AAAAAA WHAT A MASTERPIECE
I’m writing this right after watching, and I’m overwhelmed with emotions I haven’t felt in a long time. The entire season kept me on edge, and not a single minute felt boring. Unlike the first season, which I struggled to finish over two months, I devoured this one in three days.
Yes, I originally started watching this drama because of Lee Joon Gi, who is my favorite actor of all time (honestly, if not for him, I probably wouldn’t have finished season one — it became too dull for me at some point). I thought this season would be even worse than the first — as often happens with second seasons in dramas. I’m so glad I was wrong.
Of course, there were some downsides — the visuals were hard to get used to at first. I think the idea of working with color to immerse the viewer in the atmosphere wasn’t bad, but the filter made it hard to watch — definitely not a winning decision. The editing and cinematography were distracting too. It looked different, but not in a way that worked. Initially, I constantly felt like I was watching from the sidelines, standing behind the crew. But I don’t want to lower my rating because of this — my emotions from the plot matter more. The storyline never disappointed me. If the first season had predictable character actions, a drawn-out story, and annoying, pointless dialogues, this one was the opposite.
About the characters:
At first, the cast change was hard for me. Even Lee Joon Gi didn’t feel quite right initially because I loved Saya, played by Song Joong Ki. It was even sad not to see the actress who played Tanya (though she annoyed me). But in the end, it was just a matter of time — I ended up truly loving the new characters (not just the main ones). Tanya’s development impressed me the most. She became smarter, more determined, cunning, wiser, and calmer (though I’m not sure if that’s thanks to the script or if the new actress simply underperformed — the previous Tanya was quite emotional).
As for Lee Joon Gi’s characters — like I said, I missed the old Saya (and a bit of Eunseom too — I liked him as a character, but my personal attachment to Saya was stronger). But over time, Lee Joon Gi made me fall for his versions of the characters too. At some point, I even felt like he’d been playing them from the start.
Tagon, to me, was complex and multi-layered from the beginning to the end. He’s a strategist and manipulator, building an empire on lies and fear. His ambition and cruelty are justified by the world he lives in, and his eyes constantly show the battle between the monster he’s become and the man he could have been.
Saya — as I said — is my favorite character. He captivated me because I could almost never predict what he was thinking. Yes, in season 2, I got to know him a bit better and could anticipate his actions, but he still remained the most enigmatic character for me until the very end. He intrigues, fascinates, scares, and makes me doubt my own judgments. Saya is a knot of contradictions. He’s cold yet vulnerable, cunning yet genuinely loyal, ruthless yet noble. There’s something more in every look of his — pain, rage, a desire for freedom, and at the same time, a longing for people who would love him. His greatest strength is his mind and ability to think several steps ahead. Even when I thought I knew what he would do, I still doubted myself until the last moment. Saya is a character you want to watch endlessly. He’s the heart of the intrigues and the most mysterious figure in the story. I want more of his story, more of his inner and outer struggles. I missed him so much this season, so I hope season 3 focuses more on him.
Also, Taealha surprised me even more this season. She’s no longer just the cold-blooded schemer she seemed before. She showed how strong she is — not only as a politician and strategist but also as a woman fighting for her place in a world where she was meant to be just “Tagon’s wife.” I can’t help but admire her.
Set design and costumes:
One of the first things I noticed was the sets and clothing. They were incredibly beautiful (though I still have questions about the armor and some other elements that looked like plastic).
Music:
I think they could’ve used more Korean-style music that would’ve suited the drama better, though I still liked the overall sound.
I NEED SEASON 3 RIGHT NOW!!
Let it be the final one — though I have a theory there might be four seasons. I just really don’t want another cast and crew change 😭😭. If the pacing stays the same, I’ll be happy.
The season 2 finale ended on such an intriguing note. Ahhh, I can’t wait to finally see the Neanthals start taking action — and SAYA, I NEED MORE SAYA!!!!! I think the next season should be packed with epic events. I hope I hear news about season 3 soon. Amen.
Yes, I originally started watching this drama because of Lee Joon Gi, who is my favorite actor of all time (honestly, if not for him, I probably wouldn’t have finished season one — it became too dull for me at some point). I thought this season would be even worse than the first — as often happens with second seasons in dramas. I’m so glad I was wrong.
Of course, there were some downsides — the visuals were hard to get used to at first. I think the idea of working with color to immerse the viewer in the atmosphere wasn’t bad, but the filter made it hard to watch — definitely not a winning decision. The editing and cinematography were distracting too. It looked different, but not in a way that worked. Initially, I constantly felt like I was watching from the sidelines, standing behind the crew. But I don’t want to lower my rating because of this — my emotions from the plot matter more. The storyline never disappointed me. If the first season had predictable character actions, a drawn-out story, and annoying, pointless dialogues, this one was the opposite.
About the characters:
At first, the cast change was hard for me. Even Lee Joon Gi didn’t feel quite right initially because I loved Saya, played by Song Joong Ki. It was even sad not to see the actress who played Tanya (though she annoyed me). But in the end, it was just a matter of time — I ended up truly loving the new characters (not just the main ones). Tanya’s development impressed me the most. She became smarter, more determined, cunning, wiser, and calmer (though I’m not sure if that’s thanks to the script or if the new actress simply underperformed — the previous Tanya was quite emotional).
As for Lee Joon Gi’s characters — like I said, I missed the old Saya (and a bit of Eunseom too — I liked him as a character, but my personal attachment to Saya was stronger). But over time, Lee Joon Gi made me fall for his versions of the characters too. At some point, I even felt like he’d been playing them from the start.
Tagon, to me, was complex and multi-layered from the beginning to the end. He’s a strategist and manipulator, building an empire on lies and fear. His ambition and cruelty are justified by the world he lives in, and his eyes constantly show the battle between the monster he’s become and the man he could have been.
Saya — as I said — is my favorite character. He captivated me because I could almost never predict what he was thinking. Yes, in season 2, I got to know him a bit better and could anticipate his actions, but he still remained the most enigmatic character for me until the very end. He intrigues, fascinates, scares, and makes me doubt my own judgments. Saya is a knot of contradictions. He’s cold yet vulnerable, cunning yet genuinely loyal, ruthless yet noble. There’s something more in every look of his — pain, rage, a desire for freedom, and at the same time, a longing for people who would love him. His greatest strength is his mind and ability to think several steps ahead. Even when I thought I knew what he would do, I still doubted myself until the last moment. Saya is a character you want to watch endlessly. He’s the heart of the intrigues and the most mysterious figure in the story. I want more of his story, more of his inner and outer struggles. I missed him so much this season, so I hope season 3 focuses more on him.
Also, Taealha surprised me even more this season. She’s no longer just the cold-blooded schemer she seemed before. She showed how strong she is — not only as a politician and strategist but also as a woman fighting for her place in a world where she was meant to be just “Tagon’s wife.” I can’t help but admire her.
Set design and costumes:
One of the first things I noticed was the sets and clothing. They were incredibly beautiful (though I still have questions about the armor and some other elements that looked like plastic).
Music:
I think they could’ve used more Korean-style music that would’ve suited the drama better, though I still liked the overall sound.
I NEED SEASON 3 RIGHT NOW!!
Let it be the final one — though I have a theory there might be four seasons. I just really don’t want another cast and crew change 😭😭. If the pacing stays the same, I’ll be happy.
The season 2 finale ended on such an intriguing note. Ahhh, I can’t wait to finally see the Neanthals start taking action — and SAYA, I NEED MORE SAYA!!!!! I think the next season should be packed with epic events. I hope I hear news about season 3 soon. Amen.
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