wonhwa

I thought the show was well done, but very, very bleak. I also realized while I was watching it that no matter how scary the virus was, it didn't make the most interesting antagonist simply because it was incapable of actual malice. I can see why the production team ramped up the villainy of the human characters to compensate but it did make it hard to want to "save" them.

It felt like watching Oliver Stone direct a K-drama. In some ways that was good. In some ways that was very, very bad.

The title is taken from a poem that was the first original Korean work published in the new hangeul script that King Sejong, Taejong's son, created. In the poem, the six dragons are the six illustrious ancestors who lead to the founding of the Joseon dynasty. The show keeps the phrase from the poem, but picks its own six "founders".

Her other shows that I've seen are Tree with Deep Roots, Queen Seondeok, Jewel in the Palace and H.I.T. Of those, Tree and QSD are my personal favorites, although the others are solid as well.

Thanks WhiteLilly. I felt the overall production was solid, but I also felt that it was constantly trying to manipulate me into tears without doing the necessary set up. That, combined with the messy ending, left me underwhelmed. I can see why folks like it but it wasn't really for me.

It has been awhile since I watched Tree, so there were definitely places where I couldn't remember exactly what they were referencing. This is the first long sageuk that I've watched while it was airing, which is a bit of a different experience from binge watching. I agree that I like the immersive experience of being able to go immediately to the next episode, but I also enjoyed being able to discover/comment on things with everyone else who was watching.

Although some of the upcoming sagueks sound interesting, they have writers that worry me. I'm hoping some of them may be good. I'm curious about Monster - I loved Giant by the same writer, but I haven't like his recent shows nearly as much. I may go back and watch some earlier shows that I've heard good things about now that I have more free time.

Thanks, rainecat and Emrys. This show was an amazing way to spend six months - I will miss it so much.

Yes. It's so rare for writers to trust audiences enough to make all of their characters flawed and complicated. An extraordinary episode.

Yes, although I personally would have a hard time classifying this as a "feel-good" show. Things work out, but I found myself more depressed than happy by the end of it all.

Things are tense through most of the drama, given Taejong's other concubines and the fact that he kills off pretty much every male relative Wongyeong has. However, there is also an obvious mutual respect between the two, and the relationship is always complicated and interesting, in part because of the fantastic actors playing the roles. Both characters manage to be smart, strong and dangerous, while remaining human and understandable. You may not like everything that they do, but there is definitely a strong connection between them. BTW, I'm also really enjoying Six Flying Dragons at the moment as well.

It certainly kept me watching, and I liked the fact it made some unusual choices, but it didn't quite work for me as an overall show.

Queen Seondeok and Tree with Deep Roots are by the same writing team, and I highly recommend both. Jumong has a similar feel and is also excellent.

Thanks Ranchik! Despite occasional unevenness, I really enjoyed it and wish it were better known.

Yes, long sageuks are definitely a time investment, and I also have several super long ones I haven't gotten around to starting yet. I do love the depth of character development you can get in the longer shows though.

Uhm Tae Woong is fabulous in Resurrection. I had some issues with the story structure, but it's worth watching just for his performance(s).

Very funny!

Thanks, Amrita!

I do miss this show. I don't usually rewatch k-dramas, but I might end up making an exception for this one (in spite of the Bond-esque villains).

Excellent review, and one that captures much of what I felt about the show. I don't always like the hot dramas, but, as you said, this one takes everything that Kdramas do and did it better.