Happy Empress Ki Day! Today marks one year since Empress Ki’s first airing on 28th Oct, 2013. So there’s plenty of fans, K-fans and I-fans celebrate it as 1st anniversary. To celebrate this important date, we will present Top 10 Best Ta Hwan-Seung Nyang (TaNyang) Moments. Of course it comes from our biased judgement so feel free to comment to add what you think TaNyang’s best moment or offer analysis and insight for our couple’s scenes.
1. Beach Horse-riding (Episode 4)
A very beutifully-shot, beautifully-acted, overall a very beautiful scene. Whether shot up close or far, from whichever angle it’s still really awesome and breath-taking. It deservedly earns top spot even more because Ji Chang Wook and Ha Ji Won chose it as the most memorable scene in “Empress Ki”.
It’s the first time I feel something for them and eventually ship them. The horse-riding is beautiful, but even more beautiful is the follow-up scenes. Ta Hwan jumps to Seung Nyang’s horse and makes it unbalance and they eventually fall off the horse. They don’t get up as soon as falling, but rather playing and fighting each other. Both of them looks genuinely happy and Ta Hwan looks satisfied while Seung Nyang is on top of him. Makes me feel butterfly and think something not so innocent. Then Ta Hwan remembers his father and I think it’s the first time Seung Nyang feels genuine sympathy for him because she also lost her father. They are lonely, but Ta Hwan is lonelier, surrounded by enemies who will kill him anytime. Seung Nyang can feel it for him. Then Wang Yoo comes and Seung Nyang has to choose between two men and eventually chooses Ta Hwan.
Some people call it a fate since they will eventually marry in the future so Seung Nyang actually subconsiously chooses Ta Hwan. At that point back then, I was ready to see my heart crushed for seemingly impossible pairing. They’re complete strangers who have different ideologies, priorities, nations, and ways of living. But I was curious how the writers would make them eventually marry and Seung Nyang become Empress Ki. I was glad I fell in love with them at the right time. The scene is the start of their blossoming romance, their journey together even though sometimes they’re at the opposite end of spectrums, and their love till death.
2. Ohlala Kiss (Episode 34)
Objectively, the scene is disappointing because they only give us short kiss and when they go deeper, the director or cameramen choose to shot from far faraway angle. As if the PD wants to give privacy for the two lovebirds. It’s just not enough kiss, given the buildup and the angst in previous episodes. But who am I kidding? I was overjoyed when I watch this kiss and still over the moon days later. Basically we’re really happy the kiss from the two leads is well done. Not overdone, but not undercook. Now, the big question: is there any tongue in action or not?
It seems like a very long time before Seung Nyang finally gives in to Ta Hwan, especially after so many teaser here and there, the latest one is almost kiss in episode 32-33. Ta Hwan literally has to wait for a long time even though they are officially married before they consumate on the first night aka ohlala. Even though Seung Nyang seems unsure at first, she finally decides to give in, most probably after seeing what Ta Hwan can do for her. She decides to come out and look for him, caught him off guard and stuttering before finally understand *insert naughty mind*. Then Ta Hwan helps her remove her top, ever so slowly, makes viewers hold breath in anticipation. He then reveals his thought and tells her the words he really wants to say.
“Now I’m whole, thanks to you. No one moves me like you do.”
They look at each other deeply and then, what in my imagination must be long night for them, ohlala begins. For TaNyang shippers it was like oasis in the middle of Sahara, the joy of being drunk in love after being thirsty for a long time (sorry for my convoluted, nonsense metaphors).
3. CPR/Rose Petal/Bathtub Kiss (Episode 21)
One of the most beautiful onscreen kiss in kdrama history. During my long-time kdrama viewing, I have never seen such a scene was shot beautifully almost to the point of perfect. The cinematography inside the water is so beautiful you’d wish the person behind it will direct every drama from now on. Then there’s music in the background which completely immersed with the scene and stopped right at the moment of kissing, gives us pause and a moment to enjoy the scene. I have seen saving-in-the-water scene before but I haven’t seen the one with rose petals, hot emperor, and CPR kiss. That’s like have your cake and eat it too.
After Seung Nyang escapes from Dang Ki Se, she meets Ta Hwan on her way and knowing she’s in danger, Ta Hwan hides her with no hesitation inside his bathing chamber. Knowing there’s no room or space to hide, Ta Hwan quickly throws the rose petals and asks her to dives in just before Dang Ki Se comes. He, with his undying loyalty and love, protects her no matter what from Dang Ki Se. After that, knowing she’s out of oxygen he dives in and gives her much-needed air.
First, it’s really heroic thing to do so. One shipper pointed out because he fears her death more than his own he’s willing to do anything for her. Anything to protect her and maybe he would die if he can’t do that. Second, it’s really romantic, while it’s also almost impossible to happens in real life. Anyone ever watch CPR kiss in real life? Please tell me if you know. Third, and it’s only in my delulu imagination I think Seung Nyang reciprocates the kiss a bit, making it all so swoon-worthy kiss.
4. Seung Nyang-Ta Hwan Confrontation (Episode 19)
The one scene with most real and raw performance between the leads. The one scene that will makes you cry along Seung Nyang and Ta Hwan. The one scene you’d wish to ignore because it breaks your heart so, but you can’t and keep watching. I can’t even imagine I would writing this scene because it really breaks my heart just watching it once but now I have watched the scene numerous times.
Ta Hwan pulls Seung Nyang to a room and because he’s really frustrated watching her around Wang Yoo he advances for a kiss, but she rejects him, twice. Ta Hwan, heartbroken as always asks her why, and she finally tells him about his father and his untimely death because Ta Hwan’s betrayal. Ta Hwan is struck by the lightning by the revelation and he even tells her to kill him if it makes her any better. In the end, she can’t kill him because it will harm other Goryeo people in the palace and chooses to leave him. Ta Hwan is losing his mind and cries as Seung Nyang watches him, also cries.
Now, I don’t want to argue whether Ta Hwan is really betrayed Seung Nyang and her father or not. At that time, he didn’t even know the consequences (and that Ki Jaho is Ki Nyang’s father) although he had a choice to not betray her anyway and told the truth but he’s more likely to be killed if he did so. The scene has very heated tension and we can see Seung Nyang’s eyes full of anger and disappointment towards him. He knows it all too well so he’s willing to die if it makes her any better. He never even think about himself or other people but only Seung Nyang. This kind of thing breaks their heart the most, making Ta Hwan in disbelief, disgusted view to himself but so does Seung Nyang who, even with her anger, still cares about him. You’d just don’t cry for anyone but someone you really care about, right?
5. Happy Family Moment (Episode 39)
A detour from intense scenes, we have mostly cute, filled with rainbows and unicorns scene at no.5. I can’t just simply ignore this scene because it’s my personal favorite and because the scenes among 3 of them together are few and far between. In the middle of scene we get to hear Ji Chang Wook’s voice with his OST “To The Butterfly” for the first time in the drama. In a dreamy mood, seems like almost an imagination but actually Seung Nyang’s memory, we see how the imperial family interacts. The scene is almost too short if we consider the scene before and after but at least it’s better than nothing. The make-up and the clothes actually also make Ha Ji Won and Ji Chang Wook looks younger and happier, probably because there’s baby around. We would always try to look cute in front of a baby, right?
In this scene, Seung Nyang holds Baby Ayu reminiscing her happy time with Ta Hwan and Ayu. Ta Hwan plays with Ayu and has cute bantering with Seung Nyang regarding who will they choose: them or Ayu? Ta Hwan says he’s more afraid of waking from reality than waking from a dream then Seung Nyang reminds him it’s not a dream. Ta Hwan hugs her and promises to makes her empress and Ayu crown prince.
Similar with Ta Hwan, I’d rather watching this than the rest of episode 39. LOL. I can’t get enough of them, especially Ayu who is so cute. Ta Hwan can’t fulfill his promises because one thing or another, mostly because there’s new empress, Bayan. Bayan and Seung Nyang are in psy war while Ta Hwan battles with so many things inside the palace. Reminded to the promise and fond memory, Seung Nyang vows to make Ayu the crown prince. The scene feels like a reminder what can actually happen if there’s no enemies and basically just 3 of them together. Feels like sweets before you have to swallow bitter pills. And let me remind you, if there’s a happy family scene like this in the middle of drama it’s just a warning before shit happens!
6. Temple Backhug (Episode 49)
Forget about your usual backhug in dramaland where one half of the OTP suddenly backhug the other and create romantic scene. Here’s a backhug filled with angst, tension, and passion. A bit out-of-place lovey dovey scene at a Buddhist temple, but nonethelessly romantic. Ha Ji Won also seems wearing a more open undergarment. If we can ignore the temple part, it’s really good scene. But as I respect Buddhism it feels a bit odd seeing a couple hugging and making up in front of Buddha statues. Why the writers and/or PD have to make it inside a temple anyway?
After Seung Nyang is bruised because received 100X bamboo beatings, Ta Hwan comes and gives her an ointment to her bruised shoulder. As she finally realizes who is he, he gives her backhug as natural as any husband would be and tells her to come back to the palace. She refuses it first but he tells her it maybe the last time he can forgive her. He then hugs her more tightly as the camera pans out.
This scene totally screams sexual tension for me and it’s just so wrong, being at the wrong time and the wrong place. One half of me screams to them to just ohlala, screw them over! But one half of me reminds it can’t be it’s inside a temple, you can’t expect naughty action, etc. But the chemistry, the feels, it’s really really good. I can’t stop staring at the backhug, especially the gif version. I have a feeling that Ji Chang Wook was really uncomfortable acted this scene.
7. Seung Nyang Calms Ta Hwan (Episode 43)
As if we need another reason to praise Ji Chang Wook’s acting ability, this scene will give you the reason. He perfectly capable pulls a drunkard crazy lunatic emperor goes on killing spree. The scene gives us the chills, as we witness murderous emperor slays the defeated army but we’re unable to move or do anything just like how the people around him also hesitant to stop him. The acting is top notch, mainly from Ji Chang Wook, but also from other actors notably Ha Ji Won, Jin Yi Han and Kim Young Ho.
Ta Hwan experiences crazy episode and is being mad because the troops are defeated again. He goes to meet them himself and has hallucination as if the troops mocking him being an emperor. He slays them one by one, before Baek Ahn steps up and finally Lady Ki. She forces him to look at her eyes and as their eyes meet and makes connection between them, Ta Hwan wakes up from the hallucination and can’t understand his action.
If it’s not for their charging chemistry, I don’t think the scene will be as impactful and powerful as it is. It’s impossible to rules out the eye acting on this part because Seung Nyang basically tells him “Just pull yourself together!” but without a word. While Ta Hwan looks at her with the eyes of a beast, a scary monster who can’t even look at himself or understand what’s going on. His mind is convoluted, maybe schizophrenia equivalent in past time. The two actors totally deserve applause for making the scene looks like chillingly scary.
8. Cave Body-warming (Episode 5)
We can’t tell about TaNyang’s best moment without this scene, right? The scene that will make a TaNyang shipper certified pervert and polluted poor innocent souls. A beautiful body-warming scene and reversal from usual hero-saving-heroine. Cute and sexy at the same time. But this scene is maybe a lot stupider than it seems.
Ta Hwan is unconscious after fell off the cliff and into the river. Seung Nyang brings him to a cave and takes off his clothes to warm him. She also takes off her clothes, barely closing the chest area and hugs him. Some time later, he wakes up and finds her on top of his, she also wakes up so he pretends to be unconscious while she puts on the clothes. She worries he isn’t waking up yet and almost gives him CPR only to make him wakes up and surprised. Seung Nyang is so happy that she jumps on him, while he isn’t ready by this sudden skinship from (supposedly) a man and asks the bandage around her chest area if it’s also her injury. She doesn’t give him straight answer to that.
My points are, first, at that point Seung Nyang is still crossdressing as a man and her moves are really dangerous (and stupid) because she can easily spill the secret that way. Second, Ta Hwan is also a stupid fool who can’t recognize a woman right away with that bandage clue. Does his body not feeling something different? But if we throw away the logic, we get something mix of comedy and sexy time. They are half naked. All I can see is abs and sexy body. I won’t complain it too much *off to watch cave scene video*.
9. Coronation (Episode 1 and 50)
A grand coronation scene set realistically at China’s Forbidden City, the one that makes you associate it with Empress Ki. As one of the most important scenes, the production team puts a lot of effort and time. The costume are also grand and befitting the occasions. Seung Nyang wears bright red with gold accents and embroideries while Ta Hwan in black with gold ornaments. With helicopter camera, CGI effect and lots of extras, this scene succesfully reenact what it might be like 650 years ago.
Wang Yoo comes to Yuan and Ta Hwan greets him, saying that if it’s not because Ki’s grace he won’t be here. Ta Hwan, holding jealousy and inferiority to Wang Yoo, asks him whether he still loves her. Wang Yoo doesn’t answer and instead leaves him, while Ta Hwan says as follows:
“I love her, she’s everything to me.”
But Wang Yoo doesn’t care and leaving Ta Hwan in tears. Empress Ki is in a room and looks at her parents ring. Someone tells her that Wang Yoo leaves Yuan, making her disappointed. Empress Ki comes by the palanquin and walks gracefully the red carpet to see her husband, the emperor. Court lady serves them tea and both of them drinks as the people hail them. Ta Hwan holds her hand while from afar Wang Yoo looks at Empress Ki, clearly heartbroken. Tears trickled down Empress Ki’s face as she witnesses Wang Yoo’s leave.
Just 2 minutes after watching the first episode of Empress Ki I wept in tears because Ta Hwan’s confession that she’s everything to him. Ever since then, I imagine if there’s ever a man tells me that I will marry him. At that point, I knew Ta Hwan loves Seung Nyang more than anything. I didn’t know Wang Yoo yet, but I rooted for Ta Hwan since then. Then there’s the scene that will make you go crazy for 50 episodes, the coronation scene, lots of talks and debates of what makes Seung Nyang cry at her coronation. Love? Disappointment? Her Goryeo nation? And then it turns out to be much ado about nothing once we see the repeated scene in episode 50. Just don’t try to force your brain thinking about it so much or even try to make sense. This scene is for us to appreciate grand costumes, eye candy and amazing cinematography, nothing more.
10. Bridge of Leaning (Episode 16)
The powerful and healing scene all around. The scene that will make you weep why there isn’t wooden bridge available to reenact the scene. Good cinematography, great acting, and great atmosphere. Here it’s a back, not a shoulder, to lean on.
After El Temur crushes his soul, Ta Hwan wants to be alone and sits himself on a wooden bridge. Seung Nyang, under Golta’s command, reaches Ta Hwan and offers comfort. She does nothing but offer her back to lean on. Ta Hwan doesn’t want her but she insists she won’t hear or see anything, just lean and relax. He leans on her eventually and feels comfortable, sparks jealousy to Wang Yoo who happens to passes nearby.
Watching this scene, I realize Ta Hwan is always lonely. He’s young and weak emperor and because he has no parents anymore, he doesn’t know what to do at that time and who to lean on. Seung Nyang comes at the right time to offers comfort. Something he never know before. She doesn’t judge him or say anything but just remains silent and provides a back to lean on. That what makes Ta Hwan finally relax and rests his head on her. That way he feels like he can share his problem to her.
That’s our Top 10 Best TaNyang’s Moment. I’m sure some of you will disagree but “Empress Ki” is 51 episodes drama so it’s impossible to count everything. We can agree to disagree too since it’s also down to our individual preferences.
Ciao!
