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What can I say, this historical drama rocks. The first few episodes will leave you breathless. You will find yourself lost in the action rooting for the hero to soldier on while dispatching everyone and everything in his sight who are trying to take his head off. Seriously, you will never view the game of polo the same way after watching this, I guarantee it. I can only describe it as a mix mash of Gladiator and the Iron Fisted Monk. If you desire action and suspense with a mix of martial arts and romance to round it out, then buy your ticket and stand in line for you're in for the ride of your life. Rated R; Mature Audiences Only! I find it sad that in ep 18 his sacrifices have gone for not. You cannot disguise the evil in men's hearts. Eventually it will catch up with them and they will be punished. Honestly, I should not say that his sacrifices have gone for not, for greatness does not come about absent sacrifice. I believe after ep. 20 he begins to distinguish himself as the God of War.
Time out, time out let me catch my breath. Truer words were never spoken for this quirky, delightful thrill of a ride drama. Right out of the gates this drama had me bawling with laughter. This notion of having an athlete being protected by a female bodyguard half his size who he can't stand is a wicked concept. You throw baseball into the mix and you can't lose. All the characters in this drama are a little off from Eun Jae's fanatical sports family and including their eccentric landlord, the robotic public relations executive down to her boss with his delusions of grandeur. How these two switch from being each other's nemesis to being romantically involved leaves you wondering, in what reality could this actually happen? But it does, and I look forward to it with anticipation. But wait, there's more ; read comment.
It's A Wonderful Life 'Korean Version'. Lesson: when you suffer injustice and life deals you a bad hand, rise above it and enjoy living (life is precious). Everyday is a miracle, so be thankful for every moment. I believe Kang Chil was being TESTED by being givin the oppotunity to redeem himself through love and contrition. It was touching watching Kang Chil's shadow and protector Gook Soo take on his burdens to lessen his pain. Undeniably his GUARDIAN ANGEL. I also found Kang Chil's forwardness and lack of social etiquette towards Ji Na rather amusing and refreshing. The passion they shared for each other excited the senses and melted the screen. LOVE IS MADNESS and UNPREDICTABLE in many ways. Both Ji Na and Kang Chil had to come to terms with the revelation that their intertwined destinies in the end might get in the way of their happiness. This hurdle definitely tested their love and commitment to each other. LOVE CONQUERS ALL, and you will be surprised to see how this story ends.
Words cannot describe how deeply moved I was after watching this drama. In between the doctor trying to make amends for her mistake and the geneorcity of spirit exemplified by both the mother and Dr. Min, surely renewed my faith in what is good in mankind. The self sacrifice Lee Young Shin made to shield her daughter from the ugliness of reality while preserving her innocence via leading by example made this heroine sympathetic and endearing. Although Young Shin's daughter has the disease, she in effect heals Dr Min of his sorrow through the gift of love. Five stars all around. I highly recommend watching this drama.
Not your average family. I looked foward to seeing what shenanigans they would pull in each episode. I loved the neurotic grandfather who never missed a chance to discpline his kids 'albeit grown'. He keyed the term pseudo family due to the endlesss coming and goings of his grandchildrens friends. I also enjoyed the tit for tat between the uncle Min Yong and sister in law, Park Hae Mi. If you want to be tickled pink, this is the drama to watch. A Laugh Riot.
I credit the villians in this Hkdrama for keeping it interesting. The plot surrounding the Sky Lord and den of assassins seemed to be more evolved than the quest of Baek Dong Soo becoming the kingdom's top swordsman. The antagonist definitely ruled the show. I was more drawn to the scenes showing the Sword Saint and the Sky Lord. The love triangle involving these two warriors showed more promise than that of the lead characters where there was absolutely 'no chemestry at all' (If you disagree I would like to read your thoughts on the matter). The subplot concerning Yi San fell flat, so be forwarned, do no watch the drama Yi San before this or you will be disappointed. Four stars for the supporting cast for the intrigue, suspense and quite honestly for moving the show along.
This brilliant historical adaptation of Korea's most revered Monarch, whose picture is emblazoned on South Korea's 10,000 won note, who laid the foundation for what is now Korea's writtten language based on the Hangul system made for an intelligent drama. Add to that the creative vision of a hidden insurgent noble class rallying to thwart King Sejong from accomplishing his vision while having him contend with a sole enemy bent on his destruction is master story telling at its best. I loved the imagery of him being portrayed as a quick tempered, foul mouthed monarch who had desires. This humanistic portrayal brought him down to earth and relatable. Honestly, if he existed today, I could see myself hanging out with him. In all, brilliantly written, directed and acted. Not to be missed.
This KBS HKdrama reenactment of Romeo and Juliet deserves an award for best drama series for 2011. A special honor goes out to the actors playing Seung Yoo and Se Ryung whose chemestry lit up the screen. I also loved the tit for tat between Princess Kyung Hye and husband Jung Jong whose relationship deepened as the series wore on. The treachery and betrayal Seung Yoo received at the hands of his best friend due to jealousy and filial loyalty was agonizing to say the least. Here's a lesson to be learned about the nature of true friendship. King Sejo's tyranny and lust for power knew no bounds. While forsaking and punishing all those who stood against him, "family no exception", in the end brought him only misery and pain. Seung Yoo's quest for revenge for his shattered life came at odds with the deep bond and love for the daughter of his tormentor. Everything about this drama tugs at your emotions from the unforgettable music score to the heartrending unexpected ending.
This was a very intriguing drama indeed. When the spectars are about to appear 'like in most horror flicks' they bolster the scene with foreboding music. I comment on this because in most HF's it is overdone and cheesy. Here it adds to the intensity of the scenes being played out. Analogous to the grudge, Ha Na's sister played a convincingly menancing Wraith. The way she goes about dispatching her victims was quite unsettling. The intrigue comes in the guise of Shin Ryu, who's mind control therapy makes you wonder if it was the Wraith or subliminal suggestion that caused the deaths of those victims. In the process you begin to learn that the true monster of the series is not the Wraith at all. What a twist, this drama does a good job keeping you on the edge of your seat. Nicely done.
Don't let the length of this drama dissuade you from watching. The time line of events and character development, follows a more fluid pace than what you would see in most drama's 16 to 20 episodes long. This drama takes you along the many trials Yi San has to endure to solidfy his place as one of Korea's Enlighted rulers. The championing of human rights, especially those of women and the underclass was ground breaking considering the times. You cant help but put yourself in his seat as he undergoes trial after trial meant to undermine his rule in effect making him stronger in the process. The romance between the two leads was compelling, although not central to the overall perfomance of this drama. On the whole, time well spent, I would watch it again.
This saga did well as a sequel to Jumong which I saw on television years ago. Song II Kuk made a seamless transition from grandfather to grandson and made the role memorable. The dynamic scenes portraying his rise to power leads you from a cursed fate and humble beginnings to a force to be reckoned with. If you love large scale cinematography, espeacially the fighting scenes, this is the drama for you. I was thoroughly entertained and so will you, I guarantee it.
The independent storylines within this drama series takes on a unique flavor combining occult folklore with modern investigative science. Each storyline surrounding the character Tae Yeon weaves a tale slowly uncovering the mystery of murders linked to his sisters death and the Nosferatu that sired him. The writers flare for the dramatic scenes using blood to conjure up images of death yet used to sustain Tae Yeon's life made my head reel. This is a deliciously unconventional thought provoking drama series with a twist. One of this genre's best.
I admit this Hkdrama has a very good storyline with quite a few battle scenes, unfortunately there was way too much overacting. This drama got bogged down between the close-up shots of the intense frowns 'that seem to go on forever' and the guttural screaming which overshadowed many of the key scenes. The actors seemed more like caricatures in a comedy when focused on their facial expressions not to mention those endless crying fits. It was difficult to take them seriously. This would have been a great drama otherwise, unless you believe that historically warriors actually behaved in such a manner. This drama for the most part was historically accurate except for the Houyon's nations role in the events chronicling this period. If these things don't matter to you when watching an HK series, then by all means you will find this drama very entertaining to watch.
In a roundabout way this historical saga more than exceeded my expectations. To say I loved this drama is putting it mildly. It captured my imagination by pulling me into the core of the action. Suspensful and thrilling are words I'll use to describe the joy ride I felt when tuning in to watch what may be the pinnacle of dramatic intrigue. Power struggles ruled the day pitting royals against nobles in an attempt to pave the way towards a stronger Baekje. The actors all played their parts exceptionally well. I however, have a bias towards Oh Yun Soo whom I see as my future wife in the next life. She made bad look ooh so good. I am accustomed to seeing her playing the heroine, so I was surprised to see her playing the villian so convincingly well. Cheers also to Seo Jin who breathed life into a character that lit up the screen. This drama will dazzle you and leave you speechless and in all one of this genre's best.
There is a lesson to be learned here in family dysfunction and bad parenting. Keep in mind that the young man at the root of this drama is 22 years old. OMG, how embarrissing to reach that stage in life with no social skills, no independence with the maturity of a 12 year old. Considering children from Cheobol families are reared to take over the business some day, this one couldn't be more ill prepared. What made this drama entertaining for me was the mother who domineered over her family with impunity. Suffice to say, her ambition and drive were admirable although her methods deplorable. You will develop a 'hate hate' view of this character as she schemes her way to the top. This drama has all the elements you look for in a series: love, passion, secretes, lies, treahery and betrayal. I guarantee you will not be bored as you're taken for a ride in the belly of the beast.
TSUNAMI OF INTRIGUE AND SUSPENSE
Get ready for some turbulence, this drama will have you swaying back and forth. This is a take no prisoners, no holds bar wave of intrigue. Like the title of the drama depicts, it is essentially a man who has his feet in both worlds. Respectable, able to stand firm and hold his own with the elites of society, yet savvy when blending in with his enivronment. A RENAISSANCE MAN, who started with nothing, overcame great tragedy and now is a force to be reckoned with. His endurance, strength of spirit and stance for what is right and true are admirable qualities indeed. Yet there is a darkness to his persona deep rooted in the pain and injustice suffered in his childhood. In the midst of this, there is a shared magnetism between him and the beautiful Ji Weon. A timeless connection where these two always seem to find each other. Soul mates destined to be together in spite of everything. I really enjoyed watching this drama, as I'm sure you will as well.