A visual feast with mediocre taste, spiced with some excellent acting.
Cinematography - 7/10
The colors, lights, forests and scene progressions and cut-aways were all nicely done.
OST - 10/10
Burning Petals by 4BOUT (and LJW) were the saving grace of this drama. I found the fusion of Indian and Mongolian throat singing in the OST simply delightful. I am paying the song to live rent free in my head.
Plot - 6/10
The premise was sound. But execution was mediocre and messy with glaring loopholes. Moreso because the secondary xters and extras did more for the story line than the leads especially the FL and ML2. Individually, the ML more or less carried the day. his acting was exceptional and he embodied his xter to the fullest (probably because the script writers factored in his skill set and acting style).
The ML and FL lacked any chemistry in all aspects, and the 0-120MPH speed with with Mu Jin suddenly turned into a stereotypical Saeguk misogynistic fascist will give you whiplash.
The almost incestuous feel of the relationship between the ML and FL cast a distasteful shadow over the story line. If the sibling relationship had been left as is (with maybe a deep affection developing between ML and FL, with ML doing what he did to protect her without wanting to jump her bones at the slightest opportunity, THAT would have worked better).
Aside from LJW, props to Min Yeon Ui for giving as good as she got from Yeol Guk (another masterful actor who brought the appropriate level of gravitas to his role. Lee Jae Wook and Kim Jae Wook xters played off well against each other with Kim bringing a quietly brilliant menace to the screen). You could feel her grief and pain, likewise her unrelenting hatred towards Jae I.
Another plot hole was the nameless, unknown killer ghost, who randomly flew across the screen until he was laid to rest by the ML. Who or what he was and the why of him, remains an abyss in this drama.
Choreography - 10/10
It was a relief that the fight scenes lived up to expectations. Those who needed killing were dispatched with a satisfactory level of slice and dice (not some minor cuts with the ML always playing defense. The Soul Reaper lived up to his name).
Why Mu Jin was not terminated with extreme prejudice (as he well deserved) and was allowed to go gently into that bloody night, was quite irritating.
As mentioned previously, the supporting cast did a lot to carry this drama - Hongrangs's mute companion, the soul reaper's 'brother assassins', Prince Hanpyeong . All brought their A-game to this drama.
Dear Hongrang,
Expectations were high, but you fell off the cliff needlessly. Thankfully, you kept things short and fast-paced when needed.
The colors, lights, forests and scene progressions and cut-aways were all nicely done.
OST - 10/10
Burning Petals by 4BOUT (and LJW) were the saving grace of this drama. I found the fusion of Indian and Mongolian throat singing in the OST simply delightful. I am paying the song to live rent free in my head.
Plot - 6/10
The premise was sound. But execution was mediocre and messy with glaring loopholes. Moreso because the secondary xters and extras did more for the story line than the leads especially the FL and ML2. Individually, the ML more or less carried the day. his acting was exceptional and he embodied his xter to the fullest (probably because the script writers factored in his skill set and acting style).
The ML and FL lacked any chemistry in all aspects, and the 0-120MPH speed with with Mu Jin suddenly turned into a stereotypical Saeguk misogynistic fascist will give you whiplash.
The almost incestuous feel of the relationship between the ML and FL cast a distasteful shadow over the story line. If the sibling relationship had been left as is (with maybe a deep affection developing between ML and FL, with ML doing what he did to protect her without wanting to jump her bones at the slightest opportunity, THAT would have worked better).
Aside from LJW, props to Min Yeon Ui for giving as good as she got from Yeol Guk (another masterful actor who brought the appropriate level of gravitas to his role. Lee Jae Wook and Kim Jae Wook xters played off well against each other with Kim bringing a quietly brilliant menace to the screen). You could feel her grief and pain, likewise her unrelenting hatred towards Jae I.
Another plot hole was the nameless, unknown killer ghost, who randomly flew across the screen until he was laid to rest by the ML. Who or what he was and the why of him, remains an abyss in this drama.
Choreography - 10/10
It was a relief that the fight scenes lived up to expectations. Those who needed killing were dispatched with a satisfactory level of slice and dice (not some minor cuts with the ML always playing defense. The Soul Reaper lived up to his name).
Why Mu Jin was not terminated with extreme prejudice (as he well deserved) and was allowed to go gently into that bloody night, was quite irritating.
As mentioned previously, the supporting cast did a lot to carry this drama - Hongrangs's mute companion, the soul reaper's 'brother assassins', Prince Hanpyeong . All brought their A-game to this drama.
Dear Hongrang,
Expectations were high, but you fell off the cliff needlessly. Thankfully, you kept things short and fast-paced when needed.
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