To the Shining You, Part 43: After the Shine" Synopsis & Whatever You Want to Say This Week
Dark Michinaga is in full swing and urges Emperor Sanjo to abdicate. Princess Noriko's monologue is almost horror.
I'm N-san on duty this week. There are not many episodes left, so I'm excited every time I watch it, wondering how far the story will go.
Last week, Mahiro visited Michinaga while he was recuperating, and not only did we see their love for each other and the time they spent together, it also inspired him to write "The Ten Chapters of Uji." It was a fantastic episode.
This week, Michinaga's illness has been cured, and the battle between him and Emperor Sanjo has intensified. The dark side of Michinaga was in full swing. The contrast between Michinaga, who was forcing the Emperor to abdicate, and the weakening Emperor Sanjo was intense.
It was also interesting to see the differences in the reactions of the nobles, such as Sanesuke and Yukinari, who question Michinaga's pressure to abdicate. I think the sense of the balance gradually shifting, even though the story seems to be unified, was well-illustrated.
And the spine-chilling scenes, hurled at us by words uttered by Michiko-sama with incredible insight, were also worth watching.
The BL-flavored development with Yukinari, Michinaga's lines make me die
While Michinaga was making his report, he noticed that Emperor Sanjo was blind and hard of hearing.
Black Michinaga is very perceptive. During the drinking party, he casually instructs the members of F4 to move towards abdication. Only Yukinari had a gloomy look on his face.
He blocked Prince Atsunobu's path to becoming Crown Prince and pushed his own grandson, Prince Atsunari, to become Crown Prince, and he also made false allegations and tried to drive a wedge between Prince Atsunobu and Empress Shoshi.
Yukinari was supposed to be Michinaga's best friend and advisor, providing him with strong support. Yukinari, who was the closest to him, is left scratching his head at Michinaga's current behavior.
Yukinari applied to be transferred to Dazai Daini, but Michinaga gave him a cold response. Things did not go as Yukinari had hoped!
Takaie, who injured his eye while hunting and is not doing well, also requests to be transferred to Dazai Gonnosotsu.
He had heard from Sanesuke that there was a skilled pharmacist from Song in Dazaifu, and he pleaded with Michinaga to go there even if it meant giving up his position as Middle Counselor. Michinaga readily agreed.
Well, in the end, Takaie's presence in Dazaifu enabled the country to escape the national crisis of the Toi invasion.
Yukinari was indignant, saying, "I was the one who asked to be posted to Dazaifu first!""You stay by my side.""I made that line in bold because it's important!
The only time Michinaga refers to himself as "ore" is when he's in a very private setting or talking with Mahiro, right? Michinaga is sneaky. He's a people pleaser.
They were both boss and subordinate, and also friends... Yukinari was the person Michinaga wanted to be with and lend his strength to, no matter what position he was in.
In actual history, Yukinari was appointed Dazai Gonsoshu after Takaie. However, he never actually went to Dazaifu. It seems that he was a truly indispensable person to Michinaga.
Michinaga passed away on the morning of December 4th, 12th year of the Manju era (January 4rd, 1028), and on the same night, Yukinari also passed away. What a deep connection it is that their deaths coincided.
Perhaps he was a partner he never wanted to let go of for even a moment.
Emperor Sanjo is getting weaker...could this be what Kaneie's father was so good at?
Emperor Sanjo's eyesight seems to be poor and his hearing is also getting worse. He said he would cure him with a miracle drug he had ordered from Song.
Immediately on X (formerly Twitter), many people were spreading the idea that the medicine that was said to cure all kinds of diseases was "Kinekidan" (Gold Liquid Drug) which contained mercury sulfide!
However, the medicine is said to be called "Benisetsu." It is said that in the "Midokanpakuki," Michinaga was present when Emperor Sanjo took "Benisetsu."
I had assumed that Michinaga's faction had poisoned him, something Kaneie's father was good at, but it seems that's not the case.
However, after this, Michinaga himself developed eye problems and apparently took Benisetsu, so karma does come around in circles.
Oh, I miss the nostalgic "contiguous" game!
At Akiko's house, Prince Atsunari played the game "hentsugi" with Mahiro. It brings back memories. I remember that in the third episode, the princesses who gathered at Michiko's salon played "hentsugi" with Akasomeemon.
At that time, Mahiro was the only one winning, and the princesses were bored. It was a scene that impressed us with how tomboyish Mahiro was in learning and using kanji.
I could never have imagined back then that, in time, I would be working at the Imperial Palace, becoming a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shoko, and playing the game of "hentsugi" with the Crown Prince. You did a great job, Mahiro!
Then Michinaga came and sat next to Mahiro. At X, we called it "Michinaga's Mahiro Charge" and it made me laugh.
I'm in awe of Michiko-sama's intuition. That fearless smile is terrifying.
The scene where Michinaga and Michiko talk together was scary. "I am not loved by the lord." That line was really scary. Michiko, with her sharp insight, throws out the truth one after another.
However, now that she has married Michinaga, Empress Shoshi has entered the Imperial Court, they have had a son, and it is virtually certain that the son will become emperor, she says that such things no longer matter to her.
Michiko is a marriage partner that is merely a means to an end, separate from her sincere feelings for Mahiro. Not realizing this, Mahiro thought that he had married the person he had always admired.
They have many children, and her husband is steadily climbing the corporate ladder. She should be happy to have a husband of such high rank, but she always feels that her husband's heart is not with her... Poor Michiko.
Even without love, one can boast of power and stand at the top of aristocratic society. It is true that Michinaga needed a strong woman who could make such a compromise, so I wonder if they're both just as bad. Michinaga is at a disadvantage, though.
The preview for next week was scary too. Behind Michinaga, who was chatting at Mahiro's station...Rinko-sama appeared. I wonder what will happen.
The reason why Mahiro watches over Kenko and Sojumaru
Kenko's first love comes to an end. Sojumaru accompanies Taira no Tamekata to Dazaifu. Kenko, who is brave, says she wants to hold a banquet for the last time. It was a refreshing way to end her first love.
I also began to understand why Mahiro was watching over the two of them. When their father, Tametoki, returned to Japan from Echigo, he saw the two of them and asked Mahiro if they were okay. Mahiro replied that unlike him, Kenko had overcome the differences in her status and circumstances.
That's right. Mahiro had many chances to be with Michinaga. When he asked her to run away with him. She had the chance to say she wanted to be with him even if it meant being his concubine. Even during their night at Ishiyama-dera, Michinaga asked her to stay by his side, but she refused.
Although she was a tomboyish princess, Mahiro did not try to go beyond the rules of aristocratic society, such as status and family status. Unlike Kenko, she could not ask to be taken to Dazaifu with her.
Although she longed to use her abilities to live freely, she made no attempt to go beyond, or even destroy, the rules of the class system. Compared to herself, her daughter Kenko's free spirit must have been dazzling.
I really like the way Mahiro's feelings are portrayed.
Next week is finally "Mochizuki no Uta"
There was a scene of "Mochizuki no Uta" in the preview for next week's episode. Ah, at last! We've come this far. What kind of feelings did he have when he composed that song? In the preview scene, it didn't seem to be interpreted as him being in charge of the world. I'm curious to see how Oishi Shizuka portrayed it.
What is the review of “To Shining You”?
"Premium Japan Literature Club" (exaggeration) was formed by people who love literature within the Premium Japan editorial department. For literature lovers, the 2024 taiga drama ``Hikaru Kimi e'' was a perfect opportunity to discuss this and that. Volunteers from the editorial department will continue to freely review articles. Editor S and Editor N reviewed the differences between historical facts and dramas, a deep dive into foreshadowing, and more!
Lounge
Premium Salon
"To you shining" review as much as you want
Premium Salon
