Akatsuki no Yona (Yona of the Dawn): Season 1/ Episode 3 “The Distant Sky” – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Overview

We get a little more on Hak’s background and how his life became tied to Yona’s.

Review (with Spoilers)

As Yona still sort of hides within herself, in order to try to deal with all that is happening, we go into Hak’s memories to learn how he ended up becoming Yona’s champion. A story which makes me feel every time we see the Yona which is a bad ass, it is to remind us that the slightly annoying Yona we know now won’t last forever. Though, with this being episode 3, I must admit I’m wondering when are we going to meet her associates? For with there being 24 episodes, according to the Wikipedia page anyway, I’m hoping what Soo-Won says at the end the episode means things will pick up.

Topic 1: Childhood Memories – Hak, Soo-Won, and Yona

Summary

In past episodes, Yona has spoken on how she, Hak, and Soo-Won have been friends for so long and in this episode we see them bond after Yona’s mother died. Also, we learn Hak is an orphan adopted by the Wind Clan, as well as how stern, but loving, Soo-Won’s father was.

Commentary

I honestly have mixed feelings about us seeing their childhood. Partly because I thought this series was going to be 12 episodes, but also because I feel the series, even with just 3 episodes total, is starting to drag a bit. And maybe I’m just impatient, or not fond of whiny main characters but either way, I need the past to be revisited less and the main story to progress a bit quicker.

Topic 2: Bodyguard Hak – Yona and Hak

Summary

As part of building up Hak and Yona’s relationship, we are introduced to how Hak went from someone who barely cared about the nobles, as well as his future duties as general, to becoming Yona’s bodyguard. All of which happened thanks to Fire Clan’s next in line Kang Tae-Jun. Someone who was overly aggressive in pursuing Yona to the point Hak decided to step up to protect her.

Commentary

Seeing what bonds Hak to Yona, and being reminded of his feelings for her, helps us understand why he is going through hell and high water to save her. Much less, it helps us understand why he may possibly put his clan in danger. For surely, some clans are bound to take Soo-Won’s side and others Yona [1]. So, with Soo-Won letting them go at the end of the episode, and talking about how there are other matters for him to tend to, seemingly a mini-civil war may break out.

Topic 3: Present Day

Summary

As Yona remains doll-like, due to trauma, Hak is doing his best to keep her alive. Something becoming increasingly difficult since Yona pretty much has become lifeless.

Commentary

I’m starting to believe every other episode we are going to get reminded who Yona will eventually be, just to keep us interested. For as much as I want to understand she is grieving, and her life has now forever been changed, at the same time I want things to quickly move forward. Especially since, as you watch the intro showing her future allies, I want to know how she convinces them to join her. For with what was said during the times when they were young, it seems the palace guards thought the clans were outgrowing the king. So I want to know are these the generals of the clans, the next in line, or outcast like Yona.

Never mind I want to see what happens with Soo-Won and learn who his associates are. For it probably took a huge amount of time for him to plan his revenge. Much less there is the question of why King Il killed his father and how did Soo-Won find out?

Things To Note

Something also noted throughout both the teen and childhood years of Hak is everyone’s perceptions of King Il. For while most considered him weak, and likely to be overthrown, he did show his strength in a way. Like, when Hak and Kang Tae-Jun were about to fight, he grabs Tae-Jun’s blade to stop the fight and doesn’t react to bleeding.