. Dae Gil said that it won’t be as difficult if Yeoning helped him prevent the Inspector General’s troops from coming after him as Yeoning is after the accounting books for the small merchants who were affected by the license ban. Yeoning revealed then that he was removed from office but he will come up with something.

As they were parting ways, Dae Gil told them that the game will take place from 3 to 5 pm the following day. Seol Im again urged Dae Gil to take care of himself while we see a man lurking just as she was leaving. When she arrived back at Cutter’s place, he asked her if she was moving out. She replied that she is and thanked him for everything. Cutter suggested that she leave the next day since it was late and remembers the day she came to ask for help.

At the same time, Yi In Jwa, having known the time of the game, has started to create chaos for Baek Dae Gil around the Mapo area. With the help of the fortune teller, he made posters announcing the time of the game which supposedly came from Dae Gil. It has reached the Soron faction and even Minister Kim Chang Jib.

The minister confronted Yeoning about it and he admitted that he is after Yin in Jwa himself. Yeoning knows how great Gol Sa has an influence over Mapo’s commerce as he is the one who controls everything. More importantly, he has the accounting books he need. For this, he asked Kim Chang Jib to help him. The Minister agreed on the condition that Yeoning gives the accounting books to him and that he should step aside from this issue. Yi in Jwa then met up with the ministers for they want to know who Baek Dae Gil is and he assured them that he can manage Dae Gil.

The King has called for Choi Sukbin (is she the queen? sorry for the ignorance…) and asked her what she will do if Yeoning and Dae Gil get into a fight and it is made known that they are brothers in fact. He told her to untie the knot and she fainted just as she walked right out of the room. I have no idea what all that means but must be a heavy burden for her to bear. The next day, Yi In Jwa observed Yeoning walking towards the Hansung Regional Office. As Baek Dae Gil was on his way to the gambling room in Mapo, he was intercepted by some people. Just then, the troops from the Hansung Regional Office and Yeoning came to his rescue.

Gol Sa, on the other hand, awaits for him in the gambling room having seen the posters. Being an Eel, we have always known how imposing his presence is whether it be small or big screen. This scene where he came in with the doors opening up (I was rendered speechless), is one of my favorites. And when he knew right after how the games are rigged, his revelation of it all table by table is really remarkable. The musical score is also intense adding to the already high strung atmosphere. Finally, Gol Sa chose cards for the game, a new one was taken out and given to Dae Gil to be inspected. Gol Sa thanked Dae Gil saying he made Gol Sa famous because of those posters. All the while, Dae Gil thought Gol Sa instigated it. The rules of the game was announced. An additional rule was also made known. In Mapo, they allow the stealing of cards, meaning one can switch card with his opponent subject to his approval. In the first round, Dae Gil shuffled the cards and did not want to switch. Gol Sa wanted to switch at first but changed his mind. Dae Gil won and said he only needs to win one more round but Gol Sa reminded him that nothing is certain until the game is finished. In the second round, Gol Sa shuffled the cards. Having seen his cards, Dae Gil asked for a switch. He allowed Gol Sa to choose from his cards. Go Sa then revealed his cards which happened to be a pair of twos. He taunted Dae Gil to show his cards. It was a 3 and a 10. Now, they became even with each having won one round and Dae Gil was left wondering how Gol Sa knew which card to pick. Gol Sa gave the cards to Dae Gil so he can shuffle them. Dae Gil asked Gol Sa if he has lost before and he answered only once in 30 years of playing it. It was to Cutter. Dae Gil smiled and told him that this will be the second. Just then, the doors opened and in came Yi in Jwa with Gol Sa’s daughter, Yeon Hwa (finally, a name, yey!). I felt that Yi In Jwa, came to remind Gol Sa what will happen if he lost as one of his goons immediately drew a sword against her neck. Dae Gil knew at that point who made those posters. One can immediately sense the pressure building up in the room. Yeon Hwa asked to shuffle the cards claiming that Dae Gil might try to cheat.

Upon Yi in Jwa’s approval, she shuffled it as noisily as she could banking on the knowledge that her father knows the sound of each and every numbers on the cards. She has learned it as well and she knew all the cards she gave the two and with it was able to discern who will win. Gol Sa announced that he does not want to switch and then Dae Gil said he wants to but backed off soon after. Gol Sa was left confused but Dae Gil just shrugged and said to let fate determine it. Yeon Hwa sighed, relieved that her father won, or so she thought. Dae Gil reminded Gol Sa what the stakes are for this game. Gol Sa in turn said he will reclaim all the other gambling rooms won by Dae Gil should he win. Dae Gil added that the loser will have to grant a wish from the winner.

They showed their cards to each other and Gol Sa was shocked to see his cards to be 2 and 3. Dae Gil mocked that the sound trick is one of the oldest tricks and so he changed the sound of the card by scratching it while he shuffled. At Yi In Jwa’s announcement that Gol Sa needs to take responsibility for this loss, his goon started to swing his blade towards Yeon Hwa’s neck which Dae Gil blocked. At that instant, Yeoning came and helped Dae Gil fight off Yi in Jwa and his goons, and then they came to a stand off. Suddenly, Yi in Jwa started to give monetary reward for Dae Gil’s life. He upped the stakes up to 5,000 nyang. People started aiming for Dae Gil with all that money thrown. Just then, a union member came and tried to reason with everyone and even told them that Dae Gil saved them. Gol Sa intervened and told off Yi In Jwa for disturbing his game. He accepted his loss and told his daughter to bring out the accounting book. Dae Gil picked up the paper bills off the floor and threw it at Yi In Jwa saying he has no business there anymore. Yin In Jwa warned Dae gil that his success will come to end soon and that there is no such thing as a constant enemy or ally. And that regardless of how many friends he has, he will also get that many enemies. I am curious as to what this guy knows about the two (Yeoning and Dae Gil) and how far he is willing to push the button.

Yi in Jwa left with a threat to Gol Sa that he will pay the price for his inability to protect his gambling room. Gol Sa surrendered the accounting book to Yeoning with a warning that the 2 warring factions will be up in arms if the contents are revealed. Yeoning assured him that he has already prepared for that. Dae Gil asked Gol Sa to give him all the necessary documents for the Mapo area which he will take over soon enough. He also claimed the wish he asked earlier. In came Grandpa and Gol Sa remembered what he did to the old man. He bowed and immediately asked for forgiveness. Grandpa then softened and forgave Gol Sa. He was also ready to let it out with nose flaring. Dae Gil, Yeoning and Grandpa came out of the building to a celebration. Some of the merchants from all over came to express their gratitude to Dae Gil. Yeoning and Dae Gil exchanged friendly banter with the former ending up thanking the latter. Clearly these two have become allies but we know that this drama live for its twists and turns. What then is in store for them as this story unfolds?

Yeon Hwa was furious with her father after he so readily gave his rights to Dae Gil. Gol Sa assured her that it was okay and said that she needs to marry soon. He then teased her with Dae Gil but she insisted she will not marry. Gol Sa observed though that she did not resist much at the mention of Dae Gil (*throwing dagger looks at YH). Meanwhile, the ministers are meeting with Yi In Jwa. They are all quite worried that Yeoning has the accounting books and will give it to the King.

Yeoning was actually giving the books to Kim Chang Jib. I am left uneasy with that scene, I must admit. He asked Yeoning to back away from the issue as he suggested earlier and assured him that he will take care of it. To me it is quite suspicious. Of course, I haven’t seen much of this drama (*note to self: watch the previous episodes!). Just that this character has got me freaked out. He seems to have a much bigger agenda. Grandpa, Dae Gil and Seol Im are celebrating his success with Grandpa boasting that he raised Dae Gil to be the success he is now. He told them to get all the alcohol they want and Dae Gil said it was his money that Grandpa is spending. Grandpa rebutted that he holds the money so technically he owns it to which Dae Gil just smiled. Yeoning came and joined Seol Im and Dae Gil.

As the night was getting deep, Yeoning noticed that Dae Gil seems to not get drunk while checking out the bottles they consumed. Dae Gil teased Yeoning and called him “Your Highness” to which Yeoning laughed. He said it gets tedious hearing people call him that but when it was Dae Gil, it sounded funny. Wait! Excuse me but those flashing teeth are blinding and the smiles, oh no! (*wipes drool with towel) Sorry, fangirl alert. Back to regular programming (*composes self). Just then, a messenger came and Yeoning finds himself in the presence of the King. The king is curious as to how Yeoning is coming to befriend a lowly person like Baek Dae Gil. Yeoning answered that through Dae Gil, his eyes were opened to the sufferings of the people which his status and position actually prevented him from realizing. The King then asked if Yeoning is willing to give up his life and the throne for such a friend. He told him that Dae Gil will never be considered as his friend nor his people so Yeoning should behave in the manner his position and status entails.

Meanwhile, Seol Im and Dae Gil is having a tender moment. Seol Im is asking Dae Gil what his dream is and he said he doesn’t know but the he likes to be someone’s dream instead (Oh Geunchan, you are definitely our dream.) Seol Im then asked if he can be her dream (Eel alert!!!). Dae Gil asked back if Seol Im does not have any other dreams. She said that she does not want something she can’t reach. She wants something that is a reality for herself and is just by her side (Believe me my dear when I say this, all Eels want your reality right now. You are lucky indeed.) Realizing the awkwardness of the moment, Seol Im got up and said she’ll go to sleep and thanked Dae Gil. He asked what for and she replied just for everything.

Immediately after she went inside, Dae Gil sensed somebody and asked the intruder to show himself. It turned out to be Cutter. He said he was mistaken about Dae Gil. That he was stronger than he thought. He told Dae Gil to show his skill. Just then a sword came flying at Dae Gil and he was able to intercept it. Dae Gil asked Cutter if he was a coward since it is clear he did not come alone referring to the lurker he spied on the corner. Cutter shrugged it off, demanding what Dae gil plans to do with Seol Im. Dae Gil responded that she just said that she is leaving Cutter’s control. Cutter was obviously disturbed and just warned Dae Gil not to die in a harsh place and left. He called on his spies and told them that they were embarrassing him. I thought he was really going to blow off on them and was a bit surprised that he just dismissed them with a flick on the forehead. I have yet to decide on this Cutter character. His being mysterious does appeal to me and he seems interested in Seol Im.

In the last scenes of this episode, Seol Im was already decided on leaving and getting as far away from Dae Gil so she won’t cause him any harm. But then, she was kidnapped. Grandpa saw a letter and her shoe.

Dae Gil went to the gambling room early to find Yeon Hwa hostile and saying she will never accept him. He said he is not looking to replace his father. He just wanted to make good in the favor Gol Sa asked off him and continued to walk towards his room, He found Gol Sa on the floor with an intruder ready to stab him with a sword. He stopped the intruder who was obviously a woman.
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Like I said in the beginning, I haven’t watched all the other episodes of Daebak yet but seeing this one really had me berating myself. I am pleasantly surprised and I am proud of how our Sukkie has shown his depth as an actor.I know how good he is but this drama had him acting on a different level altogether. It also helps that he has such good co-actors as well. I cannot wait to watch the previous ones and the rest of the episodes after. I better start now lest I find myself a kabayaki. [END]