One of a kind masterpiece
This is a tale of a love so deep it transcends time. I cried, I laughed, I had my heart broken over and over again to finally having the pieces put back together In a painstakingly way.If you are wanting to watch one of the most epic love stories that will speak to your soul for forever time, then this is a must watch.
The ONLY reason I can’t give this a full 10 is because there were so many times I was SO frustrated with the FL pushing him away and not realizing how he felt. They could have saved themselves a lot of turmoil. But then again we wouldn’t have had the most beautiful 20 episodes.
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i need a cigarette
every tongue that rises against yu gil chae shall fall.no, but in all seriousness, this was one of the best historical k-dramas i have ever watched, i love how saeguks are making a comeback! the first half of the show was cinematic and excellent in every way, but falls apart a bit in the second half plot-wise.
i felt so emotionally drained by the end that i couldn't even enjoy GC and JH's (umpteenth) reunion. i also felt very confused about how some things were left off (i.e. who put RE in the asylum, who succeeded the king, the resolution between eun ae and yeon jun).
i would rate it like this: the first half was 9/10, but the second half was a 5.5/10 for me. a strong start with a mediocre, albeit happy, finish.
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Maybe the best Kdrama of all times.
Ok, I have watched many K-dramas so far—many stories, many romances, many dramas.I have to say that this might be the best K-drama ever. Everything is in the title: "My Dearest"… The romance is "romancing" and It is not the childish romance you often encounter; it is a mature, healthy romance— it is ride or die.
You get attached to all the characters, even those you’re supposed to hate. You feel the pain, the struggle, the love, the hate… Everything is so well written that it’s scary. One episode, I’m laughing; the next minute, I’m crying.
I don’t know why, but this K-drama reminds me so much of Alchemy of Souls. The same loneliness after finishing it… It was hard to go through all the episodes because I knew I would suffer.
If you’re hesitating, don’t. It is worth watching.
One thing I learned is that true love can never fade, even in the face of all the hardships in the world.
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This review may contain spoilers
Blooming Flowers at War
This show is a stunning cinematographic experience with amazing soundtrack and acting. The start is slow but the show rewards the viewer later with its killer plot - tension, betrayal and desperation. It is a story of one man that risks it all for the woman he loves and holds on to his values no matter the consequences.In all honesty, this is a frustratingly interesting story. It somehow keeps you watching long after you've given up on the characters. I did struggle with our main leads at times, but I have to say that it was a brilliant move to not make them perfect. The viewer gets to see them actually evolve and find what holds them together in a world divided by war and violence.
The actors did a wonderful job portraying such complex characters. Yoo Gil Chae was the epitome of a naive and entitled girl who had not yet seen life outside of her village. Only when Gil Chae meets a worldly man and has to fight to survive, does she finally start to face some hard truths and truly grow. The journey was long and painful, but she saved so many people on the way that I felt like she redeemed herself.
I was quite literally glued to my screen every time our main man, Lee Jang Hyun, had something to say. It felt like a message of utmost importance was being delivered as he masterfully built that tension through powerful body language and enunciation. I haven't seen such a talented actor in a long time. He was unrivaled, raw charisma.
This is no casual drama experience. It requires determination and willingness to power through some mind-blowingly maddening moments. However, Part 2 serves us even more madness, so this is just the appetizer. Enjoy!
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Super
My Dearest stands out for its ability to blend a great love story with a violent, cruel and deeply human historical context. The character ofJang-hyun is too charming, cultured, ironic. The evolution of the character Yoo Gil-chae, from a vain flirtatious woman, who I didn't like at all, is surprising.
The historical context is not a simple background, but an active protagonist.
The direction is elegant and refined, with photography that enhances the natural landscapes, traditional costumes and the emotion of key moments. The soundtrack, melancholic and sweet.
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Riveting, Cinematically Beautiful, Marred by Weak Ending
This was supposed to be a romance drama but instead of focusing more on the couple and the people and circumstances surrounding them, so much graphic violence was depicted that it took away the essence of the drama as a romance so that I could not enjoy the beautiful love story of Jang Hyeon and Gil Chae. Yes, it was a turbulent time for the Joseon people and they suffered greatly and I get that they were subjected to horrific ordeals but repetitive scenes of violence were not necessary. The viewers get it after one or two of them.Sadly, in my own personal opinion (please don't go after me on this), there was no chemistry between Namkong Min and Ahn Eun Jin. AEJ is a beautiful actress and did a good job in portraying GC but she's far too young looking for this role. I get it she's 34 years old but she looked like a 15 year old teen-ager still with traces of baby fat on her cheeks. When NM embraced her, it was like he's embracing his baby sister and I cringed on the kissing scenes. They felt to me, more like well executed choreography and did not stir my emotions. It was critical that production chose the leads with explosive chemistry since this was a romance story. For example, the likes of the recent drama Tempest where the chemistry between Jun Ji Hyun and Kang Dong Won was over the top hot that made viewers swoon including me who watched the episodes repeatedly. That kind of chemistry is the most important ingredient in order for this drama to be one of the best historical dramas of all time.
There were pieces of the story that was lacking like why the King hated the Prince. Was it really the concubine who influenced and poisoned the king's mind against his son or the king was actually crazy with paranoid delusions of his son taking over the throne? The amnesia angle was acceptable at first, the the second was just ridiculous. I would have appreciated an ending of a JH and GC after she finds him, critically injured, being cared for by the old man who hid him to protect JH from being killed, their life together as husband and wife to give the viewers a really satisfying ending and also details of what happened to the people around them, their lives in the aftermath of all the turmoil that surrounded and affected them. Instead, we got the bland embrace on the beach scene that had been done over a million times in other dramas. And finally, I also wanted to see the corrupt officials, the concubine and all the evil characters involved in committing crimes against the people given their just desserts.
Namkong Min's acting was like watching a beautiful painting. He's one of those rare actors whose facial expressions convey what his character was feeling at that particular moment. I love his smirk when he is confronted by characters like the idealistic, clueless and cowardly Nam Yeon Jun . His movements were minimalist and yet they were very impactful in portraying the man as a silent hero who protects the weak without so much as a fanfare. It's no surprise that he took home the Daesang Grand Prize at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards 2024.
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This review may contain spoilers
The yearning. The longing. The angst.
Someone should have given me a warning before I started this drama. OH LORD. This drama absolutely tore me apart.Both leads — OMG — they each have their own charm.
Let’s start with the male lead, Jang Hyun.
BOY. I tell you. He is the ultimate walking red-and-green flag combo 😭💔
Green flag: He’s humble, never flashy. He would literally go to war just to save her. The way he talks??? The words he says??? I FOLDED AHAHAHA 💀
He even bought her SO MANY pairs of the flower shoes just because she asked for the prettiest one 🥺 He really, truly likes her.
Red flag: He keeps leaving her… WHY??? He could’ve stayed and fought beside her 😩
Now the female lead — at first, I found her annoying and kinda irritating.
BUT as the episodes went on, you realize her very personality is what saved not just herself, but everyone around her. She’s a keeper.
Yeah, she was blinded by her first crush, and sure, her attitude toward Jang Hyun sometimes made me scream into the void... BUT even after realizing she liked him, she still chose to hurt him 🔪
That said, I get it. She chose her family — a father with dementia and a young brother to care for. Ugh, poor thing 🥲
BUTTTT why didn’t Jang Hyun just ask her to bring the whole family with him???
Why didn't he say that??? I’m confused.
And then Part 1 ends with them separated... and both have new love interests??? WHYYYYYYYY 😭😭
Anyways,
Cinematography? 10/10
OST? 10/10
Quotes? 10/10
The acting? SOLID. Both of them delivered.
This drama has easily become one of my favourites.
Best quote:
“I swear by the moonlight. This time, wherever you are, I will make sure I find you.” 🌙
THIS. QUOTE. RIGHT. HERE. GIRL. I folded when he said that. And the fact that he actually did find her again and again... 😭
Top OST picks:
🎵 “My Star” – Kim Feel
🎵 “Unforgettable Love” – Yang Yo Seop
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Both the parts' review
After watching both parts, I realized that it’s actually a well-written story. In the first part, I was irritated by Kil Chae’s character until the very end. She refused to accept that Yeon Joon loved someone else and kept interfering in his matters while disregarding Lee Jang Hyun’s emotions and sacrifices. In the end, she married another man, which frustrated me a lot.The second part continued in flashback, just like the first. An old man in jail agreed to tell Jang Hyun’s story but wanted to know what had happened to him first. This led to another series of flashbacks, forming the core of the second season. One thing that confused me was whether the old man was actually narrating the story to someone or just recalling it in his mind. Additionally, I wasn’t sure if the events we, as viewers, watched were his narration or simply the director’s way of showing us the past.
The story seemed to have a happy ending, but it still felt incomplete. I expected it to conclude with the old man, bringing full closure to the narrative.
At the end, I want to conclude by appreciating the outstanding performances of Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun Jin, Lee Hak Joo, Lee Da In, Kim Yoon Woo, Park Kang Sub, and Kim Seo An. While the entire cast did well, they were the best. I also want to mention the actor who played the role of the Crown Prince—his performance was remarkable.
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Trigger warning : You won't be able to stop watching!
What better drama to start writing reviews with than to start with My Dearest!There 's something about historical dramas that you just can't find in modern ones.
This is by far, the best historical drama I have watched so far. The ones I watched before like 'Love in the Moonlight ', ' Captivating the King', 'Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryoung ' etc were amazing as well, but nothing comes closer to MY DEAREST!
I have rewatched it not once, not twice, but thrice within the same week. So what if it is a slow burn? *sobs*
The acting, the bgm, the osts, *chef's kiss * Specially the ost ' With my heart' sung by Ahn Yun Ji who plays the female lead ' Gil Chae' had me in awe. The acting of both the leads, Namkoong min who plays ' Jang Hyeon' and Ahn Yun Ji was top tier and gosh, the facial control of NKM! I haven’t watched any dramas of NKM before and gosh he is an absolute gem of an actor. Ahn Yun Ji was also admirable, in her previous dramas like 'Hospital Playlist' , ' The Good Bad Mother' her acting was also amazing but in My Dearest, truly it reached new heights. The other actors and actresses did an wonderful job as well.
The Osts fit perfectly with every scenes and you can tell every scene was thought and implemented with much care. The chemistry of the leads made the drama even more enjoyable! I would suggest watching the behind the scenes after finishing the drama to cure the post drama sadness *sobs*
There were some things I was curious about ke the exact timeline of the events and what happens to ryung yeum in the end, and some other side casts like jong jong but I think it was actually meant for the viewers interpretation, and that's fine by me. This drama was an amazing and curious experince and I don't think I will ever forget this experience.
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Can't have the one you love, love the one you are with.
Generally, the so-called romance stories have little if anything that’s considered romance throughout the show. Here I can finally say we get to actually witness the love growing. It has other side stories that contribute to the plot as well, but nothing takes center stage over their growing love. There is action, family, trauma, wars, and much more. However, it still holds its weight as the main plot.Is this the best series to date? No, but it's the best script-turn series I have seen in a very long time. I have been watching these dramas as well, for two decades, and I can honestly say it's a gem. I would give it 4.2/5 on a 5-star scale and anything less than that would not be fitting.
I am a romance buff so I am very particular about my love stories. Their unknowing love faces challenges and setbacks like no other. You wouldn’t want to miss this ride.
The leads are great and so are the support actors. No one is overacting or failing to meet the expectations set by the viewers. It's pleasantly heartwarming even in the midst of a war.
You will definitely enjoy this one.
Happy viewing
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Not all that
Overall I’d rate this drama 6.5/10 .
If you’re not really a big fan of political dramas, you’d rate it even lower but I’m trying to be fair .
I appreciate the work everyone put into making this drama . From the cast to the crew . Well done 👍🏾
Personally I don’t think the drama deserves to win best drama or the actor should win best actor . There truly wasn’t any scene that he was in that I genuinely felt touched .
Funny enough I felt more affection towards the crown prince than anybody else in the drama .
This drama is a one time drama . It’s not something that you watch and then you reminisce and you miss the characters . I’m yet to understand why the TikTok community and others swear by this drama . Perhaps if I followed it weekly like them, I might have shared the same feelings and comradeship .
Personally I think Kim soo Hyun should’ve won that best actor role . He showed more diverse emotions in queen of tears than this actor did in my dearest but that might just be my personal preference.
Most of the political stuff was boring and sounded like I was attending a history class .
Surprisingly I didn’t find the fl to be annoying . Her actions were quite rational and thoughtful. It did feel a tiny bit frustrating to see the push and pull in their love life but if you’re a trained historical cdrama member , you’d see that they were just playing 😂💀.
No serious misunderstandings or whatever .
This drama is the type that after a while, you won’t remember what happened. It’d just be one of the many dramas you’ve seen .
Would I recommend this drama to others ? I’m not sure . Except they say they’re looking for historical drama recommendations.
The first 3 episodes were quite boring but the drama truly picked up from episode 4 . The cliff hangers at the end would always want you to download the next episode. You’re better off dropping the drama in the middle of an episode than waiting for it to finish .
I actually binged watched 1-14 before sleeping around 8am to continue by 7pm . It was that engaging . But if you ask me what I can truly remember from all the episodes, it’s quite hazy.
The entire plot is Joseon getting invaded by foreigners, the foreigners taking the crown prince and others as slaves/ captives . The ml falling in love and creating some bitter/sad love triangles.
The delusional and sick king and conniving concubine .
The palace story was nothing new . Usual fight for the throne and fear of rebellion.
Character I hated : that good for nothing self righteous scholar🙂
Thoughts on the main couple: I take back what I said about the ml being very old . He’s quite mature looking but he honestly just looks his age and he has a nice smile . I’d say he’s quite manly and you’d like him if that’s your spec .
The fl is okay too . She’s pretty .
They have nice chemistry . There were some scenes that I was like to love is nice sha but that’s it .
Completing this drama felt like I completed an assignment that I’ve been postponing for a long time.
As kdrama lovers , do you have to watch this drama?
Honestly speaking ? No
It doesn’t add or remove anything from your life . It doesn’t change your views on anything either . I think it’s okay to let it go and don’t be pressured by others to watch it or feel like you’re missing out on something so amazing because you’re not .
Time to finally end this lengthy review .
If you made it this far, Great job 😗
See you in my next review or not…
Hahahaha
Annyeong chingus!
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Set during the righteous and perfect Qing rule over Korea.
The warning "this story is about fictitious events" always makes me cringe, as it seems like Joseon never existed. Nice respect for history...
Already in the first episode we find something Koreans are very good at, erasing history to make themselves great. The Emperor... historically inaccurate since he was a coward.
Cultural appropriation of Chinese sewing techniques, Chinese hanfu. Phrases said to mock China, its history, its culture and its multi-ethnicity, because Korea is poor.
The story is absolutely ridiculous, out of context and the romance context completely unrelated to the real story. A cast of actors who can't act, the two protagonists too detached and modern compared to the historical context. The story lacks a balance between romance and historical context .
The two protagonists are cringe from episode to episode. Th side characters are ridiculous and lacks depth.
Historical inaccuracies every now and then.
Bad direction and camera, without color balance that make the visuals squalid.
It totally falls after half and the ending is bad and casual
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