I'm just not convinved by nearly 30-somethings playing highschoolers, and it can really be felt. The forced sense of youth is very apparent. It's not a problem with Vanda, who is still very young.
Some interesting friendships, relationships and dynamics are not given their time to shine in this drama and often get forgotten for long stretches. This 40 episode limit is really starting to become detrimental to some of the storytelling.
But it's the only long one you've even watched. Not fair to compare one long historical Kdrama to a bunch of longer…
I'm not saying you have to like this drama or its heavy elements of fictionalisation, I'm saying one drama alone doesn't tell the story of Korean historical storytelling. There's no point comparing one Kdrama historical fact+fiction with many Cdramas, because Empress Ki is nothing like many of the other sageuks.
i know it's unfair tocompare cdrama and kdramas in historical fiction. but accept that cdramas in making long…
But it's the only long one you've even watched. Not fair to compare one long historical Kdrama to a bunch of longer Cdramas you've watched. Story of Yanxi Palace has frankly insane storytelling and is less grounded than many Kdrama historicals but you rate it very highly (as do I). If you want less ridiculous (or supposedly childish) sageuks then try Jewel in the Palace, Jumong, Yi San, Six Flying Dragons.
Ashes of Love has some of the most ridiculous writing and childish motivations and exchanges I can remember seeing in drama but again you rate it highly, so I think you could withhold judgment until you've given more long format Kdramas a chance.
Does this actually work with changing the actors so many times depending on the age of the couple? I haven't started this yet but just can't get my head around this not being jarring, especially after my somewhat unpleasant experience of watching First Love: Hatsukoi.
When I look at the cast it's kinda hard for me to reconcile the differences in look between the young adults and older adults here.
what even goes on in dramas with more than 50 episodes. like what can happen. most dramas with 16 episodes are…
A story is as long as it needs to be. Honestly i'm not sure I even understand the question - consider novels? Look at the Harry Potter series or The Dark Tower or Lord of the Rings vs any of the millions of standalone novels? Did they have problems in making things happen? No.
Several long sageuks tell stories far bigger, far wider in scope, than what you'll see in these 16 episode dramas. In fact, the whole time-capping thing of so many dramas at specifically 16 episodes is precisely what leads to so many of them having uneven pacing and haphazard storytelling, seeing as the production is forced to apply their vision to a predetermined block of time, rather than letting the story play out organically and for however long is required, whether it be 9, 13, 17, 25 episodes etc. etc.
When dramas feel too long, it's not because of the episode count, but a flaw in the storytelling.
What's holding this one back?
Ashes of Love has some of the most ridiculous writing and childish motivations and exchanges I can remember seeing in drama but again you rate it highly, so I think you could withhold judgment until you've given more long format Kdramas a chance.
What. The Actual. (--> insert word here <--)
When I look at the cast it's kinda hard for me to reconcile the differences in look between the young adults and older adults here.
Oh dear.
Several long sageuks tell stories far bigger, far wider in scope, than what you'll see in these 16 episode dramas. In fact, the whole time-capping thing of so many dramas at specifically 16 episodes is precisely what leads to so many of them having uneven pacing and haphazard storytelling, seeing as the production is forced to apply their vision to a predetermined block of time, rather than letting the story play out organically and for however long is required, whether it be 9, 13, 17, 25 episodes etc. etc.
When dramas feel too long, it's not because of the episode count, but a flaw in the storytelling.