skygiants | (no subject)

Time got a little away from me last Sunday -- if I remember right I was on Zoom from 1-11 PM, which does not leave a lot of energy for other things it turns out -- so it's been two weeks since the costume poll where we saw a total victory for these intimidation shoulderpads, presumably because everyone was too intimidated to vote otherwise:

This week I'm actually breaking up the routine a bit -- we have a solidly respectable five outfits from Jang Man Wol, but also two other characters stepped up their game so much that I had to give them, for this week only, the opportunity to go head-to-head with our heroine herself!

(Though admittedly one of those outfits was purchased by Jang Man Wol, so I guess it's really her vision still at work here, when you think about it.)

1.

I feel like we've seen dresses in this style from Jang Man Wol before, but not in this particular color? She seems to favor this kind of lace trim when hanging out at the bar, for whatever reason.

The gauzy gray patterning makes for kind of an interesting effect -- she looks a little like she's channeling a granite column? I don't mean that in a bad way! I think it's neat!

2.

Jang Man Wol always rocks a miniskirt, but it's the headband that really stands out to me here -- something extremely regal about a black velvet tiara.

The flowers were a chance encounter, so I can't give her credit for dressing to match them; still, the matching yellow pop is a really fortunate coincidence for great visual effect.

3.

This one has like ... steampunk vibes somehow to me? All that interlocking lace makes her look a little like the inside of a music box.

I especially love the effect on the sleeves, where you really get the full impact of the lace pattern without the modesty sheath underneath the main bodice of the dress, but it's a neat look overall and one that stands well on its own without a lot of accessorizing.

4.

We've gotten hints of this look in flashback before -- these first three screenshots are from episode five -- but I made the executive decision to hold off until we had the chance to see it in full and I think it was the right call.

Look at the embroidery! Look at the SLEEVES! Also, let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that this stolen wedding robe clearly doesn't restrict range of movement in any way, which is a really important consideration on a revenge mission.

In both form and function, I think we can agree that there is absolutely no better choice for lying in wait for your ex with a sword on his wedding night.

5.

OK by comparison it's hard for me to get that excited about this perfectly nice robe-and-nightgown combo, especially under indoor lights.

But I do like the way the silvery-gauzy look vibes with the moonlight and the water. Very atmospheric!

Special Guest Competitor 1.

Room Manager Choi spends 90% of her scenes in her hotel uniform, but when she goes all out, she goes ALL out.

What a look! Specifically, what a look for attending the funeral of the last scion of the family whose total annihilation you have been been patiently awaiting for 300 years! This may be the most impressive black widow outfit of the show, and given the wide array of black widow outfits worn by Jang Man Wol over the course of the series, I do NOT say that lightly.

Special Guest Competitor 2.

Look, I'm just ... going to let this one speak for itself.

Like on the one hand, I'm not sure it really counts for the polls if he's very much wearing the suit ironically? On the other hand: tiger print! cravat!!!

Poll #24285

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 61

View Respondents

Top outfit of the episode?

View Answers

granite column
0 (0.0%)

yellow pop
10 (16.4%)

lace gears
5 (8.2%)

red wedding
27 (44.3%)

silver nightgown
1 (1.6%)

guest star 1: black widow
14 (23.0%)

guest star 2: eye of the tiger
4 (6.6%)

PS: if you have fun with costume poll nonsense and feel like & are able to toss a buck towards the Mass Bail Fund or some other related org when you cast your vote, I encourage! Maybe consider contributing to the bail fund for indigenous protestors arrested at Mt. Rushmore?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

whimsyful

YESSS I have been waiting for that Red Wedding Gown of Murderous Revenge for so long! It's here and it's glorious \o/

Room Manager Choi does absolutely rock her black widow outfit, but I'm not totally sold on that vertical line of buttons on the torso.

From:

skygiants

It was killing me to wait! I just knew that if I deployed it too early I'd never get to have the screenshot of her with the sword at his throat, and using that was very important to me. >.>

Aw, I dunno, I kind of like the line of buttons -- it's a nice visual callback to the buttons on the hotel uniform. She's professional even in triumphant revenge!

From:

sovay

if I remember right I was on Zoom from 1-11 PM, which does not leave a lot of energy for other things it turns out

That's a lot of Zoom.

Room Manager Choi's hat was extremely impressive, but she didn't have a sword.

From:

skygiants

It's very true, Room Manager Choi is much more in it for long game revenge than short term and immediate, which unfortunately comes with far fewer shiny accessories!

From:

sophia_sol

It was a hard call between the revenge wedding dress and the black widow option and it could have gone either way!

Also, I grow more and more curious with each passing costume poll: what the heck is this show actually about? What's happening???

From:

whimsyful

The best way I can describe it is a gender reversed Beauty and the Beast (or Goblin, if you've seen that show). A cold, cynical woman cursed to be the owner of a hotel for ghosts who need help moving on (and thus has been stuck on the threshold between life and death for hundreds of years) hires a sweet, warm-hearted young man to be her new hotel manager because he might be the key to breaking her curse. The plot is usually divided between ghost-of-the-week storylines and Man-wol's journey to let go of her grudge and break her curse.

From:

sophia_sol

INCREDIBLE, thank you for the plot summary!

From:

skygiants

loool you're the second person to ask me that after this specific poll -- I've been holding off on doing a proper post about the plot until after finishing the episode costume polls because it feels untidy somehow to do it in the middle. >.>

But yeah, what

whimsyful said more or less! Jang Man Wohl's job is to forgive herself and those who harmed her in life enough to move on to whatever comes next, her manager/boyfriend's job is to provide great ghost customer service while pointedly damseling himself enough that she goes to rescue him instead of doing whatever morally bankrupt thing she was considering doing instead, it's extremely enjoyable.

From:

sophia_sol

that sounds DELIGHTFUL :D I will look forward to your full post on the subject!

From:

shadaras

I was overcome by the red wedding robe even BEFORE she had a sword

From:

skygiants

I just CANNOT get over the sleeves. The little red tassels!

From:

paperback

The stolen wedding gown of vengeance might just sell me on looking up this series.

From:

skygiants

yessss my long game in these costume polls is playing out for me once again >:D look at that beautiful murderous face!!!

From:

melita66

I had to go with the black widow employee. That outfit rocks.

The second outfit, the miniskirt and tiara, has something that I generally hate. The earrings and strap on her purse are gold-toned. The tiara's jewels are silver- toned. Aaaarrrgghhh!

Can people mix metals? Sure, but I don't think it works here.

From:

skygiants

It doesn't bother me so much because the gold matches with the yellow on her shirt, and the silver with the white, but that's absolutely a matter of taste -- I can totally see why it would bug you!

From:

osprey_archer

The black widow outfit was SO tempting, but in the end the revenge wedding outfit won out. Gorgeous AND masterfully strategic! The use of that opaque wedding veil to get close to the target, plus the DRAMA REVEAL when she throws it back. An assassination to remember.

From:

skygiants

It's just such a perfectly dramatic moment! Incredible stage direction, by Jang Man Wohl, for Jang Man Wohl.

From:

lannamichaels

The second one wins my vote for the pattern on the top and the gorgeous headband. HOWEVER the hat on special guest #1 very nearly stole my vote.

From:

skygiants

THE HEIGHT OF THAT VEIL. I have to assume she bought it 50 years ago and has been keeping it perfectly in a hatbox the entire time, waiting for the moment to arrive.

From:

lirazel

I'm sorry, I can't resist--I have to tell you that I think I've found the focus of your next "which outfit?" series...

From:

skygiants

oh DANG that is tempting ... I had a couple other options in consideration, but BOY.

From:

lirazel

I've only seen the first two episodes, but the character is totally worthy of that wardrobe. She's incredible!

From:

ranalore

Guest star 1's hat is OUTSTANDING, but that red wedding robe currently gets my vote for best outfit of the ENTIRE SERIES. Just GUH.

From:

skygiants

I've been waiting so long to post it, I'm SO EXCITED that its time has finally come!

From:

chestnut_pod

Has to be the SWORD, but I really want to register my opinion that the keyhole opening at the nape of the black widow dress absolutely succeeds in being the sexiest single element so far. There's just something about the tightly-controlled revelation of just a bit of skin in the most funereal, revenge-driven way possible that makes it *chefs kiss*. You go, Room Manager Choi.

From:

skygiants

It broke my heart not to vote for the red wedding, a look I've been in love with for like ten episodes now, but Room Manager Choi! She spent so long waiting for this moment and it's SO absolutely impeccable! I couldn't not show my respect.

From:

littlerhymes

Voted for the tiger print, not sorry about it!!!

From:

skygiants

I'm truly surprised it didn't make a stronger showing! The cravat!

From:

legionseagle

Me too! I mean, "I am going to wear a suit I think is preposterous as indeed will you because I think a good laugh may be instrumental in saving your immortal soul from utter annihilation" has got to give it points even without its own merits.

From:

aamcnamara

by comparison it's hard for me to get that excited about this perfectly nice robe-and-nightgown combo
The main thing going for this look IMO is the "Howl Jenkins going out without his hair done" vibe to her going to look for Koo Chan Sung at the tunnel (bridge? I am confused by the civil infrastructure of the afterlife).