The Bridal Mask Korean Drama

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Sep 7, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

uenorie
65 of 69 people found this review helpful
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- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 10
Gaksital is what happens when you put together an amazing storyline with complex characters, excellent actors, epic cliffhangers, and breathtaking music.

Gaksital’s genre is not a genre I’m usually inclined to, but I was immediately captivated when I first read about its synopsis. At that time, I knew this drama was going to be phenomenal, and I was right. I started watching it as soon as it aired, and I never looked back. Gaksital made every single week of its run memorable for me. I don’t think I could ever forget the mental and emotional memories this drama has given me. It gave me so many feelings that I don’t think I know which is which anymore.

What made this drama so intense was the conflict between the two male leads. Kangto and Shunji defined Gaksital. They were the heart of the show, and I don’t think this drama would have been that successful without those two. Joo Won and Park Ki Woong definitely deserve some awards for their outstanding portrayals of these intricate characters.

Action-packed and beautifully written, Gaksital is a once in a lifetime drama that would surely strike one’s heart. read more
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Sep 7, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

Ako
34 of 41 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 9
- Rewatch Value 6
At first I wasn't planning to write a review but after seeing the end I just thought I had to write it. This is one of the best drama ever ( you can see my list and I watched quite a lot of dramas so it's hard for me to choose my favourite ones ).. The cast is just perfect, I couldn't imagine anyone else but Park Ki-Woong for Shunji's role as I couldn't imagine anyone else but Joo Won to play Kang-To. At first I thought it was seriously addictive but it's more than that, I mean, it's important to watch this show. I've learnt so many things while watching this drama not just from the historic side but also on the "human side". The fact that so much people fight for freedom what's going to happen to them and how they will succeed became the most important thing for me while watching this show.
Actually I began to be a bit bored around the last 5 episodes but anyway I decided to watch it and I'm so happy I did that because in the 150 dramas I've seen in my life this one has the Best.Ending.Ever. Seriously, I can't get over it.
I'll stop here and one last thing. Watch this show.
( Sorry for the mistakes there could be, English is not my maternal language.. ) read more
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Sep 10, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

Rourou
21 of 23 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 9
- Rewatch Value 8
1) The reason I watched this:

I was planning to watch this drama after it finish airing because I thought it would be a nightmare to wait for the following episodes yet I found an MV about the first four episodes and couldn't wait any longer so I end up watching those four episodes back to back and that's how the journey began.

2)Storyline/Plot:

Generally speaking, the drama's storyline is unique; gathering numerous factors of perfection to create marvellous events with amazing changes each episode. Moreover, script writers knew how to keep viewers interested even if there were unwanted events during the episode, its ending will leave you impatiently wondering about what will happen next. This drama's story is an intelligent combination between breathtaking events, amazing characters changes and great action moments.

Positive Points:

*This drama had one of the most outstanding story's development since it went deeper and deeper every episode in order to show many angles and many events that became greater with each episode passing by.

*Script writers knew how to insert "epic moments" in order to drag the audience intention, when we're not waiting for something to happen, it surprises you and give you the "OMG" moment; that was intensively present in this drama. I just love it when a storyline surprises me, it makes it hard to predict anything from the beginning till the very last end.

*Main Genres:

--->Action: Even though this is mostly an action drama, fighting scenes weren't randomly present, it was calculated in order to make viewers eager for those scenes. The action in this drama has delivered a lot of emotions especially when the situation get intense.
The action scenes were always exciting to watch whether it's because of the storyline that lead to action development or because of characters who had amazing gestures and moves during action sequences.
This drama's action differs from other action dramas, the national hero element(Gaksital) gave the drama uncommon plot changes but that doesn't deny the fact that martial arts were perfectly present. I've seen martial arts in other Korean action dramas and I have to say that it didn't feel like Bridal Mask's martial arts; it was smartly added in a fascinating way to make it absorbing: It was flawless.

--->History: This drama was set in the 30's during the darkest period of the Korean history. At the beginning, it may seem disregarded because "Joeson"'s history is none of our concern yet as the drama goes on, events will make it impossible to imagine this drama in another era. Watching historical dramas may seem boring for some people but this drama's setting wasn't the ancient history which made it modern enough to enjoy watching it.
The historical element has made the plot more expressive because the writers focused on the historical side more than the fictional side.

--->Romance: Actually, it could be considered as a negative point since it hasn't deliver a lot of emotions. However, for an intense drama that's full of action, it was the right amount. It's true that it was light but it had deeper meanings since most of the romantic stories started in the past and continued in the present.
The romantic flashbacks were smartly added, it wasn't like most of other dramas that add flashbacks to gain space in the drama's time, it was present were it needed to be.

Negative points:

*As for me, I didn't sense any negative points in this drama's storyline yet there were some political talks that bothered some viewers since it took a lot of space yet that doesn't affect the general story not even the slightest bit.

*Another point: some people wouldn't enjoy this drama if they didn't watch it while it's airing because there were too many repetitive scenes at the end of some episodes.

Story: 9.5/10.

3) Acting/Cast:

*Joo Won:

I haven't seen Joo Won in any other production so I was introduced to his acting skills through this drama and what an introduction! I was so trapped in his acting skills especially at the first episodes and as the drama went on, I became certain that he has an outstanding acting and let's not forget action scenes that were perfectly done.
The role was grasped in an amazing way, I've felt the actor through his screaming, his moves and everything that he's done *Claps*
Speaking about the character, Kang To amazed me ever since the drama began. I was moved by his personality and his charisma. As the character changed, it was like there was another person: Different perspective and different actions that built a whole different character.
Whether it is Lee Kang To, Sato Hiroshi or Gaksital, the character will give you an amazing ride to make you fall for it more and more with each episode passing by.

*Park Ki Woong:

I've only seen him in an horror film before so I am not very familiar with his acting skills. Here, his acting reached me in a perfect way plus the action scenes where he took part were done in a great way. We've got to give credit to Park Ki Woong for his amazing acting skills and his incredible way of portraying the role.
Shunji's character is an unpredictable character, it had many crucial changes that made it unbearable somehow. The changes in Shunji's character are beyond belief, the personality switch was incredible. It was sort of synchronized with Kang To's character transformations yet Shunji's deviation was much profound.

*Jin Se Yun:

I haven't seen her in anything before, I would rather not to judge her as an actress so let's say this was an introduction. However, it would have much better if this role was portrayed by a mature actress.
Mok Dan character didn't appeal to me like Kang To's and Shunji's, that's all what I will say.

*Other cast: Starting with Rara to every supporting role, this drama has an amazing cast that knew how to pull off their character in a great way. There were many characters that can stick in your mind because of their acting skills or their action performances. It was well chosen even though I don't recognize half of them.

*Relationships:

--->Bromance: The bromance in this drama was consuming from the beginning until the end; there was a lot of hard and sweet moments between Kang To and Shunji. The conflicts between the lead males made this drama more captivating. Everything that happened between Kang To and Shunji was interesting to watch; it was one of the most exciting relationships in this drama.

--->Romance: Like I said earlier, the romance was light so we can't possibly talk about chemistry but the side romantic stories were good.

--->The triangle: This drama's triangle is nothing like other Korean dramas triangles, it was gripping due to Shunji who was nothing like other Korean second lead males and Rara who's also different from any other second lead females.

*Appreciated characters: While watching this drama, I liked many characters like Katsuyama and Abe; those characters aren't very important in the drama's storyline yet they left a great impression.

Cast: 9.5/10.
Acting: 10/10.

4) The ending:

Many people were surprised by the ending. As for me, I thought it would be a similar ending ever since I started watching the drama because an intense drama can't have a calm ending.
I appreciated the ending, it was a realistic closure for this type of drama plus it makes sense.
The closing scene is masterpiece of art, it was so great to watch.

The ending: 9.5/10.

5) My impression (How did it affect me):

*I was captured by this drama ever since I started watching it, I kept impatiently waiting for its episodes to come out every week; it literally made me obsessed over it.
*This was one of the few dramas that I didn't skip any parts while watching it. 28 episodes is considered long somehow but I haven't felt those 28 hours passing by.

*Is this drama memorable: Absolutely! This drama gained a spot in my favorite dramas list, it's one of the greatest Korean dramas that I've seen so far, it brought me the unexpected and the originality.

My impression: 10/10.

6) Overall:

It doesn't matter what genres of dramas you like to watch, this drama have the potential to make you go obsessed over it. I recommend it to anyone who's looking for a great storyline with breathtaking acting skills and amazing music and let's not to forget the marvellous action scenes.

Overall: 10/10. read more
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Sep 9, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

KawaiiRice
19 of 22 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 10
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG.
I need a moment. I need to get my mind together because this drama just blew me away! This is the 1st time I wrote a drama review because this drama is just the best thing ever! So please go easy on me! ^^

Anyways.. I did not just finish the drama now! I watched the last episode on the day it came out but I needed time to write the review..

First things first, why I like this drama:
1. It is so original. It's different all the typical dramas of rich guy, poor girl and all that not-so-sad sadness. When you watch this drama, the emotions all seem real. There's a reason for fear, for sadness, for pain, and for happiness. There are great losses in this drama, which is why there's sadness among the characters. It's not like the characters are sad because their "love" forgot about them (as seen in typical dramas, which I don't dislike at all).
2. Most things are unexpected. This goes back to the originality of the drama. The scenes don't have a similarity or parallel to another popular drama, which is why you get all excited for every moment. :D

So all those categories that I rated....

Story- The story is essential! It's what made things interesting! Usually historical dramas have boring parts but this historical drama is modern enough that you could relate to it. It also teaches a lot about history and gives an insight on how cruel the Japanese were towards Koreans and other Asians. The plot shows great development. There's many rising and falling points so the drama doesnt excite you all at once or bore you all at once. Makes you want to watch more. Really, I did not get bored in any episode because every episode had an exciting and somewhat calm moment. This drama is meant for wide range of people. There's action, history, and romance. What else do you want?

Acting/Cast- Truthfully, I did not know who Joo Won was before watching Bridal Mask. I didn't know any of the actors except for the guys who played the count and Kimura Taro. As I watched this drama, I was sooo impressed with Joo Won and Park Ki Woong's acting! Both of them showed so much character change and development! In fact, all the main actors and actresses and supporting roles were great! They didn't just act as the character. They were the character. The characters all brought out their best acting that you feel love, sympathy, or hatred towards the characters.

Music- The music is very dramatic and emotional. Whenever there's a heartbreaking scene, I hear the song Goodbye Day and I become even more sad that I could cry. When I hear Judgement Day, I know something dramatic and action-packed is coming up. That's how much the music influenced a scene and pretty much the entire drama.

Rewatch Value- Really I don't rewatch dramas entire (I havent yet). But when I get a break from school, I'm gonna totally rewatch the drama while I force my friends to watch it for the 1st time! Like I said, I never got bored in any of the episodes in Bridal Mask! I finished the first 20 episodes in 2 days and I was thirsty for more of this drama!

Overall- YOU MUST WATCH THIS DRAMA! IT IS TOO GOOD TO PUT ASIDE FOR SOME OTHER DRAMA! THIS IS THE BEST DRAMA EVER! read more
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Sep 6, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

purplenette
19 of 22 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 10
I have never called a drama epic before. I think that word is over used. However, if there was ever a drama to be called epic, then this is the one. From the very first episode this drama will draw you in and not let go. It is political without all the jargon; it is action packed; it has romance without sappy scenes; there are happy occasions along with tragedy. The cinematography and action sequences are off the hook. Everything that you are looking for in a drama can be found in Bridal Mask.

The story is very suspenseful. I watched this as it came out and every week I was left wondering what would happen next. The only weakness in this drama is that the people that are told to follow someone aren’t very good at it. There is no ninja stealth in this drama. Although, I guess you could look at it as the people that are being followed are just really good at giving the others the slip. Also, they aren’t very good shots unless they are pretty close. I read somewhere that the guns used in that time period didn’t have very good sights. Maybe it is just part of keeping it real??? LOL I usually don’t like dramas that are this long because the story gets bogged down, but this is an exception. Every episode added to the story and there is very little flashback filler. When they do flashback it has meaning.

What makes this drama great is the acting. I gave it a 10 because of Joo Won and Park Ki Woong. Joo Won’s acting as Lee Kang To/Bridal Mask is amazing. He really should get some kind of an award. He has an uncanny ability to make a person feel what the character is feeling. Park KI Woong plays Shunji to perfection. I’m completely captivated by this actor. The character is so intelligent. I have a love/hate connection with this character and that is a tribute to Ki Woong’s acting ability. The female lead character of Oh Mok Dan/Boon Yi is played by Jin Se Yun. I wasn’t really that impressed with her acting until the last two episodes. However, looking back maybe she felt that her character couldn’t show emotion and that is why she was stilted in the beginning and then showed her emotions at the end. Han Chae Ah who plays RaRa is really good. All you had to do was look at her face to know what she was thinking even when she was trying to hide her emotions. I loved her character and her acting. The side characters were really good too. Special mention for Ahn Hyung Joon who plays RaRa’s bodyguard Katsuyama. He has skills. I hope to see him in more dramas in the future.

The music for this drama is fantastic. I love the theme song.

I will probably rewatch this at some point.

I think this is a must see for everyone. It is defiantly a heart wrenching drama of epic proportion. read more
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Oct 31, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

moonlitebliz
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 9
- Rewatch Value 10
This drama is truly great! I loved every bit of it. Every episode's ending had a cliff hanger, leaving you wanting more. All of the actors did a great job at portraying their characters. I really loved Lee Kang To and Oh Mok Dan's character and how their relationship built. and Shunji's character was really good in showing the change that he went through. And even the extra casts were good. I don't think i ended up hating any of the characters, not even Shunji's character. This drama had everything from a to z: it had, drama, romance, comedy, action, grief, you name it, i can go on and on with it. I would really recommend you watch this and i would definitely watch it again!
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Oct 6, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

WTFpopK
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 10
This has got to be the best drama I have ever seen from Korea, everything about it was just flawless. It had me on the edge of my seat wanting each episode more and more. This show is easily my #1 in Korea and for something to be better than this will take some serious effort. I felt each of the characters pain and happiness, the drama left me speechless. This is not a typical drama to be cutsey and over exaggerated feelings, I guarantee you will like Bridal Mask if you are not just looking for a show with your favourite singers/actors.

I was satisfied through the entire show and will recommend this drama to anyone who is looking for a great story, action, romance, history, and want to see some Korea fight back for their country. read more
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Aug 31, 2012 19 of 28 episodes seen

rusettelinore
21 of 31 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 9
- Music 9
- Rewatch Value 8
I have started this drama just two days ago while waiting for Faith, Arang and To the Beautiful You's episodes to come out. I only watched this to kill time. But guess what, this drama is sooo good that I find the previous dramas I mentioned dull compared to the intensity of this drama. I have watched 19 episodes in 2 days, sleeping at 3am in the morning. My drowsiness was set aside because of my desire to know on what will happen next.

Here are the hings that I like:
1. Joo won's superb acting
- Joo Won perfectly portrays Lee Kang To's character. He's able to convey every emotion to the audience. Whenever he cries - I cry too, whenever he triumphs-my heart jumps out of joy for him. His acting can be compared to veteran actors out there. Considering this is only his third drama. I applaud you, Joo won!

2. Story Line and Plot
- Some dramas are only interesting on early episodes - definitely not this drama. Every episode will add fuel for you to watch the next one. There are no dull moments, every scene is interesting. Some are heartbreaking, some are funny, and some are action-filled. I even find myself holding my breath whenever the hero is fighting the villains -afraid that he might get discovered or caught. :) This is one of those dramas that the audience will feel really connected.

Things that I don't Like:
1. I can't think of any yet. :p

My words cannot truly describe on how excellent this drama is. You guys simply have to watch the 1st episode and experience all mixed feelings yourselves. I'm sure majority of you will be hooked like me.

To the actors and makers of the Bridal Mask, Bravo!

10/10! read more
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Nov 11, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

nanaskura
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 9
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 9
- Rewatch Value 10
This drama drew me in from the very beginning. Though it's only the second drama I've completed so far, it's really different from anything I would have expected of an Asian drama.

For once, romance is not the focal point of the plot--and that is actually really refreshing. The writers did an excellent job of keeping the story moving throughout all 28 episodes and kept me interested the entire time.

The acting is superb. And I'm not exaggerating in the slightest. Even the characters that I didn't like that much/didn't think were as well acted as compared to the rest of the characters still gave unbelievable performances.

I'm not a person that is easily moved to tears, but I cried my heart out throughout a number of the episodes leading to the conclusion and almost died of emotion during the last episode.

The music wasn't as distracting as it usually is in dramas--which is nice. The songs were good and subtle, and the ones sung by the characters in the actual drama were well done.

My only small, itsy bitsy complaint is that occasionally the chemistry between the two romantic leads seemed a bit flat sometimes. But, only sometimes. And my disappointment in that aspect was overshadowed by every other detail within the drama.

I only have one thing to say to those of you sitting on the fence about this drama: watch it. I highly doubt you will regret it. It is a masterpiece of acting, script-writing, and cinematography and I can't think of any better way I would have spent the 30+ hours I spent watching Bridal Mask. read more
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Nov 25, 2012 28 of 28 episodes seen

snowflowery
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Other reviews by this user
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 9
I love Bridal Mask so much!!! The acting was superb, and even though the action scenes were quite stylized, I loved it anyway. Bridal mask has such an epic vibe to it. Joo Won and Park Ki Woong really showed how great they are at acting. As a result, they are two of my favourite Korean actors at the moment. The storyline was also very complex and juicy. I think Kang To and Shunji had one of the best bromances in the history of bromances that I've ever seen! :D
I especially loved the first 6 episodes, for reasons that I won't spoil.
I also LOVED the music so much!!! Goodbye Day and Judgement Day are now one of my favourite Korean drama soundtracks. For me, the music in a drama is very important. Usually, it turns out that if a drama has a great OST, I tend to like the drama itself as well. But sometimes it’s just a coincidence.
I also love the complex character relationships. The characters (or at least the important ones) are interesting, understandable, They are also very easy to sympathize with, even when they are doing less than desirable deeds. Gaksital a.k.a. Bridal Mask really highlights how a character can change. read more
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