I cannot forget this wonderful gem!
This is the first Korean drama I ever watched. It did not disappoint; on the contrary, it transported my imagination to another world and dazzled my senses. There is something very special about the cast. It feels authentic and organic. Each character retains his or her own identity without confusion as to what he or she is supposed to do or act like.I love the temperaments of the main characters.
I love the free-roaming royal.
I love the story and overarching themes of loyalty and friendship and love. These are portrayed very well in the form of storytelling.
There is something special about the bond between childhood friends who are there for one another day in and day out, in the convenient and inconvenient times and trials of life.
I love this story so much!
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Polymonogamy: The Prequel
The way they handled things was just all over the place. This loathsome love triangle infested its core amidst everything else. Forcefully pushing it in our throats around every single detour. It got trashier the longer it kept going. The drama was covered with palace politics, as always, but it was impossible to care about anything because they just obsessed over who's in love with whom, overshadowing anything the drama tried to offer. The pacing followed through in that regard—slow moments that dragged on forever for what could have been a quick tale. The drama fell way short of establishing a watchable narrative. It was like biting into a cookie and finding out it's all crumbs.Was this review helpful to you?
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I will start with Lin. I love his friendship with Won. It was wrong that he fell in love with the prince's woman. However, it was too late when he realized that he was wrong. Some of his decisions and actions were because of his feelings for San. I get this part of the story when his father, the chancellor, was lecturing about greed and lust, the father look at Lin and not at his brother. Both of them committed the same mistake of greed and lust for San (and as for Wang Jeon for position of crown prince). Lin admitted what he did was wrong during the scene at the hut, Lin apologized for falling in love with San as he get the seal from her. There are times that Lin could easily tell Won everything he has been discovering, he always just decides not tell so. And, I always hate him for that. Maybe, he's feelings for San was just affecting his decision-making.
Won is my favorite character. He is the most selfless and trusting person in the whole story. The way he saves Lin and his family all the time even we know he is starting to develop his feelings with San. He is also the smartest among all characters. I just love smarter people more. Haha. My favorite scene was when he stopped San's wedding. That was heart-stopping. Haha. If I was San, damn!
San made viewers confused on who she really has feelings. I think it was the writer and director thing. I always believed that the person she loves is Won. He loves Won so much she cannot let him lose his friend Lin. That't the focus on the beginning of the story. She was always worried of Won. And the only person that stop her from getting revenge was Won.
I always feel bad for Won. But, at the end when it is revealed that San never really left Goryeo and waited for him. Then, after 7 months he stepped down as King and left for Yuan. My imagination tells me, he went to San and had a happy life with her in Yuan.
The drama has well-defined characters, awesome cinematography, and has really depicted a very nice story of love and friendship in a very painful way. The ost was okay. Rewatch value, not so much. There were a lot of times I put this drama on-hold. Anyway, I still came to finish it.
The whole story is very deep you have dive in to understand everything. San is Won's falcon, he set her free and came back for him again at the end. :)
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Awesome at parts, okay at others, still a solid watch
I hope Hong Jong Hyun got a nice massage after filming finished; I'm sure he needed it after practically carrying this whole drama on his back! Okay, I exaggerate, but my lack of enthusiasm for the other two leads made him stand out in comparison. The character trope of "man caught in a love triangle and dutifully trying to squash his feelings to spare his best friend" isn't new, but he pulls it off well. Credit also to an excellent supporting cast - the king and queen, the baddies, bodyguards, siblings and fathers, etc. They really fleshed out the story, and made up for weak performances from the other two leads. The female lead was merely serviceable - though it depended on who was in the scene with her - and her personality veered between bold and playful, and frustratingly wishy-washy. The other male lead was the most anemic crown prince I’ve ever seen, with all the charisma of a wet dishrag. (I feel like very similar role was done far better by Park Hyung-sik in Hwarang.) Anyway, despite some negative feelings, this drama was still worth it - it didn't drag and I barreled through it pretty quickly to see what would happen next. The ending was satisfying and brought me both smiles and tears. Great music and scenery, also.Was this review helpful to you?
