Gorgeously directed and superbly acted story about the power and danger of desire
Dear Hong Rang is an emotional and compelling story about how what we chose to desire leads to either our salvation or our destruction. We follow characters as their unchecked desire for power, for possession, for control causes them to sacrifice love, family, and even their humanity, leaving them monsters and shells of themselves they barely recognize. While others who fearlessly follow the desires of their heart for connection, authenticity, and belonging overcome their past pain and inner demons to find wholeness and a new freedom of being.
This show doesn't shy away from complex psychological themes and relationships--things like obsession, exploitation, shame, forbidden love, dark spirituality, the abuse of power, revenge, torture, cruelty. It balances it with moments of quiet, persistent love, bravery, fortitude and integrity. I was fascinated at times, repulsed at times, thrilled at times, brought to tears many times.
This is a more intimate historical--blessedly there is very little of grand palace politics and machinations. It all centers on the tragedy of one merchant family who cannot put aside their own selfish desires for the good of the whole. It was refreshing to center on merchants instead of the usual nobility, and to explore themes of art and artistry and the darkness of the occult.
The writing excels in the scenes themselves--on the dialogue that highlights complex feelings, interactions between the characters, and the way what is not said is just as important as what is said. On an overall plot level the writer often cut corners or used lazy tropes to maneuver people into place, or explain backstory or other overarching information, and so the overall plot can feel simplistic and unimaginative at times. I barely noticed, though, because the directing squeezed every last value out of the writing, as did the cast of overall excellent actors, and it was easy to get lost inside the scenes themselves.
Highlights and standouts--
- The cinematography/directing was superb. Such a variety of sets, of color palettes, of lighting, of framing, of camera movements and angles, each scene meticulously considered and planned out shot by shot, nothing felt rushed or overlooked or standard. Some of the best camera-work and directing I've seen in quite a while. I want to re-watch just to relive some of the beauty of the scenes.
- Lee Jae Wook as Hong Rang-- I cannot think of another actor who can so effortlessly switch from a dark, commanding, dangerous presence to a fragile, heartbreaking vulnerability in the span of a breath. His sure delivery and excellent physical acting makes him completely believable as a legendary figure, yet his eyes never lose the softness and pain to remind you of the angry, scared, shamed boy underneath. Truly one of the best actors out right now of any age.
- The score of the show felt fresh and was used sparingly and masterfully, so it never felt like it overtook the emotion, only highlighted it.
- The editing-- this is an often overlooked aspect of production, but the editing was phenomenal, especially in the fighting sequences.
- Jo Bo A was also great in her role as a quietly strong, longing, loyal survivor, and had great chemistry with LJW. Park Byung Eun brought a beautiful restraint to Chief Min that allowed him to rise far above a cliche ambitious antagonist--out of all the characters I found him the most tragic. Kim Jae Wook was flawless as the Grand Prince, and it was only in some of his scenes with Hong Rang where I felt as if LJW was matched and even at moments outshined. I wish we could have seen much much more of him.
Overall a high-quality production that will make you think and feel deeply, and will stay with you for quite a while afterwards.
This show doesn't shy away from complex psychological themes and relationships--things like obsession, exploitation, shame, forbidden love, dark spirituality, the abuse of power, revenge, torture, cruelty. It balances it with moments of quiet, persistent love, bravery, fortitude and integrity. I was fascinated at times, repulsed at times, thrilled at times, brought to tears many times.
This is a more intimate historical--blessedly there is very little of grand palace politics and machinations. It all centers on the tragedy of one merchant family who cannot put aside their own selfish desires for the good of the whole. It was refreshing to center on merchants instead of the usual nobility, and to explore themes of art and artistry and the darkness of the occult.
The writing excels in the scenes themselves--on the dialogue that highlights complex feelings, interactions between the characters, and the way what is not said is just as important as what is said. On an overall plot level the writer often cut corners or used lazy tropes to maneuver people into place, or explain backstory or other overarching information, and so the overall plot can feel simplistic and unimaginative at times. I barely noticed, though, because the directing squeezed every last value out of the writing, as did the cast of overall excellent actors, and it was easy to get lost inside the scenes themselves.
Highlights and standouts--
- The cinematography/directing was superb. Such a variety of sets, of color palettes, of lighting, of framing, of camera movements and angles, each scene meticulously considered and planned out shot by shot, nothing felt rushed or overlooked or standard. Some of the best camera-work and directing I've seen in quite a while. I want to re-watch just to relive some of the beauty of the scenes.
- Lee Jae Wook as Hong Rang-- I cannot think of another actor who can so effortlessly switch from a dark, commanding, dangerous presence to a fragile, heartbreaking vulnerability in the span of a breath. His sure delivery and excellent physical acting makes him completely believable as a legendary figure, yet his eyes never lose the softness and pain to remind you of the angry, scared, shamed boy underneath. Truly one of the best actors out right now of any age.
- The score of the show felt fresh and was used sparingly and masterfully, so it never felt like it overtook the emotion, only highlighted it.
- The editing-- this is an often overlooked aspect of production, but the editing was phenomenal, especially in the fighting sequences.
- Jo Bo A was also great in her role as a quietly strong, longing, loyal survivor, and had great chemistry with LJW. Park Byung Eun brought a beautiful restraint to Chief Min that allowed him to rise far above a cliche ambitious antagonist--out of all the characters I found him the most tragic. Kim Jae Wook was flawless as the Grand Prince, and it was only in some of his scenes with Hong Rang where I felt as if LJW was matched and even at moments outshined. I wish we could have seen much much more of him.
Overall a high-quality production that will make you think and feel deeply, and will stay with you for quite a while afterwards.
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