Thoughts on ‘Daebak (The Royal Gambler)’ Episode 4

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Author: Rika Setiati from ECI
Photo credits: SBS

Silly, naive, reckless, and risk taker Gae Ddong started to transform to be Dae Gil. Dam Seo and her grudge to the King. Prince Yeoning and his deliquent mask. Yi In Jwa, his long span plan, and his risky interaction with King Suk Joong. The tragic death of Baek Man Geum. Those were highlighted in episode 4 surrounding by gambling theme, as usual. But, since I got reflection a lot on how Dae Gil character when he was still Gae Ddong, I will write my thought on that only.

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We finally saw the fresh character of Baek Dae Gil continually growing and starting to have existential conflict after he felt by the first sight with Dam Seo. As Gae Ddong, he was so impulsive and seemed not be bothered by class, social status, or manner to interact with who ever he met. I think it is may be he grew with only men in his life, thus Baek Man Geum – father and Nam Dokkebi – grandpa, he could not using any manner to approach a girl he liked. He just acted following his instinct. Saying, he would made Dam Seo became his wife over and over again, did not care if Dam Seo accepted or not.

I felt I was reading a really old classic tacky poem when I saw Dae Gil could not easy to fall a sleep, thinking on Dam Seo.

Oh dear, I could not let my mind from your shadow.

When I see a space on the roof, I saw your face there, smiling to me.

Even in the moon, the bright moon, you are there.

Oh, I could not take my eyes off you, my dear.

He also did not care when Dam Seo threaten him with sword on his neck at around her work field. Instead giving up, he said “Oh, why she even looks pretty when she’s angry” happily. He took the challenge to win Dam Seo from Prince Yeoning using the dice game. It seemed, he did not care by the noble gaze from this Prince. He defended Dam Seo recklessly and willing to take the punishment of 30 paddle hits because he did not want the girl suffered. And when the person he’s in love him was so upset, questioning his act, saying that no body would take any notice to a palanquin, a lowly life like him, he said…

..and that person, is Dam Seo.

Why was Dam Seo then stunned by his words? I guess I knew. This is how the sincerity of Dea Gil. A pure love without any thing to hide. He did not care of others might think about him. He did not care if every body laugh at him. He just acted like as his feeling guided him. He said what he wanted to say to Dam Seo. I think, this purity of Dae Gil was so strong and it touched Dam Seo.

But then, we also saw Dae Gil was not a pure stupid guy. He has a heart. He’s also sensible. After he got this tearful experience with Dam Seo, he asked him self, his father, his grandpa, why his name had to be Gaed Dong, dog feces. He cried and even threw him self to the well.

At first, I thought the drama team made exaggerate scene having him jump like that. I almost asked my self, is he that stupid? But then I remember how he grew with his reckless gambler father. He has a name that may gave him strength to survive from 30 paddle hits, even the hot sun dried him, as well as a fragile one to be exist in the society. A name that made him being laugh by other people, a name without acknowledgement as a person. It was so painful enough to make him jump without thinking. And the expression, his tears, showing his pain clearly. A fragile Gae Ddong was there. It made his father sad. I bet, he did not think this far to give his child a proper name.

Well, thanks to Dam Seo, to people who laugh at him, his father decided to give a proper name to his child. A name that founded when he was a baby, completed with his father family name, a noble one. Baek Dae Gil. Unfortunately, in the same time, it led his father being traced by the evil from the past. Yi In Jwa found him. Yi In Jwa knew the true identity of Gae Ddong. Another pawn he thought to be, to achieve his goal in gaining the throne.

That night, Hong Mae and the gang came visit Dae Gil house. She was ordered to kill Baek Man Geum by Yi In Jwa. When Baek Man Geum angry and he came forward, the gang almost hit him. Baek Dae Gil jumped and hit back the men until they were down. Again, we could see the brave character of Dae Gil when ever the person he loved threaten by other. His act had a bad consequence. Hong Mae stabbed his waist with a knife. Instead feeling fearful, Baek Dae Gil hold the knife and hit Hong Mae forehead until she was down. Seeing this bad situation, Baek Man Geum and the grandpa grabbed Dae Gil fast and run away to the forest.

In the forest, where a boat sailed on the river, Yi In Jwa, Dam Seo and the guard has been there waiting. Yi In Jwa seemed has already known about Dam Seo feeling to Baek Dae Gil. From far away, he asked Dam Seo to shoot her arrow to Dae Gil. I knew it was a test since Yi In Jwa has already had clear goal stated to Hong Mae, that she was not supposed to kill Dae Gil.

As predicted, Dam Seo felt hesistate. She could not shoot at all, her hand was shaking. Yi In Jwa grabbed the archer and shoot Baek Man Geum, coldly, without hesitation at all. Arrrgh! Yi In Jwa, I hate you!

Baek Dae Gil cried a lot seeing his father shot by arrow. I could not resist my emotion seeing this. His eyes, his tearful expression, hit my heart a lot. As if me who being shot by the arrow. Baek Man Geum used his last energy to save his son. He asked Dae Gil to stay away and live peacefully in small village, far away from Hanyang since he has already knew who after Dae Gil, Yi In Jwa.

With his love to his son, he pushed the boat away.

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By this tragic death of his father, I wonder how Baek Dae Gil will grow. I wonder how he will win the game and how he will define what is mean to win… [END]