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The highly anticipated Korean War Drama, The Battleship Island, has recently released a teaser trailer and it looks amazing! Though I admit I’ll watch just about anything with So Ji-sub (The Master’s Sun) in it. Still, if you love epic historical dramas like Ben-Hur and international films, then this looks like a must-see. With a fantastic cast (also note popular K-Drama actor Song Joong-ki), a talented director, and an emotional story, here’s to hoping the film is as great as it looks.

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Highlighted Cast & Crew of The Battleship Island

(From Official Press Release)

Director

Ryoo Seung-wan (Veteran, The Berlin File, The Unjust, The City of Violence)

Cast

Hwang Jung-min (Asura: The City of Madness, The Wailing, The Himalayas, Veteran, Ode to My Father)

So Ji-sub (Always, Sophie’s Revenge)

Song Joong-ki (Descendants of the Sun, A Werewolf Boy)

Lee Jung-hyun (Alice in Earnestland, Roaring Currents)

Official Synopsis

Under the colonial rule of Japan, 400 or so Koreans who are conscripted into slave labor on ‘The Battleship Island’, attempt to escape for life.

1944, during the Japanese occupation of Korea, conscripted civilians head out to the Hashima island. Nicknamed ‘The Battleship Island’ after its resemblance to a war vessel, some are lured by false promises of high wages. LEE, a bandmaster of a jazz bigband and his only daughter, CHOI, a thug, and Mallyeon are among the workers. But upon arrival, they found that the island turns out to be an isolated hell where the workers are forced into slave labor.

As the Pacific War nears its end, PARK, a Korean independence activist assigned on a mission to rescue a Korea’s spiritual leader from the island. As the U.S. launches massive counterattack on Japan, the Japanese decided to blow up the island in order to bury the truth about their awful treatment of the Korean slave labors. PARK discovers the plan, and conspires with LEE and others for mass escape of all 400 Koreans.

The Battleship Island debuts in the U.S. and Canada on August 4, 2017.

Are you excited to see The Battleship Island? What do you think of the trailer? Let me know in the comments!

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THE SHOW: The Killing

THE PAIRING: Linden and Holder

THE EPISODE: “Reckoning” (aired July 21, 2013)

THE MOMENT: Holder tries to kiss Linden during an emotional breakdown.

Smoking cigarettes haven’t been this romantic since Old Hollywood.

“Shall we just have a cigarette on it?” Paul Henreid asks Bette Davis following a heartbreaking moment between their two characters in Now, Voyager.

“Yes,” she replies almost happy. Davis then hands Henreid her cigarette box, he lights up two cigarettes in his mouth and shares one with her in an iconic moment of tragic love.

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Cigarettes were used as a symbol for sex in classic films such as Now, Voyager because the Hollywood Production Code (strict moral guidelines) was in full effect, making subtext the go-to way of revealing sexual emotions and experiences rather than the explicit content we see today.

…it’s surprising when a TV Show about murders and killing has a quiet moment using cigarettes to express the emotions of the characters.

So, it’s surprising when a TV Show about murders and killing has a quiet moment using cigarettes to express the emotions of the characters.

Earlier in The Killing’s episode, “Reckoning,” Holder and Linden converse about cigarettes, foreshadowing what happens next in our first romantic moment of the week.

The Lead-In

the killing season 3 publicity photo — Credit: AMC/Fox Television Studios

While walking into a suspect’s storage unit to investigate, Linden and Holder joke about cigarettes. “Give me a smoke,” Linden demands light-heartedly.

But Holder isn’t having it and teasingly replies, “No.” His reasoning? “All I’m saying is, you know you buy a pack or two, reciprocate the love every now and then and we’re back to being BFF’s again.”

Reciprocation and love are the two keywords here. Is the writer hinting that Holder has unrequited feelings for Linden? The romance between the two partners isn’t something I considered in past seasons.

In hindsight, however, the underlying romance is there. But it’s only been the last few episodes I noticed. Holder’s behavior, his stares, little one-liners, his reaction to Linden’s kidnapping, not to mention his obviously failing relationship with his girlfriend, all point to romantic love, at least on his part. Linden, on the other hand, remains oblivious.

As the episode progresses, Holder stumbles across devastating news: the street kid, Bullet he befriended, was murdered. In a self-destructive guilt game, he turns to Linden for relief. Is he only seeking comfort? Or is it a weak, emotional moment revealing his true feelings?

Romantic Moment – Linden and Holder

The scene begins with Linden entering his apartment. Holder sits on the couch, smoking in the dark. After Linden sits next to him, a quiet intensity permeates the scene.

After a few long, tense moments Holder passes the cigarette pack over to Linden and she lights a cigarette. Again, it’s Holder who provides the cigarette. Not Linden. Foreshadowing that whatever’s about to happen between the two of them isn’t going to go anywhere because Linden isn’t “reciprocating the love.”

They continue with small talk, all leading to Linden comforting Holder because he blames himself for Bullet’s death.

“You want to sit here and die? It’s not your fault…it’s not your fault.” She moves closer and closer to him, insisting he hears her.

In return, he stares into her face with longing. At that moment, it was the first time I believed the writers might actually take their subtle romance further.

I know I wasn’t the only one asking, “Are they going to kiss?”

It’s difficult not to feel the synergy on screen here as it oozes from every corner. After a long stare, Holder makes his move. He leans in to kiss Linden in what is arguably the most surprising moment of the season.

Romantic Moment of the Week: Linden and Holder Have an Old Hollywood Moment — Photo: AMC

But do they kiss? No. She turns him down and then pats him awkwardly on the knee, reassuring him that it doesn’t matter. His humiliation then combines into heartbreak over Bullet. He breaks into sobs in a moment both heart-rending and embarrassing to watch.

For now, the ambiguity of their relationship continues to leave the romance angle up for speculation. If you want something there, Holder’s intense stares and line delivery steeped in unrequited subtext give enough for the shippers to hold onto.

And if you want them to remain only BFFs and partners, their relationship is so debatable one can choose to see any possible romantic moment as “seeking comfort” or “joking around,” and they can sleep just fine.

That said, if we see Linden buying Holder a pack of cigarettes by season’s end, well…we’ll know what that means. But perhaps Holder’s line when he sees Linden picking up an old, used cigarette reveals more of what will happen in their developing relationship next:

“Seriously Linden I was just playing with you back there. If you need a fix that bad…”

Take that for what you will. Don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars….

What did you think of this moment between Linden and Holder? Sound off below…

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