This review may contain spoilers
This One Will Live Rent Free In My Head And Heart
I finished my watch of the extraordinary 2023 drama My Dearest last night and have already started my first rewatch. It might be my favorite Korean drama of all time...definitely in my top 5 for sure...GOD I truly loved every moment of it.
The direction and cinematography for My Dearest was incredibly beautiful, thoughtful and at times shockingly raw. We were not spared the ugly details of what war looks like, there were no soft filters when the cast cried ugly tears and makeup did nothing to disguise what one would look like after weeks of no sleep, no bathing and no water.
Each of the main character’s stories and many of the support character’s too had so much depth and were written so well, with flaws and strengths just like all of us, that I found it easy to identify with many of them. And kudos for how thoroughly researched and beautifully described the deeply complex and bleak historical events of Joseon Korean were in My Dearest. Often when I watch historical dramas I am so lost I end up watching with an encyclopedia next to me (or Google 😉) to help with my confusion… My Dearest never frustrated me that way.
Ahn Gun Jin as Gil Chae (the FL) portrays an irresistible charismatic, flirty and spirited girl and it's that tenacious spirit that holds her and so many others in this drama in good stead. Ahn Gun Jin plays Gil Chae to utter perfection, and in turn we are treated to an amazing character...you love her and you hate her and you'll get frustrated with her, but in the end she is simply marvelous!
Namkoong Min as the indomitable Jang Hyeon absolutely creates his character. He is one of those actors who can basically leave all his acting to his face…the subtle movements of his eyes and his mouth covey eloquently his intentions, and the way he speaks, especially to Gil will have you melting in your seat…he. is. magic. He moves his face, his hands and his body and speaks his words with an almost poetic grace, and when he cups Gil’s face….well….suffice to say, the lead's chemistry was really beyond perfect.
I am not going to write about every character as this would be a tome…but suffice to say there really isn’t a weak character in this cast and thanks to some amazing writing they all get to truly shine in their parts. But I will call out two who, I feel, you can not help but be so invested in throughout My Dearest: Kim Yoon Woo as Ryang Rum will break your heart, and Choi Mu Sung as Yang Chun is truly an endearing bear of a man. I felt emotions linked to almost every character in this drama, and for many of them, many different emotions…they were so well written and complex.
Some have compared this drama's main and secondary couples to Gone With The Wind’s two main couples and it is easy to see...The FL, Gil Chae is Scarlett, wild, fierce and strong...the ML, Jang Hyeon is Rhett, handsome with a devil may care face that hides an intense and passionate man underneath. The second male lead Yeon Jun is the Ashley of GWTW...he owns Gil's childlike adoration as the story begins but we figure out early on that he is absolutely no match for her...lolz...and Gil's best friend, Eun Ae is like Melanie in GWTW, a sweet, quietly resolute and strong young woman. I loved watching their stories separately and together unfold in My Dearest.
And I can not finish this review without a nod to this gorgeous musical score, which is so integral to this drama...truly the soul of My Dearest.
The whole ost is perfect but there are 3 pieces of music I found interesting called Afternoon Lady I, II and III. In my own head I could easily have called these pieces: Gil’s Story. For myself when I listen to the three, each of these three songs take me chronologically through Gil’s maturing into the spectacular woman she becomes from the depth she gains as a human being experiencing the ordeals of war and hardship. We begin with a free-spirited young happy go lucky girl (that's Afternoon Lady I) to a maturing young woman dealing with the deeply emotional traumas life can deal us with a touch of wistfulness for her lost carefree days (that’s Afternoon Lady II) and finally into a full blown truly awesome woman who’d faced trials that crippled others yet gave her strength and depth (and that’s Afternoon Lady III)…gorgeous music… And also must say the two themes With My Heart and My Dearest just make me cry when I listen to them…they bring all the emotions of this truly touching drama back to me…
I rode a roller coaster of emotions with My Dearest and I am beyond satisfied that I finally watched this amazing piece of work.
It is truly a drama I wish I could watch for the first time over and over again…
The direction and cinematography for My Dearest was incredibly beautiful, thoughtful and at times shockingly raw. We were not spared the ugly details of what war looks like, there were no soft filters when the cast cried ugly tears and makeup did nothing to disguise what one would look like after weeks of no sleep, no bathing and no water.
Each of the main character’s stories and many of the support character’s too had so much depth and were written so well, with flaws and strengths just like all of us, that I found it easy to identify with many of them. And kudos for how thoroughly researched and beautifully described the deeply complex and bleak historical events of Joseon Korean were in My Dearest. Often when I watch historical dramas I am so lost I end up watching with an encyclopedia next to me (or Google 😉) to help with my confusion… My Dearest never frustrated me that way.
Ahn Gun Jin as Gil Chae (the FL) portrays an irresistible charismatic, flirty and spirited girl and it's that tenacious spirit that holds her and so many others in this drama in good stead. Ahn Gun Jin plays Gil Chae to utter perfection, and in turn we are treated to an amazing character...you love her and you hate her and you'll get frustrated with her, but in the end she is simply marvelous!
Namkoong Min as the indomitable Jang Hyeon absolutely creates his character. He is one of those actors who can basically leave all his acting to his face…the subtle movements of his eyes and his mouth covey eloquently his intentions, and the way he speaks, especially to Gil will have you melting in your seat…he. is. magic. He moves his face, his hands and his body and speaks his words with an almost poetic grace, and when he cups Gil’s face….well….suffice to say, the lead's chemistry was really beyond perfect.
I am not going to write about every character as this would be a tome…but suffice to say there really isn’t a weak character in this cast and thanks to some amazing writing they all get to truly shine in their parts. But I will call out two who, I feel, you can not help but be so invested in throughout My Dearest: Kim Yoon Woo as Ryang Rum will break your heart, and Choi Mu Sung as Yang Chun is truly an endearing bear of a man. I felt emotions linked to almost every character in this drama, and for many of them, many different emotions…they were so well written and complex.
Some have compared this drama's main and secondary couples to Gone With The Wind’s two main couples and it is easy to see...The FL, Gil Chae is Scarlett, wild, fierce and strong...the ML, Jang Hyeon is Rhett, handsome with a devil may care face that hides an intense and passionate man underneath. The second male lead Yeon Jun is the Ashley of GWTW...he owns Gil's childlike adoration as the story begins but we figure out early on that he is absolutely no match for her...lolz...and Gil's best friend, Eun Ae is like Melanie in GWTW, a sweet, quietly resolute and strong young woman. I loved watching their stories separately and together unfold in My Dearest.
And I can not finish this review without a nod to this gorgeous musical score, which is so integral to this drama...truly the soul of My Dearest.
The whole ost is perfect but there are 3 pieces of music I found interesting called Afternoon Lady I, II and III. In my own head I could easily have called these pieces: Gil’s Story. For myself when I listen to the three, each of these three songs take me chronologically through Gil’s maturing into the spectacular woman she becomes from the depth she gains as a human being experiencing the ordeals of war and hardship. We begin with a free-spirited young happy go lucky girl (that's Afternoon Lady I) to a maturing young woman dealing with the deeply emotional traumas life can deal us with a touch of wistfulness for her lost carefree days (that’s Afternoon Lady II) and finally into a full blown truly awesome woman who’d faced trials that crippled others yet gave her strength and depth (and that’s Afternoon Lady III)…gorgeous music… And also must say the two themes With My Heart and My Dearest just make me cry when I listen to them…they bring all the emotions of this truly touching drama back to me…
I rode a roller coaster of emotions with My Dearest and I am beyond satisfied that I finally watched this amazing piece of work.
It is truly a drama I wish I could watch for the first time over and over again…
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