This review may contain spoilers
problems with the narrative
SPOiLERS
This drama was a very interesting viewing experience for me. I am not so much critiqueing the drama as explaining how my experience of watching this may have been different from others. I like to offer a different viewpoint for those who are wondering whether to watch this drama or not.
My dissatisfaction with this drama had to do mostly with the narrative. I only realized at the end that this drama was based on the novel and I think that was some of why it felt disjointed to me. The drama took the beginning of the novel and changed it into a different Story in the second half. The abstraction of the themes from the cases was admirably translated into Political intrigue so there was a level of cohesion. So kudos to the screen writers And the viewers who could see that. Maybe it was necessary to get past censorship.
I expected the initial crimes and clues to be more pertinent to the finale. That said, the last few episodes did live up to the foreshadowing and the symbolic meanings of the clues. How the vigilante group was led by someone who wanted power and revenge more than moral reckoning was a great twist. The level of corruption of the emperor and some of his family is exposed. This made for a unique competition for the throne plot.
However, I did feel like certain balls were dropped that could have led to some intriguing plot lines. That was the direction I was going with the initial forensic findings related to syphilis and its treatment with mercury and cinebar which are also poisons. I should have known better. After all this is a historical c drama subject to censorship. I understand that novels are less subject to censorship.
For example, one hypothesis I had was that those little girls in the well had been infected with syphilis.And that's why they were there. That would have been a big cover up had it been known by the powers that be. I think the drama suggested they were all killed because they were going to be discovered? There was also mention of someone who was trafficking the girls.
I did not even know there was a novel initially. Apparently Syphilis and its treatment with mercury and cinebar were thematic throughout the Novel. There was additional intrigue to do with the girls in the well. There was a suggestion that the emperor was also committing his crimes using syphilis as the means.
So I would have been reading the right novel but I was not watching the right drama😁 for the story line I was imagining.
I have told myself to be cautious about watching dramas that are based on novels but not for the reason I was disappointed here.
I can value this drama as it was presented but still feel like I would have enjoyed the drama more if it had taken a different route. I won't be reading the hundred plus or five hundred plus or however many chapters in the novel though😄!
I hope this is a helpful review.
This drama was a very interesting viewing experience for me. I am not so much critiqueing the drama as explaining how my experience of watching this may have been different from others. I like to offer a different viewpoint for those who are wondering whether to watch this drama or not.
My dissatisfaction with this drama had to do mostly with the narrative. I only realized at the end that this drama was based on the novel and I think that was some of why it felt disjointed to me. The drama took the beginning of the novel and changed it into a different Story in the second half. The abstraction of the themes from the cases was admirably translated into Political intrigue so there was a level of cohesion. So kudos to the screen writers And the viewers who could see that. Maybe it was necessary to get past censorship.
I expected the initial crimes and clues to be more pertinent to the finale. That said, the last few episodes did live up to the foreshadowing and the symbolic meanings of the clues. How the vigilante group was led by someone who wanted power and revenge more than moral reckoning was a great twist. The level of corruption of the emperor and some of his family is exposed. This made for a unique competition for the throne plot.
However, I did feel like certain balls were dropped that could have led to some intriguing plot lines. That was the direction I was going with the initial forensic findings related to syphilis and its treatment with mercury and cinebar which are also poisons. I should have known better. After all this is a historical c drama subject to censorship. I understand that novels are less subject to censorship.
For example, one hypothesis I had was that those little girls in the well had been infected with syphilis.And that's why they were there. That would have been a big cover up had it been known by the powers that be. I think the drama suggested they were all killed because they were going to be discovered? There was also mention of someone who was trafficking the girls.
I did not even know there was a novel initially. Apparently Syphilis and its treatment with mercury and cinebar were thematic throughout the Novel. There was additional intrigue to do with the girls in the well. There was a suggestion that the emperor was also committing his crimes using syphilis as the means.
So I would have been reading the right novel but I was not watching the right drama😁 for the story line I was imagining.
I have told myself to be cautious about watching dramas that are based on novels but not for the reason I was disappointed here.
I can value this drama as it was presented but still feel like I would have enjoyed the drama more if it had taken a different route. I won't be reading the hundred plus or five hundred plus or however many chapters in the novel though😄!
I hope this is a helpful review.
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