Mea culpa!
I wasn't going to write this missive (I'm not going to call it a review), but it has been on my mind for some time so I'm just going to put it out there.
As you can see from my scores, I don't hate the show.
On many levels, it is an excellent production. However, I just can't get into it. There are too many barriers to entry for me.
This show is set in the 1950's so there is more a near history than a historical drama. It is a very turbulent time in Korean history. The Korean War has just ended and the whole society is in flux. Added to that, the traditional female only theatre trope is uniquely Korean. I appreciate their skills and artistry but it is largely opaque to me.
I tried to enjoy the show purely as entertainment but the nuanced historical backdrop and subtle cultural mores have me foundering. There are some familiar tropes but it is a trap for the unwary. I find it unsettling as I struggle to get a toehold. I think some viewers might be in the same boat. That is why I decided to write this. Your level of enjoyment is definitely subjective in this case. Much more so than I expected.
It is on me that I can't understand and enjoy the show to the fullest. Maybe one day I will do the necessary research and tackling it again with more confidence. Peace.
As you can see from my scores, I don't hate the show.
On many levels, it is an excellent production. However, I just can't get into it. There are too many barriers to entry for me.
This show is set in the 1950's so there is more a near history than a historical drama. It is a very turbulent time in Korean history. The Korean War has just ended and the whole society is in flux. Added to that, the traditional female only theatre trope is uniquely Korean. I appreciate their skills and artistry but it is largely opaque to me.
I tried to enjoy the show purely as entertainment but the nuanced historical backdrop and subtle cultural mores have me foundering. There are some familiar tropes but it is a trap for the unwary. I find it unsettling as I struggle to get a toehold. I think some viewers might be in the same boat. That is why I decided to write this. Your level of enjoyment is definitely subjective in this case. Much more so than I expected.
It is on me that I can't understand and enjoy the show to the fullest. Maybe one day I will do the necessary research and tackling it again with more confidence. Peace.
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