Jumong

Too long

I’ve long admired Korean scriptwriters for their ability to weave intelligent and compelling stories and for a drama of this magnitude to have such minimal fillers is truly a feat. However, as much as I liked the story, it was let down by wooden acting from both lead actors, especially the female lead who, to me, had a limited range of expressions. She pursed her lips in all situations and I could never tell whether she was happy, sad or angry because her expressions were the same.

Another issue that dropped the ratings is the obvious low budget set and costume, in addition, the cinematography shows its age.

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Wow, I did it! I completed all 81 episodes. A daunting task initially but the time really flies by once you begin it. Now other sageuks lengths - 40-50 episode spans - will seem easier. And I suggest that people do the same. Apply it to family dramas as well. Jump right into the deep end if you have apprehensive thoughts about long dramas. It’ll make everything else seem easier. Of course, they will have to be great shows with fantastic, strong storytelling and characterization which Jumong excels at.

I’m not entirely sure when the episode count was extended but the pacing was quicker as a result. Being initially a 60 episode Sageuk, the typical first arc where they lay the foundation of our main character’s beginnings - which in this case was the story of Hae Mo-su (Heo Joon-ho) and his demise - is done in a shorter manner than an 81 episode Sageuk would’ve devoted to it. There were other examples of that shown throughout Jumong. There was something always happening throughout the episodes. There weren’t many “filler” episodes or ones that didn’t move the plot forward in a progressive way. That ultimately made the show more watchable and enjoyable.
The characters and character development is the strongest part of Jumong. There were plenty of rich, deep characters with plenty of history to work with and explore. Jumong is based slightly on the tales of myths and true reality but it blends it well together to portray a historically accurate show while retaining the mythos of some of the characters, such as the Jumong himself (Song Il-gook).

Let’s start with Jumong. The show first shows him as a bitter disappointment compared to his true Father. Jumong starts to harass a Palace Maid, Bu-young, who is very keen to get away from the situation - presenting himself as a bit of a creep. However, after going through several trials of self-discovery, including finding out his ancestry and meeting the right people to guide him along the way, he forms himself into being a true warrior, an almost deity-like figure who leads his people to constant victory. And because of the myth around him, he is presented with little weaknesses for most of the show. This may stun a few people because often vulnerability is the biggest cause for sympathy by viewers but they opt for the opposite instead. I enjoyed the fresh coat of storytelling, honestly. He had strong bonds with several characters including Hae Mo-su, So Seo-no (Han Hye-jin) and King Geum-wa (Jun Kwang-ryul). All of these relationships are very well developed and represent pivotal character moments for the Jumong character. However, there is one relationship that somewhat failed to be represented, and it’s the one with his first wife, Lady Ye So-ya (Song Ji-hyo). Their relationship was supposed to mirror the relationship between Lady Yuh-wa (Oh Yeon-soo) - their initial meeting was the exact same - but everything after seemed to be very hollow. The writing preferred to use it more as a purpose to keep Jumong and So Seo-no apart due to the historical factor and there wasn’t much else afterwards since they were rarely seen together afterwards. And this made the final arc of Jumong not as effective as a result. A stronger foundation would’ve made the conclusion that much more compelling. Not that I didn’t care or hated it. It was a clear inferior aspect of the show, to me.

On to the second big character arc, I wish to explore - King Geum-wa. The King went through very stages of himself. Introduced as a brave prince, friends with Hae Mo-su, then becoming a strong King that was wise before losing himself to hypocrisy, power and jealousy when he essentially showed his true feelings towards his step-child and his old friend’s cause. He was sympathetic and hateful. The story allowed me, as a viewer, to root for him to re-take power away from the Crown Prince Dae-so (Kim Seung-soo), while being frustrated at his downward spiral of emotions towards Jumong and his Mother. I didn’t expect the character progression to go the way it did but it was one of the most compelling stories of Jumong.

And it would be unfair of me to end this review without discussing the main antagonist, Dae-so. He is surprisingly nicer than history would suggest but his role as the unloved older brother made his actions predictable. He would challenge Jumong every step of the way, trying to kill him before he could pose a threat and then become obsessed with beating him in battle throughout. The development of Dae-so isn’t as complex as the first two, but the strong sense of emotion boils through. His turmoil with the power struggle against the King and flirting with becoming a tyrant before finally maturing into a more sensible, prideful King, as his Father had always wished for him to be, was a subtle development that may go under the viewer's eyes. However, I thought it was a good choice for the character.

One of the main themes of Jumong was the sense of going full circle and mirroring each other. I mentioned earlier in the review about one thing mirroring each other but the three prince relationship of Jumong, Dae-so and Young-po (Won Ki-joon) comes back again with the Princes of Goguryeo. Plus on a minor note, the friends of Prince Yuri reminded me of Oh-i (Yeo Ho-min), Ma-ri (Ahn Jeong-hoon) and Hyeop-bo (Im Dae-ho). Perhaps I’m just projecting but that was my first thought.

This is a long review for a long show and I’ve still not really covered the tragic tale of Lady Yuh-wa or the loveable yet detestable Young-po (and how even he grows and matures) and I only really covered the scale of the romance between Jumong and So Seo-no - which covers a lot of the first half of the show - as well as the other supporting characters that we are introduced to.

But that is Jumong. If you like sageuks with strong characters, a lot of battles and politics, that surprisingly wasn’t the usual drab that the sageuks that cover the Joseon era dramas, and a bit of romance. This does that. Fantastical elements are prevalent but not overwhelming as this is down to earth. The acting was key as was the writing. I find it hard to pick at its weaknesses. Watch it.

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Best historical Kdrama ever made. Absolutely amazing!

An epic story with great cast, music and cinematography…never get tired rewatching this drama. This is definitely in my top 5 historical dramas! This K-dramas is the kind you never get tired of watching more than once or 5 times.

The whole drama never veered from the storyline, nor did the actors! This drama series' portrayal never let my desire to watch down. . Every episode was a visual & emotional feast, a true enjoyment!

An excellent historical drama that emotionally tugs at your heart while sprinkling it with a bit of humor here and there. K-dramas are no longer made this way and it's too bad because now we have to resort to watching the older ones such as Jumong! Love the main cast!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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The Greatest Historical Korean Drama Ever

I am convinced that Jumong is the best and the greatest Korean Historical drama ever. The story is so tighly knit and well written script from beginning until the end. Every episode is exciting and excites the viewer to find more for the next episodes.
Song Il Gook was deserving of the Best Actor award as King Jumong. He was superb actor from beginning until the end; from being a young prince, general and later emperor he was perfect for the role. The entire cast is also excellent such as those who played King Geumwa, Prince Daeso, Queen Soseono, Prime Minister Budebul, etc. are all did great.
The battle scenes were greatly executed. The music was so touching and beautiful too. The setting and the costume are well researched and done.
I have watched this drama so many times and each watch is so satisfying.
I highly recommend it.

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The best historical drama from an entertainment standpoint

The best historical drama from an entertainment standpoint may not be entirely historically accurate, but let's not dwell on that. This epic drama is filled with action, romance, and the story of the rise of an empire. Despite being a lengthy Korean drama, Jumong kept me engaged throughout. The characters were given ample time to develop, making their eventual success all the more satisfying. Unlike most Korean dramas, Jumong strikes a good balance between romance and plot development, avoiding excessive emotional drama. Overall, Jumong ranks among the top ten Korean dramas of all time.

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عزیزم من اینجام

زهرااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااا

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This movie drew me into the South Korean world

This movie drew me into the South Korean world
It was my first Korean drama, since then I've been intrigued by the Korean people and their way of life, Korea is truly full of talents, I wish to learn the life and culture of the Koreans and hopefully I also hope to visit South Korea one day,
Jumong, Boys before flowers, bridal mask, personal taste, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, I'm not a robot, Emperor owner of the mask, Backstreet Rookie, I think I've lost count ☺️but my love for Korean Entertainment especially Drama and movies will never fade, keep it with love from Nigeria 💕💕💕

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A Lenda de um Rei e o Nascimento de uma Nação

Jumong é um épico histórico que narra a vida de Jumong, o fundador do Reino de Goguryeo, um dos três antigos reinos da Coreia. A série segue Jumong desde sua juventude até se tornar o grande herói que unificaria tribos e estabeleceria um dos maiores reinos da história coreana. No caminho, ele enfrenta inúmeras batalhas, intrigas políticas e desafios pessoais, incluindo o amor por duas mulheres que moldam seu destino.

Jumong é aclamado por sua produção grandiosa e pela forma como traz à vida uma parte importante da história coreana. As cenas de batalha e os conflitos políticos são intensos e envolventes, enquanto o desenvolvimento dos personagens é profundo e emocional. A atuação de Song Il-gook no papel principal é particularmente elogiada por dar vida à complexidade e à determinação de Jumong.

Para os amantes de dramas históricos, Jumong é uma verdadeira joia, oferecendo uma narrativa épica cheia de ação, romance e intrigas, além de ser uma aula sobre a rica história da Coreia.

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