A visual feast with mediocre taste, spiced with some excellent acting.
Cinematography - 7/10The 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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A drama worth watching for its magnificent cinematic delight and intricate storyline.
I am watching this again the 3rd time and I finally realise what it reminds me of. One word - Operatic.This was a highly stylised segeuk that could easily be compared and even surpass some renditions of Shakespare at the Royal Albert Hall. I could clearly see the shakesperean influence in the hyper-surreal speech and movement patterns of the characters. Every line had a double, triple meaning and no word was wasted. Atimes, no words were needed, the blink of an eye, sidelooks, long stares, all spoke volumes.
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Every move had a reason and was part of a larger puzzle. Even the wind and breeze was utilised in a most amazing way to convey environmental emotions.
Having the xters speak mind to mind was a brilliant piece of directing and portrayed the high intelligence and brilliant political maneouvering of the main xters.
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And the Dowger Queen - she who sat like an all powerful coiled cobra and sibilantly hissed her way all through the drama - literally stole the show. And when she struck, it was with the force and speed of a wrathful King Cobra. Her venom was lethal and spared no one.
This was one of the greatest ironies of the drama - while Minister Park spent his whole life and formidable intelligence caging the late king and the current king to prevent tyranny (arrogantly so), he failed to see that the real tyrant was one whom he actually helped create. This was a tragedy on an epic shakesperean scale.
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The deep and strong love and respect and loyalty between the King and Consort park/Yoo
solidly portrayed and played out perfectly the strenghts of the xters. Their emotions were
palpable and literally reached through the screen to grab your heart.
The King's reaction to his new born son was so realistic and one of the sweetest moments of the drama.
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And the OST...oh my! This was the check mate that won the game. A modern piece that brilliantly evoked the history and drama that dominated that time period.
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And the costumes - traditional with a distinct modern flare and cut, in gorgeous pastel shades and rich silks and cottons, fit so perfectly well and lent an air of class, elegance and strenght to the xters. I'd wear them today if i could.
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This was Segeuk Opera - the first of its kind.
Shakespear could not have done any better.
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