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
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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.
Was this review helpful to you?
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
Was this review helpful to you?
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!
Was this review helpful to you?
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
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A great story from 1936
So here's the thing as an enthusiastic reader, nothing annoys me more than plagiarism and part one is a straight 1 for 1 storyline from Gone with the Wind. The only thing that was not plagiarized was the Palace story line which I believe was completely unnecessary in Part One. I assume this was the writers attempt to humanize the King but it just made me hate him more in part 2.Acting wise, ML was the perfect Rhett Butler and FL was the perfect Scarlett O'Hara and their acting was the most important. Casting director really did their thing for the cast of part 1. It is part 2 where things got funky. I know many people found FL annoying but she is supposed to be. Selfish people survive and Eun Jin was the major reason those ladies survived.
Despite the great story being told, the rewatch value of only part 1 is not as high. it is a very frustrating watch just like Gone with the Wind.
Was this review helpful to you?
a review for both part's 1 and 2
"Do you hear that? The sound of flowers blooming"I was sold. I was seated.
——
I devoured this drama in 2 days and lost my sleep for the beautiful narration it truly was. Mind you i have 3 pending kdramas as of 12/29 but i mindlessly put it on hold just to reserve myself to see this drama through...
I initially came across this drama when MBC released its trailer. it caught my attention but i guess it wasn't enough to get me out of the kdrama slump i was at the time😂 THANKS TO TIKTOK it resurfaced on my fyp and gave this a shot!!
Many say it starts off slow and picks up at 3rd-4th episode however i do not feel the same. From the first episode till the last few minutes of episode 21–i loved every bits of it.
I seldom writing reviews and reserve writing allat for dramas deserving. I can confidently say its well within my #10 all time best kdrama and #1 sageuk drama. Easily Nam Goong Min's and Ahn Eun Jin's best roles portrayals out of their filmographies.
Do i recommend?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Though be prepared for the rollercoaster and tearjerker it will be. If you suvived scarlet heart/moon lovers, then you wont have much trouble going through all the episodes. It is depressing. Sad. Dark.
I came for the romance but also stayed for the history of Joseon. I found myself sympathizing for the plight and the women of Joseon endured. This drama portrays all of the character's story so well—so much depth and well thought and written characters.
I miss my JangChae already☹️❤️
I'm in "i wish i could watch it like the first time" moment🥲
WELL my yapping ends now.
It has been awhile since i felt this empty after watching a kdrama. The void left in me will be hard to fill in.🥴
Was this review helpful to you?
BEST DRAMA EVER
Μια από τις καλύτερες K Drama σειρές. Εκπληκτικοί ηθοποιοί, υπέροχη σκηνοθεσία. Υπομείνετε τα 2-3 πρώτα επεισόδια (φαίνονται χλιαρά αλλά έχουν τον λόγο τους) ώστε να εξελιχθεί η ιστορία τους που θα σας χτυπήσει την καρδιά. Το έχω τρεις φορές. Θα σας μαγέψει η μουσική, η πλοκή και η απέραντη αγάπη πάθος μεταξύ των πρωταγωνιστών. Κάθε επεισόδιο έχει εξελίξεις ενώ δεν κάνει καθόλου «κοιλιά» μεταξύ των επεισοδίων. Αξέχαστο!Was this review helpful to you?
CANT WAIT PART 2
I'm the type of person who doesn't really understand history but for this drama I can still enjoy it.The acting of the cast makes me speechless again.
Each episode makes my heart scratched to pieces why are they acting but my heart hurts too, anyway I can't wait for part 2 and I also ask why not immediately air 20 episodes in one season why should it be divided into 2 parts ??? Its kinda annoying but that fine
Namkoong min and ahn eun jin make me sick!! Both great actress and actoor no wonder so many people at south korea talking about this drama because so worth it to watch
Was this review helpful to you?
Amazing
Loved all cast and story, its a must watch!!!! I loved every single moment ❤️ Loved all cast and story, its a must watch!!!! I loved every single moment ❤️ Loved all cast and story, its a must watch!!!! I loved every single moment ❤️ Loved all cast and story, its a must watch!!!! I loved every single moment ❤️ Loved all cast and story, its a must watch!!!! I loved every single moment ❤️Was this review helpful to you?
Gone with the wind but better
I just finished this drama for the third time. I loved it the first time, but every time I allow myself to watch it again it gets even better. Pride, prejudice, loyalty, selfishness, idealism - the drama tackles these themes without being able to answer them clearly. All the characters have their own strengths and weaknesses, comprehensible motives that do not remain black and white in their contrasts, but reflect the shades of gray of real people and situations.The characters undergo a comprehensible and logical development. I find the lovers' struggle for a love in which they do not give up on themselves, but remain true to themselves, to be topical and contemporary.
Beautifully staged, opulently equipped, the musical accompaniment is also worth mentioning, especially the title song.
The acting performances are remarkable. The lead actor Namkoong Min in particular is able to reveal the inner emotional worlds of his character in his face so convincingly that the fact that it is a play is forgotten.
Was this review helpful to you?
