A Masterpiece
This is the reason why the drama industry exists. A rich cultural history brought to life through superb script, excellent direction, and top-notch performances. It drew the flow of Korea's political blueprint stemming from the roots in Confucianism, the abundance of substance in this drama will leave you with excitement and stimulate your intellectual curiosity. It depicts the best and the worst of humanity. Different ideologies are presented, filled with realistic perspectives that put strains on personal interests and rise of heroes. Don't miss a single second. Have your breath taken on every episode. Get inspired with art and history.Was this review helpful to you?
Comment for Six Flying Dragons
Six Flying Dragons could have become one of the most profound artistic works in Korean television — if only the writers had the courage to follow the path they themselves had opened.
At its core, this drama is not just about the founding of a nation, but about the loss of one’s soul in the process of believing in that nation’s creation. The best example of this is found in Lee Bang-ji and Mu-hyul — two men who once shared the same ideal, yet came to embody its opposite meanings.
In their sword-fighting scene, the drama falters: Lee Bang-ji, filled with sorrow, refuses to harm Mu-hyul because he understands that doing so would wound the innocence and purity they once shared. Mu-hyul, blinded by loyalty to his king, fights to win — unknowingly wounding himself instead.
The outstanding performances by Byun Yo-han, Yoo Ah-in, Yoon Kyun-sang, and others elevate the entire work beyond its commercial frame — their silences, grief, and dignity give the story its moral weight.
Had the writers allowed Mu-hyul to leave in silence after the fratricide, instead of remaining loyal to Yi Bang-won, the series could have reached the depth of true tragedy. For real tragedy is not in blood, but in the moment when a man recognizes evil yet stays — because he no longer knows who he is if he walks away.
Six Flying Dragons is therefore powerful, yet painfully incomplete. It shows how close Korea came to creating a work of world-class moral art — and how little it takes for greatness to be lost when courage is replaced by compromise.
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My God, Does Yoo Ah In Overact Sometimes
Hello to all the good, lucky people who know this drama exists, for it is brilliant and exciting and I love it!But my god, does Yoo Ah In overact sometimes. He's great, don't get me wrong, and he's great to listen to and to look at, but I wish he'd tone it down a few notches sometimes.
Moo Hyul's my favourite, the OST is wonderful - I actually listen to some parts of it on Spotify - and the story is great, and uplifting and sad in parts and moving and funny.
But my god, does Yoo Ah In overact sometimes.
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When Comrades Become Enemies
The historical drama Six Flying Dragons tells the gripping story of the collapse of the Goryeo dynasty and the turbulent birth of the Joseon dynasty. Although this drama is nearly a decade old, truly great storytelling never ages. If you enjoy historical Korean epics filled with political intrigue, strategy, and breathtaking sword fights, this is an absolute must-watch.The story opens with the decaying final years of the Goryeo court, where the ruling elites have long forgotten the people they are meant to serve. The royal court has become a den of corruption. Greedy nobles compete ruthlessly for power, filling their coffers while crushing the peasants with unbearable taxes. Ordinary people are treated as little more than disposable tools in a brutal political game.
Out of this chaos emerges a group of passionate young visionaries determined to tear down the rotten system and rebuild a new nation. Led by the brilliant strategist Jeong Do-jeon (Sambong), they dream of a radically different society. Their bold plan includes land reform, returning land to the peasants and dismantling the entrenched privileges of the aristocracy.
Yet revolution is never simple.
Even those who recognise the corruption of Goryeo hesitate to support the overthrow of the dynasty. Many loyal scholars and ministers, deeply rooted in Confucian ideals, believe reform should happen within the existing system, not through rebellion. Their vision is not a new dynasty, but a renewed Goryeo.
Adding another layer of mystery is the shadowy Nameless organisation. Operating silently in the background, this secret network of spies and elite fighters monitors every move of the major political players. Kings rise and fall like puppets on strings as this unseen force manipulates events from the shadows. The question constantly lingers: who truly holds the power?
What follows is a high-stakes battle of intelligence, loyalty, and survival. Assassinations, political smears, and ruthless power plays become everyday tools in the struggle for dominance. Weak kings are replaced with puppet rulers. Alliances shift overnight. Exceptional warriors emerge from unexpected places, and the action sequences are electrifying.
Yi Seong Gye (the First king of Joseon) himself is portrayed as a deeply conflicted ruler. He hesitates constantly, worried about how history and the people will judge him for betraying the Goryeo dynasty. His indecision nearly derails the revolution more than once.
History tells us that Goryeo eventually falls. But the birth of Joseon does not immediately bring the peace many hoped for. Instead, the new dynasty quickly fractures into three powerful factions.
The Nameless organisation fights fiercely against the proposed land reforms. Sambong pushes forward with his vision of a powerful bureaucratic state led by scholars rather than royalty. Meanwhile, the ambitious prince Yi Bang-won, fifth son of the new king Yi Seong-gye, believes the royal family must retain strong authority.
Once comrades who fought shoulder-to-shoulder for a shared dream now become bitter rivals. In this dangerous world, one person's survival often means another's death.
After the revolution, the new court reveals another uncomfortable truth: power still breeds politics. Important positions are distributed not by merit, but by political allegiance. Despite his immense contributions, Yi Bang Won is quickly sidelined. But he is not a man who accepts being pushed aside quietly.
This drama fascinates me because its themes feel strikingly modern. The corruption in the Goryeo court mirrors the dysfunction we sometimes see in modern parliaments and congresses. Even in workplace politics, the same patterns appear: once success is achieved, everyone scrambles for recognition and influence.
When the common enemy disappears, personal ambition takes centre stage.
Sambong's dream of conquering Liaodong reflects the dangerous pull of personal vision overriding practical reality. Yi Bang Won's anger at seeing his teenage brother elevated ahead of him reflects both wounded pride and the brutal nature of power.
But what truly stayed with me is the tragic fate of many brilliant and capable characters. Many of them die not because they are evil, but simply because they stood on the wrong side of history or became casualties of the power struggle.
The drama is powerful on the emotional front. Beyond the thrill of revolution and the clash of ideals, it captures the quiet emptiness that follows victory. When the battles are over and the dream has finally been realised, what remains is not triumph alone, but a profound sense of loss.
The excitement of the struggle fades, leaving behind loneliness, grief, and the haunting memories of loved ones lost along the way. Bonds that were once forged in loyalty and shared ideals slowly dissolve, and the comrades who once fought side by side are gone — some fallen, others turned into enemies.
In the end, the drama reminds us that even when the goal is achieved, the price of victory can be heartbreakingly high.
Of course, I could also nitpick a few trivial moments. One scene shows the warrior Moo Hyul falling off a cliff with Cheok Sa Gwang, landing on rocks and then recovering almost immediately. Perhaps a grassy hillside would have made that moment more believable.
Before ending this review, I must mention something rare in Korean dramas: the beautifully composed theme music. The soundtrack carries a powerful traditional Korean tone that perfectly complements the historical atmosphere of the story.
And finally, the drama does not disappoint visually either. The lead actresses and the charismatic fighter Ddang Sae certainly add their own charm to the screen.
In short, Six Flying Dragons is an epic tale of revolution, ideology, ambition, and betrayal. It reminds us that the fall of one system and the birth of another rarely bring immediate justice. Instead, it simply opens the door to a new struggle for power.
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Simply the greatest TV series
Arguably one of the best K Dramas ever made, probably one of the best Action dramas ever made and one of the best historical political series. The action scenes are so well choreographed as if an Olympic-level fencer did it, the chess games in politics, and betrayals are unmatched. The sword fight between Gil Tae Mi and Lee Bang Ji is probably the greatest sword fight in TV history.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An epic historical drama based on real history...
As a lover of gritty saguk dramas, this fully lived up to my expectations and even exceeded them. This drama was a very intelligent blend of real historical events/characters and fictional ones. The real life characters bring the reality to the drama and the fictional ones breath life and excitement into it.The acting in this drama is on another level, it's brilliant. The actors I enjoyed in particular were Yoo Ah In who played every aspect of Bang won's adult life superbly and Park Hyuk Kwon who played two separate characters but pulled off both of their distinct personalities.
The ost for this drama is breath-taking, the songs match the melancholy atmosphere of the entire drama and lift the already dramatic or emotional scenes to new heights.
One thing that needs to be mentioned is the sword fight scenes, out of all of the k drama's I've seen, this one has by far the best choreographed sword fights! Really, the only downside of this drama is that it can be quite confusing at times, mainly because of the overwhelming number of characters. Nevertheless, it's worth getting invested in. Since it's a 50 episode drama there's so much more I could say but really you should just give it a watch and see if it is your thing! I will say though, don't expect a light, happy, romantic drama because it's very far from that...
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MASTERPIECE
I just wanna to say a big thank you to the people involved in the production of this series and of course the casts, this is AMAZING. Love the character development. The end of every episode just blows your mind and you just want to watch another episode to know what is going to happen. Lucky for me, all the episodes are released so I can binge in one setting! The death of each prominent characters (I shall not name who and you should watch to find out) brought tears to my eyes. I broke down even more during the last few episodes especially the hugging scene in EP50.. Things have to be sacrificed for the bigger picture, this is true indeed. Lee Bang Won just had to endure it and suffer alone..... :''')Was this review helpful to you?
Times flies like dragons, but don't change.
Finally finished it!I'm a massive fan of "Queen Seondeok", and that's the main reason I watched watched multiple dramas from this writer duo. I have to say: So far, it's 3 out of 3. All three historical dramas they created were entertaining even if there were flaws with the story.
Overall they they didn't disappoint me. I gave it a 7/10 because let's face it, a long drama can't be perfect, it was dragged and but most importantly it was a bit repetitve, so just like with Seondeok, I can't give this a 10/10, but the acting, the directing, the score are top-tier and it has to be in my fave list.
I really don't want to go into details, because it's 50 episodes, and there's a LOT to talk about, but the MAIN STORY, the MAIN MESSAGE is the most important reason everyone should watch this.
You can take sides and even empathize with some of the "villains." or opposition, whatever we should call them, because ultimately every main character just wanted to build a better world. It's just a matter of which one harmed more people.
Just like Ddang Sae said:
"Don't look at the trees, look at the forest? You have no concern for the wild flowers that get crushed and die in the process."
Also, Gil Tae Mi:
"Since the beginning of time the weak have always been trampled on by the powerful. 1000 years ago and even 1000 years from now the weak will be stolen from by the powerful."
So, it doesn't matter how much good you want in the world, you're gonna hurt people in the process, and sadly Do Jeon was a really naive character and Bang Won was too agressive.
Imagine if they combined their power, they could've changed the world... or not, because even you can achieve peace and everyone can have a good life, it won't take long.
This is the ultimate message of the show in my opinion.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is a very thrilling kdrama for me. The action scenes are very intense, especially the sword fights among swordsmen. The part that really hooked me was the part where they were invited to a banquet not knowing that they will be attacked - that was so intense ???It's very educational. I have learned a lot about their history, and I was motivated to learn more ??
Every actors suits the character they're playing. I was really entertained.
Yoon Kyun Sang is actually the reason why I watch this drama, and I never regretted it. He is really amazing and his acting is really entertaining. I loved every scene that he's in.??? His scene when he wanted to challenge the best swordsman but failed really made me laugh.
Byun Yo-han is so appealing in his character. He's quite uncanny though -- a swordsman that looks so kind and gentle.?
This drama, however, is quite brutal for me. I don't know how to explain it, but I find it strange to see dead children and a kid being slash with a sword ?
This is a worth watching kdrama ??
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The only thing I didn't like was Lee Sung Kyung's poor acting which ruined everything that had to do with Boon Yi for me. Lee Sung Kyung does not know how to use her eyebrows or her mouth to express her emotions and it is truly a shame. I don't know if she's improved later in her career but her acting in this drama wasn't it. I did not like Boon Yi's pairing with Bang Won as there was no chemistry there at all, but I'm still glad that romance was never the center of the drama.
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Six flailing crooks!
I hate how this was a prequel to "Tree With Deep Roots", I already hated what they did with the roots plot in that one. This one simply followed its predecessor in that regard, just an extension of the same aggravating plot device structure but this time it's double the length!! Doubling down on Tree With Deep Roots' biggest weakness without fixing its fundamental problem. I would presume they have gotten enough feedback from "Tree With Deep Roots" to do a better job but it doesn't seem to be the case here. There were some interesting moments, interactions and ideas but these were overshadowed by everything else. The cast was an even split for me, some of them were likable while the rest I really disliked throughout. Shin Sae Kyeong was a literal plank of wood for most of the drama. Anyway, if I had to really pretend to be blind for 2 seconds then the drama had some nice action sprinkled scarcely and that's probably what I would be remembering it for. In comparison, it's slightly better than "Tree With Deep Roots" but can be categorized equally the same.Was this review helpful to you?
