I wasn't disappointed. Shin Min Ah shone more than ever in this, in my opinion. Even More than Lee Jun Ki. Both made the love story really endearing and not sappy at all.
The cast was great all in all. I particularly liked Kwon Oh Jung and Hwang Bo Ra couple. They provided the right comedic relief.
Also Yoo Seung Ho was great as the Jade Emperor, and Kang Moon Young as the magistrate's mother (although she was a bit histrionic at times). Perhaps Yeon Woo Jin was the one I found lamer.
I don't like Han Jung Soo as an actor, but I admit he usually fits the roles he portraits, I guess due to his physique.
I loved the storyline, I guess that's because I love folktales. I love the fact that the plot is inspired by a traditional tale.
The soundtrack is amazing. It reminds me of the epicness of Chuno. I'm planning to get it.
If you're not fond of sageuks, this one is for you. You won't be bothered by all the political hassle you usually find in this type of genre, and it's overall quite entertaining.
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It is beautiful to still remember, even after 9 years, the story and the impression that I had of all production, casting, and storytelling.
It was a drama after which I started to like more and more the actor Lee Jun Ki and actress Shin Min Ah. I loved the chemistry between them and how they were able to deliver the characters' feelings and development. They are really good at acting.
For the story, I can say that it is one of the best stories among the ones that I liked most. What is good in itself can be represented well too, so I want to praise the production too. The scenes were good and the developments between the facts were comprehensible and reasonable.
I am really happy to have watched it at the right time, to introduce me to this new genre of drama and production.
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Very good historical drama.
Definitely worth watching for every fan of Lee Joon Gi and historical dramas, as well as fantasy. I wasn't sure about the series at first, as it's kind of old for me now... but I gave it a shot and did not regret it. The story is great, though I don't like the "heaven" parts that much, the acting is great with exception of main female villain. The chemistry between two leads was strong and I was very satisfied with the happy, yet original and not very predictable ending, as well. I saw better dramas, but this is one of the best historical ones, for sure. Reccomend it!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Unique twist on historical romance
9/10 is my rating. This is a 2012 South Korean period romance also known as "The Tale of A-Rang". It has 20, 60 minute, episodes.Kim Eun-oh (Lee Joon-gi) is not interested in being a Magistrate when he comes to Miryang, a town besieged by ghosts. Eun-oh is tricked by a high spirited virgin ghost, Arang (Shin Min-ah), into becoming the Magistrate and winds up agreeing to help resolve the mystery of her death. Much to his annoyance, as he does not like helping people, particularly ghosts and, most particularly this ghost, Eun-oh discovers something about Arang that compels him to do just that - help her.
Refusing, at first, to call her Arang (which means virgin ghost) Eun-oh instead nicknames her Amnesia/Memory Loss. They quickly determine that Joo-wal, a handsome nobleman, and possibly Arang/Lee Seo-rim's fiance, had something to do with her disappearance. As they search for answers, along the way, they must also avoid A-Rang being captured by the Grim Reapers.
Things in Miryang may be way more horrifying than they seem and the Gods themselves, The Jade Emperor, The King of the Heaven (Yoo Seung-Ho) and Yeom-ra, The King of the Underworld (Park Jun-gy) are watching as events unfold.
I liked the unique angle where she was a ghost and he was someone who could see ghostws. The beginning was a lot of fun because she was a tough and mischievous spirit. The Magistrate was cold and uncaring to start then underwent a high degree of character development that unearthed the gentle caring person he was inside. The evil people in this, the Fairy, and Lord Choi, you wanted to see things turn and go bad for them. The love stories between Arang and the Magistrate and their friends the Shaman and his "slave" were very cute and heartwarming.
Spoiler Alert ** What I did not like was the ending. You knew from quite a long way before the end that she would have to go to Heaven or Hell and would have to leave him. The Jade Emperor made it clear, when he turned her from a ghost back into a human, that her time was limited to three moons. I thought perhaps the Jade Emperor would be so pleased with Arang and the Magistrate for ridding the world of the evil that he would make an exception and allow her to stay alive. I wanted her to be able to live out her life with the Magistrate. Especially since he did not start as a good Magistrate, he was only doing it because of the trick, but then, as his love for Arang started to thaw his character and reveal his true nature, he became something the people really needed. I wanted to see him continue in the role of Magistrate after Arang finally admitted her feelings for him. It took a long while for Arang and the Magistrate to come together as she foolishly was concerned about him loving her and then having to leave him. She thought that it would be more painful that way than for her to reject him. I also hoped the young master was not involved in the murders as much I hoped it would turn out the evil fairy was controlling him. In the end he had done those things for her promise to make him wealthy (he had been a starving child) and just had her wipe his memory so he would not suffer the guilt. When she stopped wiping the memories (to punish him for not doing as she wanted) he had such guilt that he committed suicide and became a Reaper. I wanted to feel sorry for him, and I still did a little, but I could not condone what he had done and the reasons why he did it enough to want to see things go well for him. The Evil Fairy had loved a man and they both died (did not catch how) and when they reincarnated they were brother and sister. They also became immortal incarnations that lived in the heavens, a Reaper and a Fairy. She though wanted to return to being a human and wound up being cast out and having young women killed to steal their energy and possessing the bodies of some in return for favors. I think it was supposed to be a tragedy that painted the evil fairy in a more sympathetic light - but it never made me feel that way. It made for a sad and somewhat creepy (she still had feelings for her "brother") side story. The Magistrate, in the end, went to hell in Arang's place sacrificing himself, before she could stop him, so she could go to Heaven. And this is what I really did not like. Watching the whole story and seeing how the villagers had come to love and rely on the Magistrate, it made me sad that he essentially died in their eyes. The Magistrate also earned the respect and had a touching relationship with his father and you knew, for him, his son died. Arang and the Magistrate's love story continued when they were reincarnated and, as small children, it shows them playing together and her giving him a hard time because he does not remember being the Magistrate or her and she remembers everything. It flashes forward and shows them as young adults and she is still giving him a hard time for not remembering, they are obviously in love, and he basically says why does it matter. However, as much as they pointed out that Arang and the young girl, who died in the place of her love, the young master, were not the same person, the two reincarnated "Magistrate" and "Arang" did not seem like the same people and it felt like they never got to live out their love story. I know reincarnation includes beliefs that people who are close in life may come back to be close but the relationships may be different like a father may come back as a son, etc. I am not a fan of the reincarnation angle for love stories as when individuals reincarnate they may have elements of the previous life - but they are essentially different people. So it is very good and I would highly recommend but would say do not expect too much from the ending.
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I will admit it was a chore to watch some episodes, but it was still good enough to push on. We still had so many mysteries to unravel!
Overall, there were so many things I loved about the show.
- there was no second female lead (apart from the Shaman). aka no other girl interested in the Magistrate, no girl stirring up trouble
- so many fun fantasy themes I love! ghosts, grim reapers, gods, fairies, etc.
- the romance was slow in the middle of the show but once both admitted to their feelings, they were such a strong couple. I loved it
- always love a male lead protecting his love interest, I live for that
After finishing this show, I have so much love for it. So so glad I watched it. I wouldn’t say it was a ‘binge-worthy’ show, but I did truly enjoy it
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Story: I thought the story was different from other historical dramas (and it didn't involve a king or anything unless you count a royal command, which is a nice change of pace from what I usually see in sageuks), and parts of it were very comical. This is a drama that'll keep you guessing until the very end, and maybe even questioning! There were times when I honestly felt like the drama was straying from the main plot, but, it turns out I was very wrong! Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the martial arts and CG; they were professional and not at all cliche. The story is seamless, and I applaud the scriptwriters and directors.
Acting/Cast: The acting was pretty good; I especially liked Oh Jung/Dol Soe and Bo Ra/Bang Wool's acting. One thing that bothered me though, was the expressions. Maybe it's just me, but Jun Ki/Eun Oh's expressions just seemed forced and Woo Jin/Joo Wal's was half the time blank.
Music: The music for this is probably some of the best I've heard in a drama! Sure, there were the usual ballad-type songs, but then there was also a rap that was appropriately played during fight scenes (which surprised me, coming from a sageuk), a zither was played in one or two episodes, and the background music was absolutely lovely. It's music that I wouldn't mind fangirling over. I love it that much.
Overall: This is a great drama to watch, and I regret not starting it earlier. Oh, and I think the ending for this was absolutely adorable. I made my friend watch the last 4 minutes since I just adored it a bit too much.
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I'm a k drama watcher since 12 years ago. I have encountered so many korean drama that I almost feel sick and bored about it.
This drama is exception. It is eating my heart, soul and lingering in my mind and my body everyday. Until now.
This drama is a treasure. You have to understand the themes of the underlying hidden in the plot and story.
Many feel disconnected or stopped watching from this drama because they said, Arang has become less feisty etc.
How come they didn't understand the character of Arang Im not able to comprehend. When she is a ghost she only think of herself and her lost soul but along the way when she has becoming more human, she discovered new emotions and underlying feelings that she never felt before that make her vulnarable. Inside she is much more aware but she is strong as ever. Willing to sacrifies.
Arang and The Magistrate is a themes of finding yourself, love, death, life and human heart & memories.
It is very complicated, realistic, conflicted and complex themes I ever encountered and it is presented with an excellent portrayal of character, sizzling out of the world LOVE STORY and CHEMISTRY and a very strong, well written and well thought plot.
There is certain flaws but what they give is overcoming the flaws and explodes your emotions in the most subtle way.
It is masterpeice in my heart. A drama I will cherish for a whole lifetime. It is topped many drama that I have watched, even my classic top fav, I'm Sorry I Love You.
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when i hear her voice really i want to break the screen and that was so weird (Kang Moon Young)
i 've to admit she is a great actress but i don't like her at all may be because of her much plastic surgery made me feel uncomfortable with her face expressions during the drama
i don't know y exactly and i'm sorry for that
i am really disappointed cause i love shin min ah so much cause i expected strong drama
at the beginning i found the drama boring then interesting then very monotonous and long without no need
the music was sssoooo weird how come they put rap music on that period
it was really weird and stupid and doesn't fit the drama at all
the romance was very cold and lukewarm for me
some events weren't logical also at all
although Yeon Woo Jin was the bad guy in the drama but i got sympathized wz him so much and i didn't like his end
the end of the nobleman wasn't satisfying for me at all
although it was happy ending for the two main leads but it was silly for me
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Arararang
Well, this was a painful watch to get through. The comedy was genuinely bad and the jokes were godawful. What made it even much worse was the terrible background music of these "comedic" scenes. It killed me slowly bit by bit with every attempted joke. The long runtime drove me insane. Just like any other drama with a similar formula, the story doesn't move until the last few episodes. The story itself was weak and padding it with comedic relief characters and side stories wasn't feasible to begin with. The cast performance was fine but they didn't have much to work with in the first place.Was this review helpful to you?
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