Not in the negative sense of the word, just the opposite. Watching it feels like reading a novel from centuries past, with all the tragic, the heart-wrench, the twist, the suspense and the sweetness of the most classic romantic literature. A friend compared it to a novel by Judith McNaught, and I tend to agree with her.
One of the things I appreciated the most about this drama is the speed with which the plot is set in motion and the pace established. By the end of episode 1, I was fatally hooked. This is not a show which promises the viewer something, only to drag unnecessary by the middle or loosing consistency and cohesion at some point. If you like the dishes you are presented with at first sight, you will love the whole meal to the end. And a truly romantic meal at that, full of passion and not the usual luke-warm, lovey-dovey chirping.
The acting performances are outstanding as a whole. I have read many complaining about Vanness Wu's broken accent, but since I don't speak Mandarin I didn't notice anything amiss. On the contrary, I felt with his character a lot more than any other in the show, possibly because he has to outshine the delivering with intense facial expressions. Ady An's character can stretch one's patience at times, but this only adds to the actress's skill to make it so. And the chemistry is palpable.
The child is a wonder, no addition needed.
My only complain lies in the editing. This is a general problem I have with Taiwanese dramas: too frequent commercial cuts, filled with those brief reprises in which flashes of scenes to come are shown over and over. Once the viewer is forewarned, I guess it can be overlooked, although I personally find it terribly annoying. The music falls under the same curse: it's very good, but played too often and at times it overpowers the dialogues. If I hadn't liked this story so much, I would have gone insane.
Overall, this is a drama I'm ready to recommend to everyone in search of true romance. It's a timeless story, which does not rely on trend, or shiny, perfectly made-up actors and glamorous outfits. Does it have cliches? Yes it has, quite a few even, but they are well blended into a solid script and a plot which will never get truly old.
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(There are heavy spoilers ahead for those who haven't watched it, since this is a review mainly about the details of the plot.)Burning is the type of film that has multiple themes but still manages to bring them out clearly through layers of symbolism. Recurring themes are sprinkled throughout the run time, and seemingly unimportant details become essential to the appreciation of this work. The slow-paced, character-driven plotline may be a turn-off for certain viewers, but rewards those who are patient and attentive to details. In this review, I will try to unfold all the themes that I have observed throughout the story.
Theme #1: Fact vs Imagination
A recurring theme in the story is what is real and what not. This is first mentioned through Haemi's depiction of an imaginary tangerine, peeled and consumed between her fingers. "Rather than imagining its existence, you forget about its non-existence... and naturally your mouth waters", she says. Another instance is Haemi's cat Boil, which Haemi tells Lee Jong Soo to feed while she is gone. The cat is never seen in the apartment despite Jong Soo's frequent visits. This could be a reference to the "Schrödinger's Cat", a quantum thought experiment in which a cat is simultaneously dead and alive, until it has been observed. Another reference of this is when Ben says he is "here and there, at home and out travelling, in Korea and in Africa". Haemi also talks about falling into a well at the age of 7, feeling disappointed that Jong Soo doesn't remember him saving her at the time. After further enquiries, Haemi's family claims that there was never a well at their place, while Jong Soo's mother remembers the well having existed. Was there ever a well? Or was it all made up by Haemi? The dual nature of existence expands further to the actions of the main characters -- whether there was truly a greenhouse that Ben burnt down, why Haemi suddenly vanished, and whether Ben was the culprit behind Haemi's disappearance. Did Haemi run away to escape from her debt, commit suicide because of her existential depression, or was she really killed? Near the end, Jong Soo calls Ben's new cat "Boil", and the cat runs into his arms. We never know if this is a mere coincidence, or if Ben killed Haemi and adopted her cat. These events highlight the ambiguity and uncertainty of life, that we can never be sure about what we seem to know, and everything is up for interpretation and our own belief.
Theme #2: Presence vs Absence
Another theme is an unsettling tension caused by the desire for something and the lack thereof. The absence of Haemi and the lust that Jong Soo has for her, the absence of a mother figure in Jong Soo's life and his loneliness as a person living a solitary life in a rural area carrying the weight of his father's prosecution on his shoulders, the absence of the cat that is believed to exist, and the phone calls that remain silent regardless of anticipation. This unsettling tension is evident even to the audience, whose questions about the plot are never answered. Jong Soo fails to find enough evidence to prove that Ben killed Haemi, and it leaves us hanging forever even after the credits roll. Our emotions become one with Jong Soo, and we become Jong Soo himself -- we want to search for truth, to be certain that we know something, to the point we start to believe what we want to believe just for the sake of filling that void in our minds. The movie ends without answering any of our questions, because the essence of this movie is not what the truth is, it's how we and the main character react to not knowing the truth. Something is off, but we don't know what exactly is wrong. It's always the absence of something that makes our skin crawl. We keep answering that anonymous phone calls hoping that someone will say something, so that we can know the "who", "what" and "why", and every time they aren't answered, we feel more impatient and curious, and "burn" with the growing desire of receiving a response -- this brings us to the next theme that we will explore.
Theme #3: Burning
The title of the movie is "Burning", so there are plenty of "burning" symbolisms sprinkled throughout. The burning bonfire of the "Great Hunger" dance depicting Haemi's desperate search for the meaning of life, the burning greenhouses suggesting Ben's unruly and destructive tendencies, the burning clothes of Jong Soo's mother representing the desire to sever ties and erase memories, the burning scene of the crime when Jong Soo kills Ben representing his hatred, and the burning lust and passion that Jong Soo has for Haemi that is never satisfied after Haemi drifts apart from him and eventually disappears from his life. Even the audience experiences a burning sensation of wanting to unravel the mysteries but is unable to -- resembling a slowly burning pot that never gets to boil.
Theme #4: Working class vs The "Gatsby"
There is an apparent gap of living between Jong Soo/Haemi and Ben/Ben's female friends. While Jong Soo is unable to earn a living as a creative writer and Haemi is struggling to make ends meet with all that endless debt, Ben lives a worry-free life cooking pasta at home and blurring the line between "fun" and "work". Jong Soo cannot do anything but frown when he realizes that he has lost his love to a man in a speeding Porche. The way Ben yawns and his friends laugh is almost humiliating sometimes, even though they try to cover up their lack of interest and degrading attitude behind their noble facades. To Ben, people's possessions (and probably people too) are only toys to him, things that can disappear without a trace without drawing any attention from the police, because they are too insignificant to be concerned about. The haunting thing about this is how true it is. When Haemi disappears, nobody seems to notice or care at all, because losing one lonely and ordinary girl does not matter at all to the world. Regardless of whether Ben murdered her, the indifference of the world towards a girl's disappearance is brutal enough, and shows how frail a person's life is if they are a nobody.
Theme #5: The clash of characters
It was brought up multiple times that Jong Soo's "occupation" is a creative writer, yet we never see him writing except in two distinctive scenes. Jong Soo spends most of his time managing his father's farm, passing the time at home, feeding Haemi's unobservable cat, and satisfying his sexual desires. The only piece of writing we see from him is the petition he writes for his father who is being convicted, implying that rather than using his writing skills for creative production, he can only use them to solve his real-life issues. One of the possible reasons could be that he is incapable of writing, because he is merely a mindless empty shell stuck in his past. He resonates with Faulkner's work, because he thinks it resembles his own life (his past), but he has no other thoughts aside from this past, nor does he have enough connection with the outer world to come up with any story for a novel. Due to having a broken family and lacking maternal love he is unable to properly interact with the world and enjoy life, but deep inside he longs for a connection, and tries to address this loneliness through touching himself. He is only surviving, but not living. Haemi, on the other hand, is drowning in debts but living her life in complete spontaneity. She is free-spirited and always has her head in the clouds, as if she is drunk. She smiles at one moment, and suddenly bursts into tears in another. She dances wildly, strips herself naked, without social schema ever crossing her mind. Haemi may seem insane, but she could be the most sane character in the story -- the only character that is truly living, that knows what is real and what is not, and contemplates about life's meaning. Despite having plastic surgery, she is more raw and authentic than those who live wearing a mask. And this is what Jong Soo likes about her, but what Ben finds boring. The three characters have different personalities and backgrounds, which ignites interesting sparks in their encounters.
Theme #6: Gender roles
The movie briefly touches on topics of toxic masculinity and female oppression in society. Quoting from Haemi's friend, "there is no country for women", women are often subject to scrutiny and harsh standards. "You're ugly", "Only prostitutes take off their clothes like that in front of men", Jong Soo is the typical traditional male who applies the scrutiny of appearance and behaviour. To Jong Soo, Haemi is the target of his sexual fantasies, the serrogate of a mother figure, and just an "ugly" girl that he doesn't remember from his past but a smoking love interest after her physical transformation. Ben takes on the role of playboys in society, those who pretend to respect and treasure women because "women like that are interesting", but actually see women as objects of possession, and to the extreme in this case, "trophies" that can be collected.
There could be more themes in this movie waiting to be discovered, but the above is my take on its more easily accessible themes. Burning is a masterpiece when it comes to having multiple themes perfectly woven together and presented through a single sit-through. It is a hidden gem among the countless fast-paced Korean films of this era, as it manages to go against the tides to adopt a more relaxed pace of story-telling, and such attempt was highly successful.
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Not Going To Be For Everyone
Although I enjoyed the show overall, there were a lot of aspects where production fell short.I believe that this show originally was going to be 40 or more episodes long, but once they were done with editing and going through the censorship board it was cut down to 36 episodes. This was extremely noticeable for those who didn't even know the context of depleted episode count. There were many times it felt disjointed or unfinished. There were whole plots left dangling or completely unfinished. And though the actors worked their asses off, writing & editing stick out like a sore thumb on this one. As they failed the show don't tell rules of film making.
I think my biggest issue came a little past the halfway point with the climax of the 1st daughter and her husband's story. I was really enjoying their screentime and dynamic only for them to pull the rug out from under them completely, and never really put it to rights before moving on to the next storyline block.
4 of the 5(6 really but will touch on that later) Li sisters get to take on a leading role in their story with their husbands/future husbands for roughly 7-9 episodes each focused on a couple's love story. I wont be fully spoiling the finer details of storylines but some spoilers will occur simply because context is needed.
The show first kicks off with a short intro into 2nd daughter's dynamic with her husband of about 2 years, and setting up the Li family business and the personalities of the 6 sisters & mother. It then immediately goes into the 3rd daughters love story with her future husband, the cousin of 2nd sister's husband. The 2nd couple act as supporting characters mainly through this storyline as they are both related to the 3rd couple. I called the 2nd couple "The Double Agent Couple" because he was constantly asking/telling his wife about what goes on with the men & the husband was able to listen in on the sisters' conversations because he was already a member of the family. The 3rd couple I referred to as "The Scheming Couple" - the couple that schemes together, stays together.
The 3rd couple(Li Kang Ning & Chai An) have an Elizabeth & Mister Darcy chemistry with a healthy dose of Tom and Jerry thrown in for laughs. They can scheme against each other, but the second someone else tries to play with them the kid gloves are off. It's harmless pranks, pushing each other in business, and testing each other's limits. The chemistry between Lu Yu Xiao and Wang Xing Yue is great and continues to hold strong even when they take a backseat in the other sibling's storylines.
After 3rd get their happily ever after, the story shifts it's focus to the 1st daughter and her new husband(Li Shou Hua & Du Yang Xi). I call them the Scholarly Couple, because he places 3rd in the Imperial Exam & had she been a man she would have been the top scholar of a generation. All is well and good kicking off with a snub from the husband due to a misunderstanding prior to marriage. As they start to let their walls down and communicate it gets even better....and then the other shoe drops and the previous mature communication completely breaks down and the "self sacrifice" "I'll make you hate me so you can live." tropes come into play. This isn't the first case of abusive tactics used within the show, but it is the first time that draws blood from one of the siblings. In episode 17 to push her away he starts to act like a complete asshole and goes to whip their servant who the girls treat more like family. Shou Hua steps in front of the girl to protect her from the blow that Du Yang Xi is throwing down. He ends on striking his wife with a whip so hard it breaks open her layers of clothing and leaves a open bloody gash on her shoulder of about 6 to seven inches long. We NEVER get a full apology for this behavior. Shou Hua just all of a sudden "knows" that he is treating her like shit to "protect her". They divorce and eventually reconcile, but that scene is maybe 5 minutes and then no second wedding no show of what he did to win her back...nope...he just sort of knelt for a second and then all was forgiven...ick. I could never see him the same way after that. Because we didn't get to see him repent for hurting his wife both physically and emotionally I just never got over my ick.
Right at the tail end of 1st daughters story we get introduced to the future 4th brother-in-law. 4th couple(Li Hao De & Shen Hui Zhao) have the best storyline of all the siblings imo. Somewhat tied with 3rd couple. I refer to them as the "Justice/Truth Above All Else Couple" a Judge and his clerk fall in love. When given the opportunity to lie and be believed Hao De still tells the whole truth. Shen Hui Zhao goes from very strict black and white logic to letting emotions help guide him more. Hao De worms her way into everyone's heart and breaks down any emotional wall that someone puts in front of her. They can't help but love her, and her husband is no expectation. They have amazing chemistry together. It comes from trust, understanding, and faith in one another. When he goes to push her away he is honest about why he feels like he needs to protect her from his line of work. He doesn't ever strike her or fully leave her in the dark about his plans. The one time he does sort of leave her out of his plans it feels more like she's upset that he went off to play with others and left her out of the fun. Would really love to see the two actors Ke Ying and Liang Yong Qi get to play leading roles together in another drama in the future. They were natural and playful. Seriously some give him a leading role already.
The 5th daughter and her husband are a true enemies to lovers trope. Li Le Shan and Yang Xian hate each other on sight...they are the "Fire & Gasoline Couple" they only add to each other's flames, and violence is always the answer for these two. Yang Xian, played by Winwin, has the most character development of any other character in the entire show. He goes from a spoiled rich kid who wants to piss off his father by bringing a merchant woman home as a wife in episode 3 to a self-made hardworking and determined man ready to win his wife's love again in episode 35/36. He has the most complicated family dynamic that showcases the stark difference between a conniving noble household constantly seeking power and the more modest and loving merchant household the Li girls were raised in. You will love Le Shan the second she shows up on screen ready to castrate a man for daring to look at her sisters. She is the most like their mother. She will thrown hands first before trying to talk it out. She matures over time and knows when to use her words and patience over her club/rod. Even though Huangyang Tian Tian is the youngest member of the main cast she acts circles around almost everyone. Winwin, who is 10 years her senior in age,(the couple never kiss in their story as she was actually a minor during the filming so put your pitch forks down), holds his own. This is only his 3rd production, but he already has a good grasp on conveying subtle internal emotions of his character with his facial expressions. I think I thought that his character would be a secret martial arts/scholar just because Winwin himself is skilled in fight choreography due to his classical dance training. They have to repeatedly state he isn't a good fighter or a good scholar.
Major spoilers for last little bit...6th daughter is the adoptive daughter of the Li family and former betrothed of 3rd daughter's twin brother Pan'er. We were ROBBED, I tell you, of a deeper dive into Pan'er(Zhe Cong) and Qiong Nu's story. Because surprise bitches baby bro is alive and just a perfect blend of his mama & daddy. Seriously knight in shining armor should be his character description. They were my "A Very Long Engagement Couple". I don't believe their story was majorly cut down in post production editing so I wish the writers would have given us more of them in the script. They had a more interesting story than 2nd couple.
We were also robbed of the final boss 6 brother-in-law alliance team meeting. I found that whenever all the sisters or BiLs were together they had some of the better comedic/storytelling elements. As most of the guys have all worked together before their banter was seriously under utilized.
Overall I give it an 8.5-9 out of 10. If it was going just off of pure production critique I would be closer to a 5 or 6. The cast and chemistry brought up the score A LOT. I can't say with 100% certainty, but it feels like a lot of the budget went into the cast and not other elements of the show. There is more I have to say, but I've been writing for over an hour and need to start my day, so if you finish reading all of this, thank you for your time. If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below and I'll answer as best and as quickly as I can.
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I was surprised to see how amazing this movie was made to be. I mean, I expected to be good, especially since the main lead is one of my favorites but the story of the movie was a tear-jerker.
It made you cry and smile at the same time because of how creatively the plot was. The actors did an amazing job and I think I've re-watched it about 3 times now in the same month. I don't re-watch movies, especially foreign ones, but this one was worth every single time.
If you do happen to stumble upon this, WATCH it! I promise you will not regret it!
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Worth watching and rewatching.
It was nice to see a wholesome drama with a great cast.My problem with it is how country people are portrayed as somewhat stupid, and then again, not. It was not something that made me dislike it but just something I thought a few times during the drama.
It is fun and not too much sweetness. It is a "Back to basic" drama with a lot of life choices. I would watch it again because I love the scenery and cast. The story is nice too. The cast is good.
In the end, it all makes sense, and when you follow your soul, all good things come to you.
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People will probably say, "Oh, but BL is made by women for women," as if they are so right. But not this story. In here, there is zero heteronormativity. There is no dude saying shit like, "You will be my wife," or "Let me touch your boobs." There is no rape being normalized and romanticized. There is no "strong" guy and "weak" guy. The director and his team took every bad trope that exists in the BL industry and threw it in the garbage.
He did an amazing job. He said "fuck off" to all that bad stuff and created a good rom-com. He took the enemies-to-lovers trope and made it healthy (something that has never been done right in this industry before)! He took an actor who had never played in a BL before and made him feel comfortable. There is not even one awkward scene between the actors. With the main couple being friends in real life, it could have gone in a completely wrong direction, but it didn't. It’s comfortable to watch; their performance is believable and lovely. This series is a breath of fresh air. It took bad BL tropes and made them good. I don’t believe anything will ever surpass it, but this director might just surprise us again.
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Unexpectedly Refreshing—a gem of a drama worthy of anyone's time.
I was totally unprepared for how much this drama touched me. And I am not sure if it was because of the issues it tackled in anger management, paranoia, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive, or if it was in how Jung Woo (truly a gem of an actor) and Oh Yeon-Seo each executed their roles. Either way, it worked and worked brilliantly, from the writing to the acting and directing, a pleasant surprise that hooked me from the first three episodes. I quickly both invested and rooted for Noh Hwi Oh and Lee Min Kyung to overcome the pain and heartbreak that appeared to be eating at them. I continually felt time stop when I watched this drama, with my rude awakening coming with each episode's abrupt ending (abrupt in my mind's eye). I never wanted the episodes to end.When I started Mad For Each Other, I wasn't sure what I was getting, but before the end of the first week, I knew I wanted more, much more than the half-hour snippets three times a week. I like how fluid everything flows, graciously balancing the comedic, crazy, and serious moments. It's light with a somber undertone in how it tells the story of two people scarred by those around them, to the extent that they cannot live their daily lives without coming across something that triggers them emotionally or mentally. There is a lot to like here, but what I found most pleasing is how both Hwi Oh and Min Kyung recognized they weren't okay, be it emotionally or mentally, and seriously seek out and are committed to getting the help they need to better their former selves, and not just pout or play the blaming game. But that they do it in the same doctor's office sometimes brings on the laughs, craziness, and waterworks, as even the visits to the psychiatrists are marred with those moments that make the viewer laugh, cry, and be mesmerized by the fragility of it all.
Getting insight into both of our lead's past traumas was a disheartening experience, especially Min Kyung's. Not that Hwi Oh's is any less, on the contrary. In a way, their situations mirror each other. To be lied to and betrayed by the person (s) you trust the most, but not only that, to be threatened and used for that love is not an easy overcome, if even one can overcome something like that at all. So, Min Kyung's paranoia and traumatic disorders become even that much more understandable, but so does Hwi Oh's anger for being so easily slighted, accused, and shunned by the colleagues he swore an oath to protect and lay his life down for, including his family members and friends. It is easy to see how they and everything around him could readily trigger his anger. Yet, one can't help but empathize and rally behind them. And, boy, do they have chemistry; the moment they finally get together is golden; I love how tender and protective Hwi Oh gets of Min Kyung. I, of course, cannot get over how much I enjoy the association ladies from Hiwi and Ming Kyung's apartment building. I love how expressive they are all and so in tune, but more so that they were not too ashamed to admit their mistakes and take action when needed most.
But as much as I loved Hwi Oh and Min Kyung's bickering, fights, distrust, and even distress when they first met, I couldn't help but love how those fights and distresses enabled them to see each other's truths in each other. And before they even knew it, they were not only rooting for each other, but deeply caring for one another on their road to recovery, as the anger turns to laughter, and the fear and dark sunglasses turn rosy and trustworthy. But the show is also quick to remind us that recovery is a journey; it's not a straight, steady road. And that is the part that stands out the most for me with this drama. It takes its time to show us, the viewers, how fragile recovery is to those afflicted by mental and emotional issues. That there will always be ups and downs, discoveries, and setbacks. And in the case of Hiwi and Ming Kyung, it's the fragility of their trust that quickly crumbled just as quickly as it was developed at the resurfacing of ex-partners. On second thought, it's not even the ex-partners, but the painful memories and helplessness it drudged up. Luckily, despite the halting progress and discouragements, they can look back and see that those painful memories are just pieces of their lives and draw new strength from them, rather than have them be stumbling blocks.
I admire the matter-of-fact tone the drama takes to raise awareness and push acceptance of social taboos, whether it's through Samantha's transsexuality/transgender (Ahn Woo Yeon) or Min Kyung's presumed extramarital affair, physical and sexual abuse/assault, and mental health, and Hiwi's anger issues. But what's even more admirable is how everybody, from the part-time clerk (Lee Soo Hyun) to Hwi Oh, Min Kyung, the apartment association ladies (Baek Ji Won, Lee Hye Eun, Lee Yeon Du), handles and processes these taboos. Despite their initial shock or even disapproval, they can quickly work through whatever misgiving they have to acknowledge. Just because some people are different, it doesn’t mean they are inferior. And I think it's because they realized the crippling effect of fear and pain, giving them the capacity to be compassionate, loving, and understanding. That's the thing about pain; it brings people closer, because one cannot understand how people feel until they've experienced the same or equivalent kind of pain themselves.
As I already noted, there are many reasons why I loved this drama. Still, the biggest is the ease with which it articulates the overwhelmingness of mental and emotional health illnesses and the pain of being ostracized by society. And I cherish the messages it left me with, some of which were that the journey to full recovery takes time, and no matter how steep the road, maybe there is an end if one stays the course. Recovery includes getting better and achieving a full and satisfying life. And that people are often judged because of their differences, but the reality is that people will always be different. This doesn’t mean those who are different are “wrong”; on the contrary, it's those differences that make the world far more interesting.
A gem of a drama that you will not regret watching. As for the cast of the drama, brilliant, Jung Woo excelled at his role, as it was sometimes hard to watch how everything affected him, especially his helplessness in changing the awful ordeal the woman he loves went through. This leads him to resort to his fists, and as much as I am against violence, there comes a time when using one's words is just not enough. Jung Woo was great at making me feel his every being, but so was Oh Yeon-Seo -- I felt her confusion, fear, and stigma of living not only with a mental health illness, but also the accusation of having an extramarital affair. Kudos to the cast and production team for a drama that awakens the sense in every way possible.
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1This review may contain spoilers
Teen Emotions 2024
This series have more characters than the goddamn dictionary, literally, which dentist office did they find all these people in braces? Somewhere in Thailand, a dentist is missing half his clients, and they out here trying to start bands and find love. Also, did this drama make anyone else remember their first love? cuz, same!Listen, between the 1000 characters that we had, these children also had more drama/problems than the Kardashians. Damn, they were hustling. From emotional cheating, coming out, bullying, insecurities, misunderstandings, one-sided love, school work, abusive parents, blackmailing sisters, heartbreak, the band/singing, and to top it all off, braces! Like, how did any of them even passed their courses?
Now, why did these children came off more talented (acting) and their characters more mature than most veteran bls out there? That breakup scene between Aim and Phun was the most mature scene I’d seen in a bl. They took time off, cooled down, then sat and talked and even decided to be friends. And Noh and Phun were so mature as well with their feelings and how to move forward when there was Aim and Yuri between there. Kudos to the whole team for that, clap clap. Of course, this was a teenage drama, so there was a lot of unnecessary drama, insecurities and misunderstanding, but with the target audience, it was spot on, so again, kudos.
Even with its 3000 characters, this drama held my interest because it reminded me of my first crush/love. You know, those days when your friends push the two of you together on the football field, and you hold hands after agreeing to start dating, and you forget to breath for a second? Noh and Phun made me remember those awkward first love days, and that’s why I enjoyed watching this every Sunday.
So, yeah, with 15 episodes and 7000 characters, a lot of things happened in this show. Lots of side characters all out there doing their own thing, so I can't possibly review everything in details, so I'mma give a quick rundown of what I remember/held my attention on both plot and characters.
PHUN & NOH
When I find out this drama have like 10,000 characters already in the first episode, I thought I was gonna be confused on who the hell was who to even have a favourite, but Phun and Noh stood out, and managed to get my attention and keep it. In most shows that have these many characters, somehow, some side character always manage to steal the spotlight, but not here. The two leads did an amazing job. The way they handled their problems was how I came to love them. They were so mature and strong, making the characters very relatable. Which of course it's a testament to the actors and how well they understood the project. Almond (Phun) & Progress (Noh) were the perfect actors to play this version of the drama. Of course, the characters were teenagers and sometimes misunderstandings lead to unnecessary hurt, still, as a show about teenagers it was expected.
Noh is a better person than me though, being strong enough to let Phun go although they loved each other so he can keep being with his girlfriend, and then after they broke up, he even waited for Phun to sort out his feelings. Me and my broken-heart would have moved to Taiwan or something, cuz that must have hurt like hell. Most of the time, I felt angry and frustrated on his behalf when Phun gets jealous, and I'll go: 'Noh, my boy, let him sulk, he has a girlfriend, he has no right to get jealous!'
Phun on the other hand. I understood him as well, dealing with his feelings while also trying to do right by Aim, and trying to please his father. But he handle the whole Aim thing so well, and I'm glad he didn't even blame her, and also took some of the blame. I was happy that when Phun made his mind about Noh, he was all in and didn't care about anything else. That being said, no one, and I mean no one can outdo Phun when it comes to making that bitchy, unimpressed, sulky expression. Dude graduated from the school of sassiness with honours in attitude studies. Damn, sulk much?
These two grew as characters, overcome everything, and ended up together in what is a healthy relationship, surrounded by people who loves and cares about them. Well, there was like 15.000 characters, so they had a lot of people supporting them. I was happy watching their stories unfold, and glad everything worked out in the end for them.
AIM
I admire Aim’s commitment to not give a single eff at all. Literally, homegirl didn't even bat an eye when the whole thing with her, Phun and Li happened. I liked her, because let' be honest, they both cheated, emotionally or physically. She had her own thing going on with her mom, and then being rejected, finding herself. Yeah, her still being mature about everything and even knowing it was her fault for fumbling Li, was impressive. Also, imma need her and Phun to play a drama in the future as sibling/twins, cuz their expressions would be spot on! Loved her in the finale, still a Queen to the end.
EARN
Oh, Earnie, my boy. This child was so sad, falling for a bald-headed cute dude who let him down oh so easily, only for him to disappear from the drama like 80% of the run-time. No, where he go? Then, he came back in the final two episodes only to get his heart broken again. When he was sobbing. Yikes. Anyway, I liked Earn, he deserved so much more. If only Noh had a twin. That scene when he saw Noh sleeping on Phun's shoulder and got shock and hurt... I felt so bad for him, but like, I laughed a bit cuz, I love drama. I'm glad the friend finale made a move in the finale. As he should, with 17.000 characters in this show, if Earn didn't find anyone else, that would have been sad. Noh and Earn though, I aint saying anything, but I am not, not saying anything... wink wink.
YURI
I liked her, but homegirl needed to go find somewhere to sit and touch some grass. Damn, she made a whole relationship in her head, then proceeded to make it our problem when it didn't work out. Sure she was sweet and whatnot, but that girl needed to take a hike at some point or another. She knew Noh wasn't interested in her that way, they even talked about it, and still she kept her hopes up. Really, SUSAN?? I understood her though, unrequited love sucks, but she broke her own heart, so there's only so much empathy I can show her. Haha, love how bold she was in the finale, letting Phun know she's still around. Though, like how is this girl not looking for anyone else? This is a show with 20.000 characters, like, start looking elsewhere child. I really love how she defended Noh and them getting back to being friends, this is all I wanted.
OHM & MICK
Hahahah, Mick taking charge of their relationship was so fun. I was laughing so hard when Mick went 'yeah, I like you, so prepare yourself, imma make you mine.' and Ohm just went back to eating in shock, and just accepted his fate. Sometimes I wished Ohm would stop playing and accept the poor boy's feelings already, verbally that is, our boy did show his love through his actions. Ohm's best-friend energy was on point. Poor Film though, in the novel he said something along the lines of 'I can't believe I let a cat go look after my fish.' LMAO. No, but Ohm and Mick almost stole my attention for a moment. Glad they finally got together, and thank the eff Ohm wanted Noh as nothing but a friend, would have rioted if they'd ruined Ohm and Mick.
PER & WIN
First off, yes, Win is young so making bad decision is a must, but trying to get with the bad crowd and ruin your life because the guy you have a crush on don't like you back is dumb as hell. But, I love how he got brave and stood up to his military dad, thought at what cost??? #tears. Per was so over the place with his feelings, pretending not to want Win, dating that poor girl who had to put up with a jealous Win. But Per bit more than he could chew with Win's father acting like a waste of space, so I understand he got scared. I'm glad in the end he fought for Win and they had that two minutes of happiness. Though the ending of this couple was so sad, but also hopeful in that they promised to keep loving and waiting for each other. I really do wish they end up together, somewhere in the drama universe, they deserve happiness.
OTHER THINGS
- Ohm randomly, suddenly, having feelings for Noh in episode 14 was total BS, unnecessary and stupid. Whoever's idea it was to include that plot should be fired. Like, that friendship was amazing, did everyone and their mamas have to have feelings for Noh? I thought we moved passed the main lead being super special nonsense. Ew!
- Per's friend who liked him though... Pete? I felt so bad for him, cuz you could see his emotions on display in his eyes, and Per just... pretended he didn't notice. So sad.
- That one friend who went out to the other one and went, 'I like you, let's date' and then that was it. He was like, yeah, I have a boyfriend now, and the other boy was like, 'wait you were serious?' HAHAHAH, I loved it. No drama, no nonsense, just straight to the point, my kind of love. They win the couple goals. LMAO, in the finale, that dude was like... yeah we broke up. He needed me and I helped him, and now he don't so... what????
- Phun's father though, dude showed up one time and tried to be a father, like, go sit down. Also, is that actor like the only one auditioning for the father roles in bls or he's like the default choice now? I just saw him pretend to be a cop in Kidnap.
- Love how Noh and his house workers got along, also with his parents. At least not all the parents were portrayed as bad.
- Love how their age all the boys acted, their friendship was so chaotic and nice to see.
- That Jet or Jeremy girl was annoying as hell, they should have left her arse at the camp.
- Lowkey, but highkey liked EarnNoh though... like...
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LOVESICK 2014 Vs LOVESICK 2024
If you are wondering if you should watch the 2 seasons of the first adaptation of this drama, then I'll recommend it, because it had its charm. There are some difference, although they both follow the novel, the first version had lots of scenes/plot focus on the girl school as well, with lots of drama coming from them, so there was a lot more characters and storylines. Frankly, my glad the 2024 version removed most of the drama with Jeed and the other girls, it made the season 2 of the 2014 version dragged a lot. When it comes down to it, the changes reflect the current times rather than anything, so yeah, watch it if you want more Phun and Noh, cuz both couple did amazing job with the characters.
THE NOVEL (spoilers)
If you are looking for more depth, read the novel. It's in first person POV and Noh is the narrator, so we get to be in his head, and all his rumblings and thoughts are so much fun. I found myself laughing at his antics and inner thoughts throughout the novel. Since we are in his POV, everything is limited and we get told stuff that happens with others instead of being show, so there's a lot of telling and not enough showing, but we do get to connect and understand Noh better.
This 2024 adaptation of the novel is very cute and a heartwarming watch, although it had its heavy topics. It practically followed the novel, except of course a few charges to get with the times. A lot of people were waiting for a kiss between Phun and Noh. I saw some even complaining that, the ending scene in episode 10, when they finally agreed to become boyfriends needed a kiss. While I do understand, that scene was so emotional and well acted by the two leads that it didn't need anything more than what we got. Personally, I think the emotional impact with the viewers was better without the kiss.
But of course, for those who wanted more, I'd recommend you read the novel, cuz it has more intimate scenes. Which starts as earlier as in episode 3. In the novel when Phun first confessed that he wanted Noh, they had their first kiss, first time, twice. So, yeah, lots of things that both dramas didn't show, so if you want a more mature version, where you get a kiss and more during the let's be boyfriend scene, then do yourself a favour and read the novel.
All in all, of course this drama wasn't without flaws, the main one being, trying to keep up with the 20.000 characters and their storylines. I almost gave up, but then I kept going because Sundays were my drama watching days and I loved having five-six shows to watch XD. But even with its flaws, the team made a decent and coherent show that managed to keep my interest for 15 episodes.
FINALE:
Everyone, all 26.000 characters got their endings, and relationships and misunderstandings were resolved. I love how wholesome the whole series was, though that glass kiss in the finale was foul... like... seriously? I am satisfied with the ending we got. I am holding up hope for a special episode XD. This was a slice of life/coming of age bl that everyone who loves bls need to see. I will highly recommend it. The whole series was adorable and hilarious, filled with emotional and playful moments. I am looking forward to more from the cast, all 30.000 of them, they have a bright future ahead, given how talented they already are in their first work.
Until next time. Always Friday.
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Liar's Poker.
The Ingenious One is part of the new wuxia genre where the main protagonist is an anti-hero by classic wuxia standards. He is so highly evolved that intelligence and cunning rather than superior martial arts is his defining characteristic. Thus the ingenious Yun Xiang is aloof and cynical, he can run but he can't fight, he is righteous in an ends justify the means sense and his main tactical advantage is his big brain. This drama unfolds like a three-dimensional chess game, which can be very interesting or very boring depending on your attention to detail and interest in complex plots. Even though Yun Xiang can't fight, he is surrounded by characters who can so there are well choreographed action scenes to look forward to.After his village was massacred, Yun Xiang was raised as the sole disciple of the master of the mysterious Yuntai sect. The cerebral and commercial Yuntai and their rival the lethal and rebellious Lingyuan are successors of the legendary Qian sect. At Yuntai, Yun Xiang immerses in qiān shù 千术 or the secret Qian art of scheming and deception. They are sophisticated grifters with a controversial reputation that pay lip service to Taoist principles. One of their core principles is detachment as everyone is a pawn. Attachments and emotions make you vulnerable. This is Yun Xiang's lonely world view as he makes his way down the mountain 15 years later as a brilliant practitioner of qiān shù 千术. Time and all that brain washing did not erase his thirst for vengeance. Against his master's instructions, he makes a beeline for Nandu to uncover the truth behind his village's massacre. Along the way, he is besotted by the formidable and mysterious Shu Yanan. Sparks fly and their objectives appear aligned so they both let their guard down enough to form a wary alliance.
In Nandu, Yun Xiang's first order of business is to finance his mission. This focus on the practical money aspects of everything from running a sect to building influence is fresh and interesting. To achieve his goals, Yun Xiang plays monopoly using qiān shù 千术 or deception to control a bank, a port, a casino and a silk business. As it turns out, this brilliant protege of Yuntai is just a talented con man, a grifter. He boldly plays liar's poker with higher stakes at each turn with the power brokers of Nandu. Everyone is a pawn until they are not and he starts to break Yuntai's core principle of not letting emotions be it love or friendship mess up the con. The drama could have better highlighted how his hidden opponent was plying the same schemes against him. With narrow margins against a hidden foe, does Yun Xiang's growing affection for his pawns become his Archilles heel?
A recurring criticisms of this drama is that Yun Xiang is not that ingenious. The narrative fails to emphasize how under resourced and outnumbered Yun Xiang is. When he shows up in Nandu, he has no allies, no money and only cold clues as to what happened 15 years ago. So it's not fair to expect him to be three steps ahead when he can barely tell friend from foe. We are told he is a complex and morally ambiguous revenge driven character but his backstory is so cursorily shown that he seems like a blank person with no family or friends or history. This impression is amplified when his revenge gets sidelined as he stumbles upon the greater conspiracy and that plot-line takes over the rest of the drama. Similarly Shu Yanan's history is murky until late in the game and her relationship with Wen Cong is never explained. Thus her decisions and priorities are difficult to understand and seem at times inconsistent. Their romance developed too quickly and hiccups at a point the plot should have been building momentum towards a climax rather than digressing into romantic angst. Even though Chen Xiao and Mao Xiaotong did their best, their character designs and relationship evolution did not give them that much to work with.
In sharp contrast, the supporting roles are better written and steal the show. The priorities and drivers of Jin Biao, Mo Bufan, Kang Qiao, the Su family and Liu Gongquan are understandable and empathetic. I was too invested in their well-being and happiness to enjoy the irony of Yun Xiang's role reversal into a puddle of a tropey female lead whose whose life's mission gets hijacked by love. The standout entertaining roles areJin Biao the assassin with a heart of gold and Mo Bufan the money loving banker lured by greed and whipped by fear. Liu Gongquan's entrance also lifts the plot at a point it was sagging. I enjoyed Wang Zirui's chemistry with Chen Xiao better than that of Mao Xiaotong's, which seemed forced. While the role is well acted, Kou Yunjie is the biggest moron in the entire drama. His actions make no sense other than to facilitate plot movements. Only lazy writers take short cuts in plot design by dumbing down characters. The so-called brilliant mastermind and his main dogsbody win more as a result of a huge information and resource advantage rather than exceptional tactics. Their motives for engaging in such a vast and long-dated conspiracy with dire consequences for failure are not compelling. Petty antagonists like Tang Xiao are more believable with their penny-ante tricks and more basic instincts.
The plot picks up into a predictable but overall satisfactory ending after the final conspiracy and mastermind is unveiled. The main antagonist is designed to not show themself or their plans too early. This comes at the cost of making their motive unconvincing and is pointless as their identity quickly becomes obvious anyway. While based on true historical events, the plot design is often used and does not stand out in any unique way. After years of scheming, the mastermind's grand plan is full of holes and overly dependent on single sources of supplies and too few and too unreliable sources of manpower. This kind of shoddy plan would have failed on its own without much help from anyone! But I was too busy enjoying the confiscation of irreplaceable family jewels, a nice end surprise twist and watching villains face gruesome consequences. The message that detachment is a flawed Yuntai mantra; that emotional attachments can swing the odds both negatively and positively is lost in the finale. I enjoyed this drama but recognise there are many holes and unanswered questions, the pacing is not exciting enough and the momentum build disrupted by unnecessary romantic angst. It is a story that had a lot of potential and a wonderful cast but did not come together in the best way. Thus it would not be fair of me to rate this more than an 8.0/10:0 as one of those far from perfect but still highly enjoyable dramas.
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This review may contain spoilers
A pleasant but ultimately unsatisfying adaptation
This Kdrama version of a well-known Cdrama is a retelling for tweens that softens the male lead's character while over-infantalizing the female lead. In this remake we have a series that could easily be rebroadcast on Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel. Whether or not you like it might depend on which male lead you prefer -- the Kdrama's or the Cdrama's -- or whether you can tolerate the Kdrama female lead's lack of maturity as she gets older and enters into adult life.While from the beginning the Kdrama version of 'A Love So Beautiful' has a male lead, Heon, who is quite likeable, his counterpart in the Cdrama starts off as very hard to love, and who must face and acknowledge his own deepest flaws if he has any chance of prevailing in the end. The Cdrama scene where this acknowledgement finally happens is one of the most powerful in the entire series, and is all the more moving because we know how far the male lead, Jiang Chen, has had to come in order to get there.
Because the Kdrama's Heon starts off so nice, there is little distance for his character to travel as he faces his own shortcomings -- shortcomings which, of course, are minor in comparison. Unlike the Cdrama's Jiang Chen, Heon is not troubled by abandonment issues that have caused him to develop an almost impervious layer of emotional armor. Instead, Heon comes off more like a guy who's just a little too shy and needs to come out of his shell.
I know many viewers will prefer this non-threatening kind of male lead, and who am I to say they're wrong. However, in making Heon so comfortable from the start there is much less of a reason for him to strive to better himself. Nor does he help us to understand the reason for his unwavering dependence to Sol Yi. Heon is a character who, after all, we're meant to believe can't live without Sol Yi. Unfortunately, because Heon's eventual redemption in the Kdrama is less necessary than in the Cdrama, it's also less impactful, and deprives the Kdrama of an essential emotional turning point. We never really learn who Heon is or why Sol Yi's love has meant so much to him.
As for Sol Yi, there are two issues: (1) she is perky and over-animated to the point of constantly maxing-out my Cringe-o-Meter, and (2) from the get-go the actress who is cast in the role looks too mature to play a high-schooler. This impression is made even worse by the way the director has Sol Yi constantly exploding with child-like exuberance, squealing with delight at little provocation.
If this is the woman that Heon can't live without, I wish the series would make more of an effort to show us why. As it is, his approach to Sol Yi has a brotherly vibe that it never quite shakes off. In fact, toward the end when he kisses her on the lips it feels uncomfortably close to watching someone kiss his own sister.
Kim Yo Han, who plays Heon, is a K-Pop idol. He does a serviceable job in his acting debut and is cute enough to inspire the fantasies of viewers who wish they could have their own Heon in their lives. Enjoyment of fictional media -- be it books, movies, or drama series -- usually involves some degree of identification with the characters, so with such a handsome and cuddly leading male I can understand why in some corners the Kdrama version of 'A Love So Beautiful' would have a lot of appeal.
The other actors cast in the major roles fit the toned-down nature of the series very well, and are worthy counterparts to the characters in the Cdrama version.
The Korean remake of 'A Love So Beautiful' is worth a look if you want something fluffy to fill your time between other, better-scripted and better-directed dramas. While I have to admit that I was disappointed by it, I can see where it will provide some pleasant companionship for viewers who are more romantically inclined.
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1--------------------------------------------------------------
This drama (as well as its source material) depicts a love story wrapped around a social critique of the often cruel role "beauty standards" play in women's daily life. Meeting those beauty standards has become a source of stress for women worldwide, but in South Korea --as this drama suggests-- not being part of the "ideal beauty" results in a harsher treatment from society. This drama also emphasizes that the expectation to look a certain way affect everyone in different ways -- with no one --regardless of whether they are considered naturally beautiful or not-- being spared.
In that respect, Mi-Rae (our female lead) isn't the shallow person the summary might imply. It takes just the first episode to understand how she became a victim of society's expectations. She didn't undergo surgery to become beautiful, she just wanted people to accept her as a "person," which is incredibly heartbreaking.
The issue that arises afterward, one which she hadn't anticipated, was that people would still judge, reject and critique her. And that's where the story takes off. We not only follow Mi Rae as she gains confidence, but also other interesting characters who'd been suffering because (or for) their looks.
It's worth noting, however, that the pacing of this show is slow compared to other rom-com dramas. I'd say it's a stretch to tag it with comedy, since the comedic moments, despite how successfully they are implemented, are few and far between. That's not to say the show is weighted down by an overload of melodrama, because it's not. Instead, this show can be described as a sliced of life focused on self-reflection which, if you're open to it, will get you emotionally invested in the characters. Be forewarned, many of the male characters in this show (and some of the female ones) will definitely rile you up on more than one occasion.
If I have one critique apart from the wardrobe, it would be the disbalance in the portrayal of the male characters. Except for a few gems, all the male characters were written like jerks and that can be off-putting. Some balanced between jerks and good guys could've helped the show feel less toxic.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Interesting & lovable
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Kang Mi Rae (female lead played by Im Soo Hyang): She's a character who's suffered all her childhood because her looks didn't meet her peer's standards. She grew up as an introvert, keeping away from people, looking at other people's lives from afar and wishing she was allowed to have fun. Her frustration drove her to seek solace under the knife and, though she now had an acceptable face in society's eyes, her insides were still bruised and broken. Mi Rae is a complex and balanced character. If push comes to shove she'll fight, but mostly she tries to fly under the radar. She's smart and almost a natural when it comes to creating perfumes, but she struggles with an inferiority complex and doesn't like standing in the limelight. Though the actress looks quite old for the role, it is worth noting that the character was conceived by the webtoon artist as having an "older girl" look, so it stays true to the original intent.
Do Kyung Suk (male lead played by Cha Eun Woo): He exists on the opposite side of the spectrum from Kang Mi Rae but also grows up feeling lonely. He's a handsome, smart, strong, kind and very straightforward guy whose isolation came as a result of presenting a front of "perfection" and "hating" anything to do with beauty (for reasons later explained). As a result, he's socially awkward, brutally honest and a harsh judge. Though, to his credit, he's a character whose pride doesn't get in the way of realizing when he's made a mistake and make amends. Though some viewers didn't like his acting, personally I found his stoic way of delivering lines grew on me more and more as the show progressed.
Yeon Woo Young (second male lead played by Kwank Dong Yeon): He's such a good character that he ends up giving Kyung Suk a run for his money. He's kind, honest, selfless and very mature. Though his character is a bit imbalanced (as in he has more strengths than flaws), he's still a lovable man who, despite his good points, doesn't come off as being "too perfect". He's a character who helps those around him without expecting anything in return, even when he's financially struggling. Overall, his charming personality earned him fans within and outside the show.
ANTAGONIST: Complex and pitiful
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Hyeon Soo Ah (second female lead played by Jo Woo Ri): She's someone stuck between Mi Rae and Kyung Suk in the spectrum of society's judgment. Though she's considered a natural beauty, she's not a stranger to suffering. Her struggles come from forcing herself to live in service of what other people expect of her. She's a character who's not only dishonest with other people, but with herself as well. Though she earned quite a bit of hate, I personally found her character very pitiful. The drama ended up brushing over her backstory, so if you're curious you can always check out the webtoon to get a better understanding of her motivations.
PORTRAYAL OF ROMANCE: Slow paced, healthy & nurturing
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I mentioned before that the show is slow-paced and this is true for the romance as well. However, that pacing allows the progression of classmates to friends to lovers to feel very natural and endearing. There's a lot of cute scenes between the leads without making it cheesy, which is a plus for me.
Some highlights of the romance:
-Their relationship is always healthy.
-Both characters are new at romance, so they take their time to find their ground and, though they stumble, they do it together.
-Both learn from each other, creating a very balanced relationship.
-They learn to communicate what they want and need so the other person can understand, making their relationship not only refreshingly endearing but also nurturing.
OVERALL: Highly Recommended (and the webtoon as well)
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This is an interesting slice of life that follows a group of characters trying to find their place in the world and build the courage to live by their standards, rather than society's judgment. Though it's slow-paced, the plot is interesting and the mood is often lightened up by warm moments of affection between the leads, their families and their friends.
Keep in mind, I saw this as it was coming out. So binge watching it might give you a different experience because the plot moves slowly and the acting can sometimes come off looking/sounding very wooden. However, this is doubtlessly a memorable show that'll give you food for thought.
If you're able and willing, I'd also encourage you to read the webtoon. There's a lot of insight to be gained that will help you get a better viewing experience. There are scenes, especially at the beginning of the drama, that'll make more sense if you know the context the webtoon provides.
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Now THIS is a badass Female Lead!
I’ve been waiting for a FL like this for so long but time and time again we get immature, cringy and FLs that are prone to making wacky decisions.I’m at episode 14 and let me tell you - She is perfect. She is fierce, decisive, skilled, stunning and elegant. Everything she did just made sense. If she keeps this up she’ll be my favorite character of all time.
The leads have amazing chemistry and the team + Princess are SO lovable!! I can’t wait for more episodes.
**UPDATE.
Even with the wonky pacing after episode 34, it is still my favorite Wuxia and Ruyi is STILL is my favorite character of all time. The love story is deep, mature, sexy and romantic. The brotherhood is strong. Character growths were abundant and I fell in love with each of the characters. With this show, it’s definitely about the journey.
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If it's not broken why change it?
Is my first time doing a review, also English is not my first language but i hope whoever reads it understand my points.I think most people that read the webtoon would agree that while the casting and acting of all characters was close to perfection, but the changes done to the characters narrative were really bad, the comic was Hyun's fight between his inner demons and his love for his friends and the growth of all of them while being in the end of the world, while in this adaptation i didn't feel most of Hyun struggle nor his triumph against his own mind, his relationship with most characters felt like something was missing and the changes to some of the characters felt pointless, if you are gonna change them is to make them better, but aside of a couple characters, almost everyone changed for the worst.
If this was a completely original drama it would have been a lot more enjoyable, but being an adaptation it was impossible for me to not compare them both, it felt worse than the original story.
Don't get me wrong, i still enjoyed it and think it was a good drama so i still recommend people to watch it, but you should keep in mind that if you got the time maybe reading the original comic will give you a better product.
P.S: Also I'm really annoyed about the overuse of Warriors, who the hell thought it was a song appropriate for the scenes it played?, it ruined my immersion in key scenes.
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First, if you are choosing to watch this drama due to historical context reenactments, you might be disappointed because it is fictitious rendition of the historical events, so creative liberties have been taken. Personally, I didn't mind the changes and/or omissions of history to suit the drama because I was more interested in the fiction of the story rather than the history being presented.
Second, there have been some people who have said that they really didn't find the music to be fitting for the tone of the drama. I completely and wholeheartedly disagree. I think ALL of the music was exceptionally fitting and helped really build the scenes. Even though there was some EDM, rock, and bagpipes in the OST's, they all blended well, and none of them took away from the drama.
Now that I got those out of the way...
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What was amazing:
The friendship felt between Hwi and Seon-Ho was impeccably powerful. Their friendship lasted through the good times and the horrific times. There was a brotherly love they hold for each other that motivated them to fight and die for each other. I loved every moment of it. Especially when they only had bad and worse options to choose from - it was hard to watch, but you can't help but keep watching it happen.
Writers did a great job blurring the lines between "good" and "bad." A lot of times in historical dramas, all the main characters are "good guys" and the opposing party is clearly the "bad guys" - there are no blurred lines. But this drama is deeper than that. It very powerfully demonstrates that when you believe that what you're doing is best for those you love, it's not "wrong" or "bad" just the best option out of the choices you have. The plot in regards to good vs. evil was so well crafted. There were only some characters that I truly thought were bastards (such as Seon-Ho's father), but for the most part, I could see where they were coming from and couldn't hate them for it. Which leads me to my next point...
I ADORE Seon-Ho. Yes, he made some really awful decisions that put Hwi through some really horrible things, but they were the best decisions be could make in trying to protect Hwi and Yeon. AND he tortured himself every day knowing what he did to his best friend and sister. So no, I couldn't hate him, not once. He was actually my favorite character.
I think the writers also did a really good job of writing a story that WASN'T about people fighting over the throne for themselves. The main characters are trying to protect what they view as "their country" but they go about it in vastly different ways. And they do indeed have very different ideas as to what their "country" is too. The writers did a great job writing about historical figures that got mixed up with royalty, but it wasn't about them being king and instead about them surviving in their respective worlds.
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While I really enjoyed this drama, I do need to address some issues:
Unnecessary romance - I am usually ALL about the romance, but honestly, the romance between Hwi and Hui Jae was unnecessary (it reminded me of Hwarang's romance, to give comparison). I don't think it was very well developed at all (we were just meant to acknowledge that they love each other and fight to the death for one another after only 3 or 4 encounters). Personally, the story would have still been just as great without the added romance.
Battle wounds - Simply put, characters recovered really quickly and easily from mortal blows during battle. Some characters would be stabbed through-and-through and would be able to fight within a couple of days with little issue or ride a horse for hours without issue. *shrugs* It's a plot convenience, I know, but highly unrealistic. It didn't distract me much from the drama, but I feel like, either make the battle wounds more realistic to fit the intended plot or have the characters suffer the actual battle wounds given.
Hwi's character development (specifically in comparison to Seon-Ho) - Seon-Ho was extremely well-written with lots of gray areas - he had to make a lot of horrible decisions, live with his choices, and fight for what he thought was right, constantly evolving. Hwi felt like the weaker written main character, lacking the same amount of depth that Seon-Ho was given. I know that they are different characters, but I would have really liked to witness Hwi experience the same amount of depth in plot realizations that Seon-Ho had even though their experiences were obviously different.
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I would like to sincerely compliment all the actors in the drama - they were all wonderful and powerful in their roles. But I would like to say that Woo Do-Hwan stood out exceptionally to me. He is exceptionally handsome, especially in historical attire (LOVED the long hair on him). And he simply did the most amazing portrayal of his character. Again, all actors were amazing, but he stood out to me the most. Do you realize how hard it is to have a man cry and truly portray the emotion without the audience giggling at the silliness of it on screen? Woo Do-Hwan portrayed Seon-Ho's emotions on all fronts with expert precision - you could truly feel his character's pain, turmoil, grief, and sincere love for not only Hwi, but Yeon even after her death. I will definitely be seeking out the dramas I've yet to see with him.
Ending: I don't like tragedies in general and typically avoid them. I started this drama before it was complete and got hooked before the drama was tagged as a "tragedy." Nonetheless, I really liked this drama. The ending makes sense and I'm not upset about it being a tragedy. I say this to hopefully give courage to those people reading this who are unsure about the "tragedy" tag.
Rewatch Value: Yes! I will definitely rewatch! I don't watch too many historical dramas, but this one is incredibly fast-paced and the story is worth witnessing again (tragedy or not).
This drama is not for everyone and definitely more targeted for more seasoned K-drama watchers. It's got some heavy plot and turmoil, bloody battles, little-to-no romance, and a tragic ending - all of which aren't usually mainstreamed. But, if the trailer intrigues you, perhaps give the first episode a shot - that's all it took for me to get hooked!
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