Okay, I also actually liked and loved its twisted plot with the King, politics and Nokdu. The villains are complex and have weaknesses as human, they are layered. The story can be predictable at times as it moves towards in the end -- however, I think it was still a very solid good drama from execution and acting and its main message in the end.
I think people avoiding to watch the drama because of the ending were all valid. It was a good drama, indeed,…
If you want to watch the drama and you truly love the relationship of the leads, my ending stops at the start of episode 15, where Heedo wiped Yijin's tears and he accepted her hand and smiled. It was such a beautiful scene but it is not receiving enough credits.
I think people avoiding to watch the drama because of the ending were all valid. It was a good drama, indeed, yes, I wholeheartedly agree. But for some, a drama needs to be complete. It didn't feel for other main character. After they got together, instead of giving us a decent exploration of their romance, the writer was already thinking of ways on how to break them up and she did with the help of an extremely tragic event that its only purpose was to become a precedent for the breakup and provide trauma to the other main character without showing how the other main character heal from it. It was so disrespectful. The suspense was also highly hinted, but the creators needed to delay the suspense until the end but did not feel the need to address it respectfully for the viewers who waited for it.
In a world where it is already full of bad happenings, some people do need an ounce of positivity and the ending was so depressing (for many). For a drama that talks a lot about being in a slump and that the problem in the relationship is just a wall they needed to overcome, the ending indeed strayed away from the original theme. It isn't just the leads not making it that left bad taste in my mouth, but the whole of it (of course, except for Yu rim and Heedo's moment in the end).
If you truly love the ending, then it's good. If you have other perspective of it, it's also good. However for me, the characters do not deserve their developments to be thrown away in order to give way for a break-up that wouldn't happen in the first place had the writer respected the evolution of her characters away from her original theme.
Um......Am I getting this confused with another show. Did we watch something different?"Romance, comedy, and happy…
Indeed, very well said. I would like the ending to have a little suspense and probably fleshed out more how they were able to get out from the palace, but nevertheless, it was satisfying. Nokdu is happy with all the people he loves. Dong Joo finally heals from her wounds and live a fulfilling life with Nokdu, in contrast to what she dreams before. The assassins and Sook have fulfilled their purpose and got their revenge and now helping widows. Indeed, they were still in exile, but they are still able to live a peaceful life, whereas, the villains, will never have that. A big room without anyone trusting you and no one you can trust. Indeed, the villains led a very lonely life.
Since I watched Vincenzo, I had sworn to myself not to watch the 16th episode of ANY the K-drama... Too bad because…
okay, the ending here was so good! probably not as suspenseful as expected, but the plot still hits it. It was like the calm after a super strong storm. Nevertheless, it was still good and satisfying. Even the villains, had a satisfying, end.
Okay, I understood it now. The king didn't kill Yul mu as he already sensed that maybe Yul mu is a traitor, however,…
Also, probably, because the king do not have any offspring, if Yulmu died, Nokdu will be the only royal blood left to be the King as he's still the crown prince. If the King dies or becomes ill. Maybe at first, it's still the King's mental illness that do not want Nokdu to be the king, however, in the end, maybe he realized that it was an empty position and he wouldn't Nokdu to be left in such state.
Also, can someone pls explain this line to me in the ending?"If I had not let you live, I would have become a…
Okay, I understood it now. The king didn't kill Yul mu as he already sensed that maybe Yul mu is a traitor, however, of course, because he was already too much blinded by insecurities, paranoia, and his mental illness that Nokdu will steal his throne since he thought that it was Nokdu's fate to do that to him. Therefore he didn't kill Yul mu, just so that if there will be one who will start a coup, it is Yul mu and not Nokdu.
Yes, he probably knew by time that Nokdu isn't really dead. First, he didn't chase Nokdu as per the Queen's cry. Second, he just easily believed that the body is Nokdu's. Third, probably, he already sensed that his wife is too calm about it. Fourth, in the end, the Queen went to the island, so probably, he already fully knows by that time?
If Yul mu dies, then, it will only be Nokdu who will be the king, and probably, the king do not want anymore to kill Nokdu.
Also, can someone pls explain this line to me in the ending?
"If I had not let you live, I would have become a father… who killed my innocent son twice."
The king said this to Yul-mu on his revolt, 9 years later. I was wondering what he meant by this. Did he know that Nokdu is really alive? Was that hinted?
Such a good actor! Known him since Solomon's Perjury but his acting was breathtaking in The Tale of Nokdu! More lead and fantastic works for this actor pls!
A good one! Will do a rewatch soon to appreciate the details and character growths! Actually loved the romance a lot, it has many layers and fleshed out!
"In the end, Nok Du and Dong Ju made a decision that the love that they had for each other was more important than exacting revenge. The ending was profound in its way of proclaiming a message not often heard in K-Dramas and that is the unjust and the evil ones just might go unpunished in this lifetime but do not be greedy for things that are not necessary for true happiness. If you have escaped to your paradise and have love & family all around you, you have the supreme possession in life."
This paragraph is so beautiful. Thank you for writing this review! Just finished this drama after a day of binge-watching and I was reading reviews and analysis to make me appreciate it more.
I also loved the last tournament in that episode.
In a world where it is already full of bad happenings, some people do need an ounce of positivity and the ending was so depressing (for many). For a drama that talks a lot about being in a slump and that the problem in the relationship is just a wall they needed to overcome, the ending indeed strayed away from the original theme. It isn't just the leads not making it that left bad taste in my mouth, but the whole of it (of course, except for Yu rim and Heedo's moment in the end).
If you truly love the ending, then it's good. If you have other perspective of it, it's also good. However for me, the characters do not deserve their developments to be thrown away in order to give way for a break-up that wouldn't happen in the first place had the writer respected the evolution of her characters away from her original theme.
T-T
Yes, he probably knew by time that Nokdu isn't really dead. First, he didn't chase Nokdu as per the Queen's cry. Second, he just easily believed that the body is Nokdu's. Third, probably, he already sensed that his wife is too calm about it. Fourth, in the end, the Queen went to the island, so probably, he already fully knows by that time?
If Yul mu dies, then, it will only be Nokdu who will be the king, and probably, the king do not want anymore to kill Nokdu.
It is painful.
"If I had not let you live, I would have become a father… who killed my innocent son twice."
The king said this to Yul-mu on his revolt, 9 years later. I was wondering what he meant by this. Did he know that Nokdu is really alive? Was that hinted?
This paragraph is so beautiful. Thank you for writing this review! Just finished this drama after a day of binge-watching and I was reading reviews and analysis to make me appreciate it more.