When last we left Prince and the Rebel, their army wasn’t big enough.
Pandao stares adoringly at Kosol as the problem is discussed
Is she committed to the cause or to Kosol? Unfortunately, the next two episodes don’t give me any greater understanding of her.
Anyway, nearby is a village of rebels avoiding conscription. Since they fled rather than be forced into the government’s army, maybe they’ll voluntarily join their army. They’ll have to go there and ask. Not with Pandao, who throws a fit when she’s not invited, but with Prince/Worradej.
And also our Kinda-King and Jade.
Somehow, Banjong is still a major part of the group despite attempting to murder Worradej/Prince twice. He’s certain he can win their heart. Why?
Everyone but Kosol thinks they’re on vacation
Prince/Worradej just wants to have fun, Kosol is being stern and harsh with his brother, Kinda-King is Not-Happy with this, Banjong is trying to cozy up to Prince/Worradej, and Jade is there. Kinda-King sees Somdet’s people spying on them, but mistakes them for monkeys. Things are going well.
Kosol is forced into camping at some ruins, where no one wants to eat with him. What does it say about me that I’m on Kosol’s side?
We get a Prince dance number, and then Kinda-King goes missing. They think Jade is with him, and Prince/Worradej and Banjong think the kid needs space. Kosol remembers saving his brother from bullies when they were younger.
Then Jade returns alone. Banjong and Kosol fight over who searches with Prince/Worradej, which should be a no-brainer: The person who has never tried to kill them. Jade is the only one worried about the Kinda-King, so he partners with Prince/Worradej.
They find Kinda-King hiding from his brother
Prince/Worradej tells him that Kosol loves him, but Kinda-King wants to be childish and avoid him. So they go back and tell Kosol that Kinda-King is sleeping in the boat, but wants his brother to think he’s still missing.
Kosol is the nicest because he lets them convince him to put on a silly, dramatic performance of worry for his brother. He shouts into a forest full of wolves and bandits. Kinda-King finds this funny.
Later, shirtless, Kosol has Jade watch over his brother. That leaves our not-thruple to sleep together. Banjong hopes his poems prove he’s really sorry about the attempted murder, and Prince/Worradej is way too charmed by Banjong’s old-timey-nerd poetry flirtations.
Meanwhile, Kinda-King can’t sleep and is happy Jade is there to chat. But Jade can sleep, sitting upright, on a dock, with Kinda-King messing with him.
The next morning, everything is fine
Kosol is forced to say more nonsense to make up with his bratty brother. Prince/Worradej makes too much noise in celebration, and I worry the entire time they’ll be attacked. Or maybe I want them to be attacked?
Next, they have to walk through a forest for a day, and are spotted by people from the village. Kosol’s caution makes everyone mad at him AGAIN, until arrows start flying. Then they run straight into a trap.
The villagers think they’re there to force them into conscription. They aren’t, technically. But a villager recognizes that Prince/Worradej helped him hide from the officials in the past. Prince/Worradej pretends they totally remember this and so they can be set free.
All it takes is one speech, and everyone joins the army
So it’s party time!
Prince/Worradej and Jade dance. Kinda-King, Banjong, and Kosol sit. Prince/Worradej whines at and insults Kosol to get him to dance with them. Kosol won’t do it, but Banjong will.
But Kosol can’t take Banjong’s taunting and throws Prince/Worradej over his shoulder, carrying them into the forest. He can’t dance, and he’s shy. But he’ll dance with Prince/Worradej alone, in the dark, if they teach him.
It’s sweet and romantic. Until Prince/Worradej laughs at Kosol for being too stiff. But they also don’t want Kosol to force himself to do something just for them.
Kosol sincerely shares his feelings, but Prince/Worradej calls him cute. Kosol wants Prince/Worradej to finally and honestly give him a real answer.
But they don’t. Kosol feels this is the answer. It’s only been sex this entire time. Kosol blames himself, but asks Prince/Worradej not to toy with his heart again.
Prince/Worradej stops him and takes a moment to talk to themselves. The problem is, they know that Worradej loved Banjong. Again, the whole murder seems to be an incidental issue to be ignored. But whatever.
Worse, they know Kosol loved Worradej. Not Prince.
Does Kosol love the pre-poison or the post-poison them?
Kosol doesn’t see a big difference, but Prince/Worradej keeps pushing. Kosol feels that Prince/Worradej has always had fierce determination. Now they just talk more.
But does Kosol like the quieter one, or the more talkative one?
Either is fine. They can be whoever they want to be. Kosol will still love them.
This is what anyone, ever, would want to hear. Prince/Worradej hugs Kosol and tells him they feel lucky to be loved for who they are. They love him.
Kosol is happy! Kissing! As the drums play in the village, Kosol and Prince/Worradej have sex in the dirt with ants and rocks. Jade and Kinda-King try to keep Banjong from looking for Prince/Worradej. They aren’t successful.
Also, everyone in the village is dead
Did not see that coming. They realize that Somdet’s men must have been following them and murdered everyone.
I guess getting back was easy, because they’re home again. Somdet arrives to see the Kinda-King. They have one of those friendly-not-friendly chats. Somdet claims the spies were to protect the Kinda-King, and the soldiers acted on their own in murdering everyone.
Kosol gets called a traitor again, and Somdet offers to take Kinda-King back to the capital to be Real-King. Kinda-King will only do this if his brother’s title is restored. Somdet refuses, because this is what the old King wanted.
Kosol offers to send Somdet to meet with the old (dead) King, but Somdet leaves instead.
So war it is!
No more sex in the woods. They’ve also given up on pulling together an army. Instead, they’re going to focus on the fact that at least their army wants to fight. Somdet’s is conscripted.
Prince/Worradej divides them up according to… video game character types? Tank, mage, assassin, carry, and support. I’m not sure how they all work together. Training involves Kosol and Prince/Worradej kissing and flirting while Banjong watches.
Banjong is showing off his marksmanship, which we already know is good from that time he tried to kill Prince/Worradej. Also, Prince/Worradej is fine with Banjong touching them all over to teach them to shoot better. Kosol and I have a problem with this.
Kinda-King throws a fit because Kosol doesn’t want him fighting
He explains to Jade the meaning behind his name, Chaiyached. “Chai” means one who is better. “Ched” means the very best. I feel like the subtitles are failing me here. Anyway, he was the youngest, and his mom wanted him to surpass all his brothers.
“Chai” also means victory, and “ched” means older brother. So it also means one who triumphs over his brother. He never wished to stand above others. He wishes he had a simple name, like Jade.
Jade doesn’t know how to spell his name. It’s not even his name, just what they wrote down when he was taken as a slave. His real name is “Jiad”, which means “to share” in his native tongue. His name is complicated after all.
The Kinda-King wonders if he weren’t King at all, if they could be friends. Jade doesn’t know, and Kinda-King is disappointed.
With Banjong’s help, Prince/Worradej hits the very edge of the target. Banjong doesn’t want them to give up, but Kosol wants them to come to dinner. They go to dinner.
At home, Banjong tells Pandao that if she helps him get Prince/Worradej, she’ll get Kosol. Then he writes angsty poetry.
It’s all fun and games until everyone dies
The combination of comedy and violent death is hurting my brain. I get it, the show doesn’t want to get heavy, but the characters and their motivations are getting lost.
Danger gets mentioned, sometimes repeatedly, but nothing is done to avoid it. From trusting the murderous Banjong with Prince/Worradej to yelling in forests full of wolves, no one seems to care about themselves, each other, or their cause.
Even when an entire village was murdered, they only got serious for a moment. Then the dead villagers were forgotten, and Banjong and Pandao were plotting against other members of their rebellion.
So do we want equal rights for everyone or not? I feel like Wei Shao and Man Man need to remind them about the importance of the people. Sell them some canals.
I’m being hard on these episodes, but that’s because I missed the deeper character moments. My favorite parts were Kosol and Prince/Worradej’s dance and confession, and Jade and Kinda-King talking about their names. Those moments had meaning, and I want more of them.
Leave a Reply