A Korean Odyssey

화유기 ‧ Drama ‧ 2017 - 2018
Completed
Jucn
0 people found this review helpful
May 6, 2023
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 4.5
Rewatch Value 10

It is you have to fix my problems. To become friends

I love it was amazing you did so good thee acting was great i loved the story it was instring thank you for making this you are amazing❤❤❤😍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🥰🥰🥰👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😘😘🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍💔👍👍👍😍😍😍😍😍❤❤❤❤❤❤👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍❤❤❤❤❤😄😄😄😄😄😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😘😘😘

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Completed
euaerinnie
0 people found this review helpful
Jan 30, 2020
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I've seen some other reviewers have negative opinions on how long this drama is and my biggest pet peeve is a long, boring, drawn-out drama, so those reviews made me even more hesitant to watch this. But I remember feeling so excited when news of this drama being produced first aired so I decided to take the plunge and watch it, and I'm really glad I did. This isn't the best drama I've ever watched, it's not legendary or perfect or probably even one of my favorites but, it's super interesting, and every episode left me wanting more (yes all 20 episodes) even to the point where I desperately wanted another season, and I'm the type of person that likes their dramas short and sweet (8/10 episodes). The supernatural adventures and ghost hunting aspects + the side relationships where really what drove this story forward and made it so interesting. The main relationship between Lee Seunggi and Oh Yeonseo wasn't bad perse and I literally love both actors so much and think they can have insane chemistry with others (i.e. Seunggi and Suzy in Vagabond and Yeonseo & Lee Hanui in Comeback Ahjussi), it's a shame they just didn't seem to have that spark with each other. Their relationship was cute but I found the side relationships much, much more fascinating.

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Completed
hh95
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 23, 2020
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This is good drama and I would definitely recommend it to someone who enjoys fantasy and romance.

What I liked about the drama is the initial plot, it's super interesting and there are times where you don't always know where it's going. Personally though my favourite part were the characters. Son Oh Gong is not only hilarious but he really grows throughout the show. I thought that Jin Sun Mi was such a relatable character, she's been on her own for so long (and because of that she is able to deal with most of the problems by herself) that when Son Oh Gong comes she falls for him but also she's aware that she shouldn't feel that way. Overall the characters have such a fun relationship with each other and Son Oh Gong and Jin Sun Mi have great chemistry and are a super cute couple and I could not praise the actors enough especially Lee Seung Gi for there performance. Even the sound track is amazing.

However there are a couple things that I didn't like. I did think that the drama dragged in areas and could have been finished in 18 episodes instead of 20. this in turns makes me less likely to re-watch it. it also has (potential small spoiler) an open ending which I'm not a huge fan of. But other than that I find it hard to fault.

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Completed
JenaSmith
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 5, 2019
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers
I have to say this drama was one of those dramas that have an ending that you would have to use your imagination of what happens next. I loved all the actors and the humor was entertaining. However, the ending did break my heart. I wish they could've gotten married, but I'm just gonna have to believe he gets her out of the netherworld and they have a happy ending. Korean dramas with these types of genres really like to have an ending where you would have to use your imagination. First Memories of Alhambra now this, my poor heart.
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Completed
NAMEE
0 people found this review helpful
Jun 30, 2018
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
STORY: Well, I really love genre's such as fantasy, supernatural with romance in it and I did liked this drama and it was a good rendition of the Journey to the West. Well, the story was great from the beginning but honestly I hated the ending so much, it needs a season 2 or atleast a special episode to have answers to the question, I did not like that the ending was hanging!!!! I was crying T_T!
CAST: The cast was a plus to me because I love Lee Seung Gi ever since My girlfriend is a Gumiho and Gu Family Book and it was the first time for me to see this Oh Yeon Soo acting and she did really well and plus she's pretty too! The chemistry was great as well (you can see it in their kissing scene), also I liked the supporting characters especially Ma Wang, I think he was the one with the best character development in this show.
MUSIC: Well, I really love their songs and everytime I remember Hwayugi the songs keeps on replaying on my head over and over again, I even had all of the song on my phone! hahahha whenever I go on a trip it was one of my go to songs LOL!
REWATCH VALUE: Yeah, for me I would rewatch this just because I love the interaction of Ma Wang and Son Oh Gong!! HAHA (sometimes I even root for the BROMANCE rather than their leading ladies, HAHAHAHA - sorry I have this thing for yaoi lol even in Goblin too the bromance is strong on that one as well)
OVERALL: 9/10 - I was a bit conflicted on what overall score to give, I would have rated it higher had it had a better ending than that... it would have been lower if not for Ma Wang and Oh Gong LOL

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Completed
kkasiora
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 16, 2020
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.5

Proming plot, Great acting by Lee Seung-Gi with a few minor issues

This series falls into the well-known k-drama category of fantasy with elements of religious myths and tales, so if this is your thing you will probably quite enjoy the ride. Starring established actor Lee Seung Gi, it was actually the first work of his that I ever watched and his acting was a revelation for me, as well as, I feel like, one of the main selling points of the drama. The plotline starts off very promising and develops quite naturally as the episodes pass, keeping you invested and guessing 'till the very end, which is something I quite appreciate in dramas like this. The main romance doesn't feel forced and the relationships between the characters actually seem realistic, despite them actually belonging in a fantasy realm.
The only problem I had, really, with this drama is the length of it. I feel like 20 episodes is a lot, considering the story felt like it was dragging a little after the first half and featured a few unnecessary parts, in my opinion. Also, I have to say that the main actress, though quite looking the part, felt a bit stiff to me, especially when unavoidably comparing her acting to Lee Seung Gi's.
Overall, I quite liked the series, the production was very well done and the plot is worth a watch, though I wouldn't include it to my list of favourites ever.

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Completed
maizus
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 10, 2020
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 10
It was a torture to watch it when it was an On-Airing because every episdoe had something so special that made me want to watch more and more
I still remember when after 4 episodes they announced they will stop the production because someone in the staff members got injured...yo won't belive me but I got depressed to the point of not being able to sleep yeah truth
This drama gave me the same vibes like Goblin but in his way was still different
I really like to watch supernatural love stories and here they had all kind of powers...
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Completed
I am a Bread
0 people found this review helpful
Aug 21, 2020
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 5.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 2.0
This review may contain spoilers
What I liked:
•Son oh gong (the character), I really loved his character- strong, troublemaker, "I won't fear for anyone" attitude.
And Li seung gi portrayed that character really well.
•Bromance between Son Oh Gong and Ma Wang.

What I hated:
•Jin seon mi (the character):
She had seen ghosts her entire life so, She could have learned martial arts or other supernatural things to survive from them.
She had only dialogues in the entire drama. Always calling "Son oh gong" and demad him to protect her and also feeling guilt.
Dumb, Naive, innocent. Her character doesn't really suited this drama.
Either She shouldn't had to give guemggango or she should be acted tough without feeling guilty. It's for her survival so it's not selfish.
It can be better if her character was cold, arrogant and strong enough to protect herself.
•Soo many sub-plots:
They could have focused more on real villainess and the sub-plots could have just used to fill some remaining holes.
Half a drama focused only on killing ghosts, then after some episodes, Ah Sa Nyeo and Kang dae sung were introduced.
•The Ending:
Jin Seon Mi's death was totally a suicide. She either didn't kill the black dragon or did something useful. She rushed and get killed. Her death was useless.

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Completed
FlyAway8
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 15, 2021
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
The story is really good constructed. the two writers deserve a big applause. They are really impressive in how they have developed the story in a way that wants you to keep watch the episodes one after the other.

Watching the drama was an enjoyable journey. The various genres mixed in the drama gave a new way of thinking about various elements. It was scary right to the point, it was sweet right to the point, fantasy on the right amount. So there is no other thing to say. Everything was pleasant.

For the casting, in the beginning, I was afraid that the woman main lead was Oh Yeon Seo, but the story and her acting made me overcome my prejudice on her from other projects and programs. For Lee Seung Gi I had no suspicion on how he would be representing and delivering the character and story to the viewers. He confirmed one more time how capable he is.

I suggest to everyone that is interested in fantasy and horror dramas without forgetting romance on the way.

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Ongoing 17/20
MoAndra
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 24, 2018
17 of 20 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
I'd like to start this review by saying that I read most reviews about this show, and I don't understand why people say that the last 10 episodes were not even worth being watched. Actually, I disagree with that. I haven't finished the whole drama, I'm only at the 17th episode, but I really had to write this review (and I'm not the type to do that) in order to make people realize that this drama is amazing, and actually, AFTER the first ten episodes it gets way better. To be honest, I don't watch dramas that don't have a good first episode, and I gave this drama a chance, which I don't even regret. Give it a chance, guys. the soundtrack, acting, each and every person in the cast has it's own personality and features, which can either make you cry, or laugh like an idiot. The story is great, even though I honestly don't know S**T about chinese culture and all, which probably is the reason why I didn't like the first 10 episodes.
Go on and try it !

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Completed
kdmd
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 3, 2025
20 of 20 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

All It Needed Was Better Chemistry Between the Leads

I have updated my review after watching all 20 episodes. What I found out in the last three episodes is that there is nothing wrong with the acting of the two leads: they finally showed the palpable love and romance that I was waiting for. So it must have been the direction or script that didn't allow them to go to this place sooner. This is a serious flaw in the story. Often shows have the couple achieve "love" 50-60% of the way through a show, then there is a misunderstanding which is resolved in the end and "true love" prevails. This is so that viewers are not waiting past their patience tolerance for the romance. Because this romance was strung out so long, with a very, very slow burn in the first 60% of the show, it difficult, but ultimately satisfying.
==========================
I am enjoying this program. It is filled with great actors and it has a great storyline. The writers are top-notch. I see many parallels between this storyline and Alchemy of Souls, which blew most viewers away. Overall, it is entertaining and fun. As another reviewer mentioned, the costumer for the men went all out to have them looking AMAZING. The costumer for the women was asleep at the wheel. Even if the women were not as dramatic as the men, they still deserved more. After all, the female lead is rich and can wear almost anything she wants.

As so many reviewers have mentioned, the main problem with KO is that there is no spark between the leads and no emotional depth in their portrayal of their love. By the time the FL started to show a tiny bit of softness when she looked at the ML, it was so far into the show as to not matter. The FL has a tough job, to make an emotionally and socially isolated, lonely career woman come to life through love and her power over her situation. Unfortunately, I don't think she was able to meet the challenge here, for whatever reasons. I can speculate: maybe she was sick during filming; maybe she knew that there was no chemistry with the ML and gave up; maybe she didn't gel with the ML because in the first few episodes, he wasn't a jerk who can be redeemed through love, he was just a pure, remorseless bastard with no redeeming qualities. It is hard to start developing loving feelings for a man like that. Perhaps the ML is a method actor and put the FL so out of sorts that they couldn't develop the "secret spark" needed for such a romance. Who knows. It is easier to have a romance bloom when the woman is hard on the man, because men tend to like Alpha Dog women (no comments, please) versus having the man be hard on the woman. It happens, but the man has to be seen as having some charm somewhere. Unfortunately, here neither of the ML's nor FL's faces or voices came alive when they were together in most of this show. In the show "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" FL Seo Yea Ji was able to present a standoffish FL with deep emotional depths just under the surface, but here we couldn't really see it. As for the ML, he seems to act in more action comedies than romances; maybe romance just isn't his strong suit. I don't know, since I haven't seen him in anything else. Being a jerk-with-a-redeeming-side is hard to play, unless there are some scenes early on where the character can demonstrate those redeeming qualities/softness that will allow both the FL and the audience to fall for him.

It could have been the direction. When actors veer off the mark, the directors are supposed to save them and help them realize the characters appropriately. I don't see evidence that the FL and ML got that guidance. OR.... maybe this is supposed the be a reflection of the title "Korean Odyssey." Maybe the script writers are conveying that Korean couples, for most of history, have been thrown together by circumstance just to survive, and are more similar to those in arranged marriages than are couples who are truly "lovey dovey." I do see many exemplars in dramas of loving Korean couples crabbing and yelling at each other and showing no or minimal traces of warmth or affection. Maybe, this is what they were aiming for?

And, the story does let the couple down in that there is no real reason for them to fall for each other. She is falling for the first person/monster to be "nice" to her (the ML), and he is falling for her "beauty" only because he is magic-ed into it (No other positive traits are mentioned about her, so I guess that is an FL's only requirement, to be beautiful.). The script doesn't really have them working together, learning together, appreciating each other's good qualities, and so forth. Even when the ML is saving the FL, it is supposedly because he has to. Somewhere along the line we ideally see on what basis he is truly falling for her. Usually, when we have a couple who are not sure if the other loves them, we, the viewers know that they do. Here, we really don't and are left as uncomfortable as the ML and FL are; it is not the "good" edge-of-your seat feeling a viewer should have.

Even so, with the other characters bringing the "heart" (shout out to Lee Hong Ki, Lee Se Young, and Cha Seung Won) it is pretty darned good.

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Dropped 15/20
iyauhc
0 people found this review helpful
Nov 26, 2018
15 of 20 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 6.5
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 5.0
The story seemed interesting and I really loved the acting of most of the characters, with the exception of the main female lead. Felt like the show became boring after the first half and that coupled with how uninteresting the female lead was made me lose interest in the show.

Overall, the side characters were really amusing and they brought light into a show that would have been otherwise boring.



((They say i need 500 words so here I am trying to lengthen this why does it feel like those word limits for school essays))
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A Korean Odyssey poster

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  • Score: 8.2 (scored by 52,473 users)
  • Ranked: #1480
  • Popularity: #77
  • Watchers: 111,355

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