The drama is a dissertation on human nature and power, with the fall arc of Bang Won as its core. It was never…
I didn't talk about happiness. I talked about how the weak don't have to be dishonorable and cowardly. If you are looking for something very close to historical accuracy, you can watch a documentary; this is a TV series. Besides, what I'm saying is much more realistic than flying swordsmen (wuxia) :) I don't understand why you refuse to accept any criticism of this show. They dropped the cake and ruined it, it's that simple
The drama is a dissertation on human nature and power, with the fall arc of Bang Won as its core. It was never…
You are still misunderstanding me. My disappointment is not with Yi Bang-won. My disappointment is with the people around him whom we assumed to be the voice of conscience. These people could have been highly virtuous while the other developments remained exactly the same meaning, they could have preserved Yi Bang-won's historical reality. I am not asking them to distort Joseon's history. Just like how there were scholars who boycotted the government and established a life in a village when Poeun died; and even though Yi Bang-won set that village on fire, there were those who left and those who chose not to leave. This is what I mean. The series portrayed Yi Bang-won's thesis about the public as if it were the absolute truth. Yes, people may accept whatever happens out of hunger and the instinct to protect their own lives. The majority of the public might show this exact reflex, I have no objection to that. However, being weak is not dishonor. Someone among them, in particular, should have stood up and shown this stance. Only a few scholars showed this resistance, and they died. You need to understand this
The drama is a dissertation on human nature and power, with the fall arc of Bang Won as its core. It was never…
It’s not a matter of ideals, but a matter of conscience. In one episode, Moo-hyul said, "People like us don't think about the future, the educated ones do," yet almost all of them, from Boon-yi to Moo-hyul, acted with the future in mind. If they had only focused on what was right in front of them, they would have listened to their consciences and wouldn't have sided with Bang-won before he took the throne. Did you forget that Bang-won threatened Boon-yi right at the very beginning? Yet they continued to side with him for a while, even after he ascended the throne. The series started off incredibly well in every aspect (its plot development, character building, cast, music, and so on) but it ended up confusing conscience with ideals within its own narrative. Consequently, it completely muddled everything from the storytelling to the characters themselves. It's like dropping a beautiful cake on the floor while carrying it to the table. Ordinary people can risk their lives solely by listening to their conscience, and they have done so just like that little kid trying to save Boon-yi's brother. However, those very people of conscience suddenly transformed into individuals who think only of tomorrow, the future, and themselves. I can never agree with a message that tries to excuse this by saying, 'Well, that's just how human nature is
The series is a massive disappointment! Anyone looking to have a good time should skip it; it’s only for those who want to get frustrated. The show completely abandons the messages it sets up in the beginning and makes you lose all affection for the characters you loved. This is because the characters you thought were innocent and principled turn into mere henchmen. In other words, the most despicable characters in the show are portrayed as the good guys. Furthermore, it forces several plot holes just to reach its desired finale, which is absolutely unbearable.
Character Transformations (Beginning vs. Towards the End) Boon-yi
Beginning: Strong, resisting, and fighting back.
Towards the End: Ultimately becomes Bang-won's lackey, cowering in the face of his tyranny, submissive, meek, and whimpering.
Moo-hyul
Beginning: Protects the oppressed and the weak, even if he can be cowardly.
Towards the End: Becomes Bang-won's sidekick. Due to his absurd notion of "loyalty," he becomes indirectly responsible for the deaths of Yeon-hee and many other innocent people, failing to ever take a firm stand.
Boon-yi and Moo-hyul try to protect Bang-won until the very last moment. It’s a truly dreadful script. In my eyes, they turned into the most despicable characters. Regardless of how the story was supposed to end, everyone they loved should have turned against Yi Bang-won, a character who completely lost his humanity.
Additionally, the series pushes the message that the end justifies the means. You watch the collective conscience of the people, which was so vibrant at the beginning, shrink and become passive. No moral movement is left. Even though Yi Bang-won turns into another Hong In-bang, there is no strong opposing voice. Early in the show, despite all the corrupt figures like Hong In-bang, Lee In-gyeom, and Gil Tae-mi, we could see a movement driven by conscience. Consequently, the message the writer delivers at the end makes you grow cold towards even the most innocent people you trusted. If you enjoy that kind of thing, go ahead and watch it.
Script Inconsistencies & Plot Holes Banchon & Hwasadan: When Boon-yi's organization relocated to Banchon and declared neutrality, Hwasadan should have been able to monitor Yi Bang-won’s movements much more closely, strengthening their intelligence. The show previously implied that Boon-yi’s departure would cause major issues, but it completely fails to reflect this.
Cheok Sa-gwang's Target: The show changes Cheok Sa-gwang's target by claiming "this whole thing started with Mumyeong." However, Mumyeong didn't want to kill the king; they wanted to use him. This whole mess actually started with the death of Master Poeun (Jeong Mong-ju). Her real targets should have been Bang-won and Yi Seong-gye. Moreover, one of the children she raised died precisely because of Bang-won's coup ambitions.
Cheok Sa-gwang vs. Yi Bang-ji: Despite sharing the same ultimate goals, Cheok Sa-gwang and Yi Bang-ji fight each other, allowing Bang-won to escape.
There are plenty of other absurdities, but these were the ones that caught my eye the most. The issue isn't who wins or loses; it's whether those who are in the right fight and struggle for the right cause. The show tricks you in the beginning only to leave you stranded halfway through. In the end, there's barely anyone left to call "righteous," and those who are, end up dead.
The series portrayed Yi Bang-won's thesis about the public as if it were the absolute truth. Yes, people may accept whatever happens out of hunger and the instinct to protect their own lives. The majority of the public might show this exact reflex, I have no objection to that. However, being weak is not dishonor. Someone among them, in particular, should have stood up and shown this stance. Only a few scholars showed this resistance, and they died. You need to understand this
The series started off incredibly well in every aspect (its plot development, character building, cast, music, and so on) but it ended up confusing conscience with ideals within its own narrative. Consequently, it completely muddled everything from the storytelling to the characters themselves. It's like dropping a beautiful cake on the floor while carrying it to the table. Ordinary people can risk their lives solely by listening to their conscience, and they have done so just like that little kid trying to save Boon-yi's brother. However, those very people of conscience suddenly transformed into individuals who think only of tomorrow, the future, and themselves. I can never agree with a message that tries to excuse this by saying, 'Well, that's just how human nature is
Character Transformations (Beginning vs. Towards the End)
Boon-yi
Beginning: Strong, resisting, and fighting back.
Towards the End: Ultimately becomes Bang-won's lackey, cowering in the face of his tyranny, submissive, meek, and whimpering.
Moo-hyul
Beginning: Protects the oppressed and the weak, even if he can be cowardly.
Towards the End: Becomes Bang-won's sidekick. Due to his absurd notion of "loyalty," he becomes indirectly responsible for the deaths of Yeon-hee and many other innocent people, failing to ever take a firm stand.
Boon-yi and Moo-hyul try to protect Bang-won until the very last moment. It’s a truly dreadful script. In my eyes, they turned into the most despicable characters. Regardless of how the story was supposed to end, everyone they loved should have turned against Yi Bang-won, a character who completely lost his humanity.
Additionally, the series pushes the message that the end justifies the means. You watch the collective conscience of the people, which was so vibrant at the beginning, shrink and become passive. No moral movement is left. Even though Yi Bang-won turns into another Hong In-bang, there is no strong opposing voice. Early in the show, despite all the corrupt figures like Hong In-bang, Lee In-gyeom, and Gil Tae-mi, we could see a movement driven by conscience. Consequently, the message the writer delivers at the end makes you grow cold towards even the most innocent people you trusted. If you enjoy that kind of thing, go ahead and watch it.
Script Inconsistencies & Plot Holes
Banchon & Hwasadan: When Boon-yi's organization relocated to Banchon and declared neutrality, Hwasadan should have been able to monitor Yi Bang-won’s movements much more closely, strengthening their intelligence. The show previously implied that Boon-yi’s departure would cause major issues, but it completely fails to reflect this.
Cheok Sa-gwang's Target: The show changes Cheok Sa-gwang's target by claiming "this whole thing started with Mumyeong." However, Mumyeong didn't want to kill the king; they wanted to use him. This whole mess actually started with the death of Master Poeun (Jeong Mong-ju). Her real targets should have been Bang-won and Yi Seong-gye. Moreover, one of the children she raised died precisely because of Bang-won's coup ambitions.
Cheok Sa-gwang vs. Yi Bang-ji: Despite sharing the same ultimate goals, Cheok Sa-gwang and Yi Bang-ji fight each other, allowing Bang-won to escape.
There are plenty of other absurdities, but these were the ones that caught my eye the most. The issue isn't who wins or loses; it's whether those who are in the right fight and struggle for the right cause. The show tricks you in the beginning only to leave you stranded halfway through. In the end, there's barely anyone left to call "righteous," and those who are, end up dead.