Georgeous visuals, costumes, ost and acting - bit shame about the story
Now I do love a Kdrama in a historical setting and of course I was going to watch it. Up to episode 6 or 7 I was hooked, then the whole story got a bit ....weird and disjointed.ALL characters (apart from the FL and ML) were pretty evil and only one of them had a (kind of) redemption arc. The others just all plain horrible. But it wasnt just that, I did find the story a bit all over the place and when I got to episode 10 I lost my patience.
Of course the visuals were absolutly georgeous, from the beautiful costumes, landscapes, buidings.... Some of the fights scence were outstanding, although I also did get a bit tired of too much bloody cutting down which felt like crowds of people.
Lee Jae-Wook was my highlight, he portraid the broken, vulnuerable ML so heartbreakingly well. There is a scene when his back gets exposed and the emotions he expressed through his face und small movements - I was a wreck. I never felt so sorry for character EVER.
The other outstanding thing of these Drama is the ost. I noticed right from the start, this ost is something else. I had to download it straight away and been listening to it lots. Especially Burning Petals by 4BOUT.
Would I recommend to watch it. Maybe yes, it is worth watching. But have tissues ready!
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This review may contain spoilers
Had Me Hooked Throughout!
I really liked how the story built from the start. The writers did a good job of balancing suspense and reveals to continuously reward you with knowledge even as they kept you asking questions.I wasn't crazy invested in the romance part when it got too cliche, but I'm glad that I didn't fully clock that it would be a romance for a good part of the beginning because my brain was like, "Yes, sibling bonding affection." I honestly would have preferred a sibling-esque connection between the main characters throughout because that would've been pretty fresh and interesting to watch and would've still retained that "I'm dedicated to you" aura. But the romance plot wasn't bad, though they did overdramatize some moments they had together in a way that didn't actually add to the romance plot.
Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the multitude of stories happening concurrently. I was super invested in RL trying to piece things together and bits of information were planted very strategically to set up for later episodes. In this way, things didn't feel out of place when they occurred (like the arsenic poisoning plotline). Another thing I appreciated was the lack of hesitation on the part of our ML when it came to action scenes. Bro was here to kill and ask questions later, and I am soooo glad we had that because I get frustrated when people hesitate just so the plot can have more dramatic betrayal moments and stuff. ML was on it and had some awesome fight choreo, too.
Finally, the ending bits definitely confused me a bit because there were multiple groups of soldiers fighting and I lost track of whose soldiers they were. And one plotline that wasn't properly wrapped up was who Kkotnim's boss was (considering she would mention orders from above and such). Like, it couldn't have been the shaman because she seemed to be on a similar level of authority in the organization, so who was above Kkotnim and her brother? Where did she even get a gun?
Mini-rant incoming: Mu jin is pathetic and deserved to die! No mental redemption for a person who was watching kids get tortured and just moving on with his life without questioning it. Saving Jae Yi doesn't save his blatant character morality flaws.
But honestly, I genuinely enjoyed the show as a whole and really loved the one song from it called Burning Petals (sets an epic ambience).
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A Haunting Tale of Love and Power
Dear Hongrang is a visually stunning and emotionally gripping Netflix period K-drama that dives deep into the struggles of those marginalized in a rigid, patriarchal society. Set in a world where power is held by the privileged few, it captures the harsh realities faced by women and the powerless, delivering a story as beautiful as it is heartbreaking.The art direction is breathtaking, with every scene crafted to perfection, and the music effortlessly sets the tone. The cast shines, especially Lee Jae Wook as Hong Rang. His performance is magnetic—whether in emotionally charged flight scenes or moments of captivity and abuse, his raw intensity leaves a lasting impact.
What truly sets this drama apart is its layered storytelling. The grim depiction of powerlessness is portrayed with gut-wrenching realism. However, the series isn't without flaws. The missing child and snowman subplot, brimming with potential, gets sidelined by the love triangle. The one-sided affection from Jae I's adoptive brother, Mu Jin, feels overextended and detracts from the main plot.
As for the romance between Hong Rang and Jae I, it struggles with pacing. The prolonged "is he or isn’t he her real brother?" dilemma keeps viewers at a distance, making it hard to fully invest. By the time the truth is revealed, their sudden, intense love feels abrupt and underexplored, leaving little room for the audience to connect with their relationship. A tighter focus on the missing child storyline and deeper exploration of key characters would have elevated the drama even further.
Despite these missteps, Dear Hongrang is an emotionally charged, visually mesmerizing experience with unforgettable performances. Be prepared for heartbreak, but it’s a journey worth taking.
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Suspenseful, Visually Stunning but a Slow-Burn
"Dear Hongrang" is not a light watch—it demands emotional and mental readiness due to its dark and intense themes. However, its visual artistry, gripping narrative, and strong performances make it a standout historical drama.Pros:
(1) Stunning Cinematography & Direction: The visual aesthetics are top-tier, offering breathtaking scenes and meticulously crafted setups that elevate the historical setting. One of the best I have seen for historical dramas.
(2) Compelling Acting & Action Sequences – Strong performances from the cast bring depth to the characters, especially the ML.
(3) Intriguing Suspenseful Plot & Family Drama – A complex, engaging storyline keeps viewers invested with its twists, turns, and layered dynamics involving the merchants, royals and common folks.
(4) Hauntingly Beautiful OST – Burning Petals leaves a lasting impression. I believe it blended Korean musical elements with other influences to create a mesmerizing auditory experience.
Cons:
(1) Slow-Burn Narrative – Despite being only 11 episodes, the pacing feels slow. Certain moments may feel prolonged, potentially leading to fast-forwarding through it, else I would have dropped it.
(2) Tragic Romance – While well-executed, the romantic subplot follows a tragic trajectory. Not a fan of those, though it was fitting.
Do I Recommend It: MAYBE
While the slow pacing and tragic romance is a personal downvote, it might not be the case for others. Hence, the pros outweigh the cons. If you appreciate visually stunning dramas with rich storytelling and deep emotions, it's worth experiencing. Otherwise, it could be a miss.
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beautifully executed, not enough to make justice for the plot
dear hongrang is the beauty of tragedy and chaos. it's such a sad piece, but you just can't stop looking at it, wanting to witness its deepness.what a shame this is such a short drama. this plot could've been better used with a longer duration, that could've avoided some plot holes like the lack of construction of some characters and their relationships.
although this drama is a masterpiece, with an amazing photography, sound effects and ost, it still bothers me the place female characters are giving in korean dramas, especially the saeguk ones, where the oppression to women can be "justified" by the period. you can say that Min Yeonui and Kkot-nam have important roles in the drama but the way they are portrayed, personality wise, tells me that women in dramas are almost always shown with a certain intention, visible in the way they are built - only being motivated by men and the pain they leave behind. I say this specifically thinking about Jaeyi's character, who seemed like she was there just to be oppressed, a love interest, someone rejected by her family that just stayed in the same position for the whole story, only being set free by the love and protection of a man.
this being said, the performance of all cast was amazing. the entirety of the actor and actresses gave their everything for the roles, specially Lee and Kim Jaewook, that are always marvelous in my opinion.
i really liked the construction of the story and the way things took place, but unfortunately, once again, this drama couldn't have been only 11 episodes long, and this is the biggest issue it has in my opinion. some things remained unanswered, and even though this could add to the mysterious feeling of the drama some aspects of it could have been more developed and, even then, leave space for viewers interpretations.
with that being said, this is a good watch in my opinion, especially for those who are into drama and mystery medias that touch some dark or unusual themes.
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“The more you watch, the more you’ll love it.”
A drama that starts slow but gradually pulls you in with its emotional depth and evolving characters. It's slow-paced and fast-paced at the same time — a rare paradox that somehow works.Cinematography: Beautiful, atmospheric, and immersive.
Acting: Strong performances that carry the weight of the story well.
Direction: Feels a bit weak at times — could’ve been more refined.
Storyline: Decent overall. Not groundbreaking, but emotionally resonant.
Ending: Not dreamy or fairy-tale. It’s realistic, painful, and beautiful in a way that lingers.
Despite its flaws, Dear Hongrang leaves a mark. It’s not the kind of show you forget easily.
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Too much drama
Dear Hongrang starts with a really interesting premise: a family torn by inner power struggles, torn further apart by the disappearance of their male heir, whom one day returns with no memories of his childhood.This kdrama shines through its production: the cinematography is a key element of it. The use of shadows and light gives the story a more nuance understanding of the characters and their actions. The performances are solid, with an impressive character growth, although not perfect.
The weakest point, in my opinion, it’s the script which it’s trying to do too much in too little time and without a more detailed development. I think this would have been solved if the story had stuck to the original premise, instead of reaching towards other storylines that took time and screen from tbe main conflict.
Overall, this is a very entertaining and engaging drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
More like "Dear God"?!
I mean, I'm not talking about the drama itself, because it was well-written! A bit short MAYBE, but there are no plot holes! Trust me, if there's one, I would be the first to say that!I've seen multiple people saying the story was flat, rushed and there were a LOT of plot holes.
The thing is, with this drama you won't get the same experience, the writer is not gonna spell everything out for you if you don't pay attention. For example, many people are interested in the Snow guy. Well, he's just another soldier, nothing special, it was just a red herring, basically. He was one of the main solder of FL's dad, that's why her REAL brother Hongrang had dreams about him, he probably saw him doing something.
The only thing I could name is a weird plot, is the poisoning. Unless ML got some medicine from his boss lady, he should've died a long time ago. This is the biggest problem in the story, and not that big deal, honestly.
The writer actually deserves the praise, because how it was written was not your typical Kdrama way. Sure, the show was short, I could watch like 3-5 episodes more, but I think they finished the story well enough.
It's not a Happy Ending, and it's sad, but in a way this was the better way to do it. A typical happy ending would just the series in the same old average Kdrama category. I'm also glad they didn't do any weird ending like, he just got a cure from nowhere, or let's meet in another life 100 years later. I was actually surprised they didn't use the "I have a kid" after the 2 years later jump, either. The ending felt natural.
The acting, the directing, the OST and the Score were top-notch! The two lead Jaewook and Boah were fantastic together.
If you don't mind it's not a happy ending, and the fact that it's short, and you have to pay a LOT more attention to the story than you usually need to with other Kdramas, this show is for you!
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I especially liked the cast. The action was very good. I found the painter incidents a bit exaggerated, the sibling relationships exaggerated in terms of sexuality. I think they are wrong. I don't want to go into details, but I had these and similar concerns about the series. The series, which was excellent until the 5th episode, started to decline after that because it got into such incidents. It seemed to have strayed from its own subject. My opinion.
Jo Bo Ah especially carried the series. Good acting, I liked it. Uhm Ji Von was excellent. He was like the superstar of this series. Very good acting, congratulations. Lee Jae Wok, Kim Jae Wook, Jung Ga Ram and Park Byung Eun were also actors I liked.
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What is this mess?
I rarely dislike a show. I am very easy-going and just enjoy most of the things i watch. But this drama despite it's GREAT casting, beautiful music it failed so bad.The story itsself is bad, especially for a veteran kdrama watcher. It just has many pieces of many hit dramas combined together, with a new plot. Even the build-up to the final plot was so confusing that i lost interest.
Very cliche adopted brother and sister relationship that just gets worse, and the relationship between Jay and Hongrang is even worse. You just can't feel what they are feeling and it makes no sense time-wise. When did all of that happen?
It was really boring with zero excitment for the next episode.
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Brilliant Acting and Soundtrack Let Down by Messy Writing
The story had all the elements for an epic tale of love, revenge, and mystery, but it turns into a messy string of storylines patched together, leaving the audience unsatisfied.The romance between the leads was sudden and not well-developed. It was as if they fell in love simply because the story needed to move forward, and for no other reason. They had no on-screen chemistry, and they were not given enough time to form a bond that would justify the decisions they made.
The Second Male Lead had a more compelling character arc than both the main leads and was one of the few characters whose arc came full circle, while the place of many other characters in the plot seemed uncertain. Lee BoAh's character is strong and self-reliant, but her having to be saved by the Male Lead quite a few times is rather disappointing.
The story had an intriguing mystery element which could have made the drama unique and unforgettable. Instead, it was underutilised, while household politics were given too much screen time, turning the mystery storyline into merely a subplot with several loose ends left unanswered.
The soundtrack is haunting, the action choreography was beautiful, and Lee JaeWook shines through the chaotic mess the drama creates.
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I thought it was my type of drama, but sadly it was not it...
So, Jae wook in historicals is soo my type, so there's no reason I would miss this drama. And he never disappoints, he had given more than 100% for his character. Jo Bo ah and all others were soo good in their role. Osts was sooo GOOD!!!. Making, direction was also good.So my problem is with the story and writing, the plot was interesting, but watching the whole story it was not for me, I personally didn't really liked how the story was going. So, I didn't really liked the whole story...
Now, the Snow man, I liked that one. It was quite interesting for me.
!!‼️may be a little spoiler here!!!!
And last My favorite character is the REAL HONGRANG!!! appreciation to the child actor ❤️
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