The Tale of Nokdu (2019)

A surprise hit. Very strong show, from start to finish.

Had I relied too heavily on the reviews here on MyDramaList, I wouldn't have given this show a fair shot. I'm *so glad* I took a chance because I thought it was easily one of my favorite kdramas (and I've watched over 70 so far in the past 1.5 years). It wasn't perfect, but it was engaging, well-acted, well-choreographed, well-thought-out, and well-executed. I notice that I tend to agree with the reviewers over at Dramabeans in their assessments of shows and was pleasantly surprised to see that they rated it a 9.6/10 and with good reason. I breezed through the entire series without skipping any scenes and absolutely gobbled it all up. I'm sad it's over.

Acting:

ML & FL
I'd only seen the FL (Kim Sohyun) in Love Alarm and since her character frustrated me immensely with her romantic choices (I'm still so salty she didn't choose Song Kang in EITHER SEASON), I had a bad bias toward her and thought her acting felt a bit forced and wooden. She totally caught me by surprise with her acting in this show. She was wonderful, emotive, and had great physical acting as well. Her chemistry with the ML (Jang Dongyoon) was natural both during the show and especially in BTS. They're so cute together!

I've been meaning to watch Jang Dongyoon in something and I'm so glad this was my first experience watching him act. He did an incredible job as Widow Kim and as Nok Du. He had such subtle shifts in his body language and voice depending on whether he was near the other widows and in his female persona, or when he was around Dong-Joo. It was so fun to see his body language suddenly shift into a more masculine gait and posture, and hear his voice drop several octaves lower all while still dressed as a woman. He was able to easily come across as a beautiful woman, and also give me butterflies with his masculine physique.

Side Characters

Antagonist
TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. I had only seen Kang Tae-Oh in Run On as a sensitive, overly nice, overly aloof character who spent the majority of his time fawning over his CEO noona, so this was a complete 180 and I *loved* it. He first comes across as that same love-sick, funny friend then totally whips into the most unexpected and vicious villain who arrested my attention whenever he was on screen. He also looks *fantastic* in his black war regalia.

I also want to give points to his right hand, Dan-Ho. I'd never seen him before and he was a scene-stealer as well. His gaze was lethal as was his sword.

The King
I both empathized and hated him. This is one of the highlights of The Tale of Nokdu that I couldn't get enough of. Characters you're meant to hate still tugged at your heart and made you pity them. The story had so many layers and the King, at moments, made me feel like he could be redeemed.

The Queen
I *LOVED* the Queen. Oh my heart. She was a beautiful, strong, and heart rendering character. I'm so glad she was able to finally reunite with her son.

Dongyoon's Family
- Great chemistry. The relationship between Nok Du and his brother was heartbreaking and I rooted for them throughout the series to reconcile. I also really loved Aeng-du. She's a firecracker.

The Widow Village
I loved these women. I rooted for them and thought they were an admirable, brave bunch.

OST
Very pretty. Aided in painting the picture of every scene immensely.

Overall

I really, really, really loved this drama. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more. The plot was well layered and well-executed. The plot never meandered long in one spot so it always felt like we were going somewhere. Nothing felt overly forced. The length of each episode and the overall length of the series gave each character and storyline plenty of room to breathe. I had minor issues with how long it took our ML and FL to FINALLY tell each other the truth. That part did feel like it ran in circles a little bit. I was also a little frustrated with the outcome of the show but was overall very happy that our main group of protagonists had their happy ending.

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Comedy and angst all around

I'm not kidding, I was sobbing for nearly the entirety of the last episode, it was so good. This drama was so not what I expected, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, since what I got was a more wholesome plot that didn't purely rely on the romance to keep it afloat. The comedy was really REALLY well done (I made a couple of collages with screenshots of my favorite moments. That's how good it was) and the romance was paced just perfectly (I would say even slower than your average drama) to instead add more substance to the leading storyline. Dong Joo was a bit of a brat for parts of the drama, but she made up for it with her badass bow skills in the end, so ain't even that mad. I'm not gonna lie, I was at first really confused about where the storyline was going cause EVERYONE LOOKED THE SAME, but once I got used to the characters' faces, I began to understand the plot and was totally on board with everything by the time the ending rolled around. THE ENDING. OH MY GOD THAT ENDING WAS SO DIFFERENT. The authors really took a risk with the ending that they wrote cause it deviates so much from what you would think would happen. But honestly, the bittersweetness of it just made the ending SO much better and so much more memorable than if they had stuck with the predictable storyline. And can we for a second just TALK ABOUT THAT OST? The OST is freaking gorgeous, the music alone probably contributed to half the tears I shed during this drama. Definitely would recommend it to anyone who appreciates a refreshing storyline, cute romance, and a plot with actual substance.

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Way better than expected

First of all, the poster of this drama is totally misleading in my eyes (it was one reason why I hadn't started this already earlier). The Tale of Nokdu is not as happy as you might think.

I admit that I was pretty much turned off after watching the first episode. A lot of scenes felt a bit overdone, they tried too hard in building up tension, the comedy was not to my liking either and they didn't succeed in stirring my curiosity at all. I wondered why the drama had such a high rating. Jang Dong Joon's well done cross dressing and an MDL's friend's advise to be a bit more patient made me continue. Well, I'm glad I did.

The first half of the drama was kinda spinning in circles and the story didn't move forward. But the comedy got alot better, while the story gained ground and became steadier, so they didn't have to try so hard anymore in convincing me. And then after the first half it felt like a tornado went through and turned everything upside down. Everything suddenly became 100 per cent more serious. By that time I already developed a certain attachment for one or two people other than Nokdu.

As the story went further I got seriously invested in the side characters and their circumstances. Whether it was the king, who was intimidated by his own status while being overwhelmed by the fear of losing it, or the Muwoldan group, who had an honorable reason to fight but got tangled up by the higher-ups power struggle. Or Cha Yoel Moo with his unrequited love, always helpful, always patient and almost becoming a fool for playing the second fiddle at some point. There's more to him than one might expect though.

I started to care for all of them, whether they were good or bad. The story managed to show more than one side and therefore made their decisions somewhat more reasonable. Sides shifted, re-groupings took place and made me utterly eager and anxious at the same time, for I couldn't foresee the next steps.

I think Nokdu was the most pitiable person among them all. His sole existence put everyone around him in uncomfortable positions. He had no say in who he was, yet people started to assume things and used him for their own selfish desires. But he never gave up, he never let himself get down. I was extremely satisfied with how well he managed to pull through all those obstacles and always stood true to himself.

Nokdu's sword fighting skills were a pleasure to the eye, it was beautiful and deadly at the same time. He was exceedingly well trained. He never sought the battles out himself, so I was glad that he could defend himself like that. Confrontations like that were unavoidable on his path. But he never looked invincible either. When he was hurt, he wasn't able to fight that well three days later. When a group outnumbered him, he was bound to get hurt badly.

Though the romance was nothing special to me, it still managed to stir my emotions at the end. Dong Ju is the girl who wanted to take revenge and who's rock solid decision got shaken up by Nokdu. Well, I've seen more captivating ill-fated couples than this one, but I was not bothered either. I was fine with it because they didn't add baseless tearjerkers. And they had some really nice moments as well.

Nokdu's brother was the weakest piece in my opinion. They tried to explain his motivation but it never touched me enough to actually care for him.

Certain details of the finale were... unexpected but I still liked it. If I had one regret though, it would be a certain realization of the king and with that maybe a different outcome. I had anticipated it so much, that I felt a somewhat unpleasant letdown regarding that. But maybe that's just my selfishness.

So, if you feel the same as me before about starting this, I advise you to try it out. It's better than what it might look like ;)

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Story of love and betrayal filled with twists

The drama starts very light and entertaining to watch, full of humorous scenes. However, it soon turns into a drama filled with betrayals and twists that will keep the viewer entertained throughout the episodes. The cast does a fantastic job portraying their characters.

Jung Joon Ho as the king makes you unsure whether to love him or hate him due to the few sympathetic moments he has on screen. Kang Tae Oh as Yul Mu does a great job portraying a man fueled by hatred and greed who is still partly under control by a woman he is in love with. Kim So Hyun as Dong Joo and Jang Dong Yoon as Nokdu both do phenomenal jobs portraying the FL and ML. Their chemistry is undoubtedly one of a kind and they will have the viewer rooting for them from start to finish.

The story itself is filled with multiple moments that will have you laugh, smile and cry. Usually, dramas start strong and slowly decline but it's not the case with this one. The plot is not that slow-paced nor fast-paced, somewhere in between. There were moments where the drama was kind of dragging, some scenes felt too prolonged (mostly characters staring at each other; moments of silence) but overall, the drama was really good. The gender-bending aspect of both FL and ML was watchable. Especially Jang Dong Yoon as both man (Nokdu) and woman (Lady Kim) looked and sounded believable as a woman.

It's a must-watch among Joseon/historical k-dramas.

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Crossdressing ajumma fusion sageuk The Tale of Nokdu...and the Crazy King (a more apt title), is a solid spiritual successor of my fave Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, this is a rare show where the intertwined plot threads paid off, and one of the more satisfying endings I've seen in awhile.

The world building itself is fascinating as there's a village of widows coexisting beside a gisaeng house, who are composed of all female assassins involved in a mysterious plot? Yes, count me in!

Jang Dong Yoon impresses as he transitions seamlessly from boyish Nokdu to widow Lady Kim. He has good comedic timing and has kind of baby Kim Soo Hyun vibe (from Producers) about him, I'm curious to see his continued growth as an actor. The OTP pairing might not have reached magical squee levels for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed their easygoing chemistry and relationship that slowly developed through solid friendship.

My breakout star of the drama is undoubtedly Kang Tae Oh, with his fascinating turn as Lord Yul Mu. From his head turns, to his smirk and strut, he wholly embraced the complicated facets of his character. I won't be surprised if I see him in a lead role soon.

This is a drama where the characters are well drawn out and multi faceted. Even those guys we love to despise, the drama took time to show their perspective and make us understand their human flaws. Not to mention all those beloved side characters, esp. the women, who are badass.

The first half of Nokdu about crossdressing and light moments, differed a lot from the second half which was more court politics and heartbreak as Nokdu searched for his identity. On the surface, the crossdressing might seem a gimmick for laughs, but through this, the show uplifts women with its portrayal of female empowerment, and uplifts the soul through its message of freeing oneself with thoughts of hatred and revenge, as it can consume and destroy you.

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Addictive, endearing and a bit dark . . .

The Tale of Nokdu starts as a typical drama: lots of misunderstandings, slapstick humour and cliffhangers at the end of every episode. But then, the plot moves FAST, sub plots that usually take a whole drama to resolve wrap up in two episodes. You are also kept in suspense on how the drama will end - making for an addictive, binge-watching series.

Despite the repeated romantic plot points (multiple rescues, multiple we should break up scenes), I never got tired of the romantic plots and found this couple very endearing.

The couple in this may be one of my all time faves - they have a young, Romeo+ Juliet (with a bit of silliness) type romance. They make such good use of their screen-time (lots of interaction and ease) that you feel like you lived with them for awhile. Their romance is naturalistic and explained by the trauma they both have experienced.

Most of the side characters are shallow. I did find the villains compelling as narcissists with flashes of charisma. A mark of a good show - I was sad to leave them all behind as the show ended.

The music soundtrack with the piano was great (reminded me a bit of Amelie crossed with Sia's Breathe Me). But the lyrical songs I don't want to revisit.

It has plenty of cute/tense/romantic moments that lend itself to watching parts of again.

I grade on other criteria as well:

Complex Themes: 7.5
More than one would expect! Family is who cares for you and wants the best for you, not simply your blood relations. Power corrupts. Once down an exploitative path - it can be difficult to turn around.

Character growth: 7.5
Both main characters have experienced a lot of trauma. Their 'growth' turns on and off - but there are moments in the last 5 episodes or so, where they are startling mature, grave, or complex to where they started at the beginning of the series.

Complex female characters: 6.0
Unfortunately not so much. While there are lots of powerful female characters, and a lot of female screen time, the female characters (even our main heroine!) have their narrow roles and stick to them.

Cinematography/Production Values: 8.0
High for this type of drama. No attempts at artistic/edgy shots, but lots of outdoor scenes not on a sound stage, a decent amount of variation in sets and costumes, a variety of close-ups and wide-angles. Sword/fight action scenes are decently well choreographed.

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THIS HAS A LOT OF SPOILERS, PLEASE DON'T READ IF U HAVEN'T WATCHED THIS. JUST COMEBACK IF U ALREADY FINISHED SO WE CAN WEEP TOGETHER

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Prior to starting the Final Episode, I was trying to think of all the holes that should/could be resolved by the end of the story but I seem to not find anything anymore except the conflict with the king and Nokdu himself plus the Grand Prince's revolt. To say I'm disappointed with the ending is an understatement??? I was anxious when I'm nearing the end and was left with 20 mins left yet Nokdu hasn't faced the King yet to atleast settle their differences all at once.

I'm also frustrated because there wasn't an explanation/resolution about the "truth" the Queen Dowager said in the previous episode. WHAT THE HECK IS THE TRUTH THAT THEY WILL NEVER FIND OUT? Are we also supposed to not find out about it?? LOL I hope they at least made a resolution for that part because I think it's where everything started in the first place??? or is the "truth" the one Grand Prince told His Highness during their last encounter during the revolt? Can someone please enlighten me? I wanna sleep peacefully T___T

Also, how am I supposed to believe they are capable of living happily ever after if the Grand Prince... who has his eye set on Dong Joo since time immemorial and pent-up anger on (and could also have a fear of having the throne taken by) Nokdu took the throne??? Is that island a bubble devoid of the Prince's powers??? Nope. Unless he literally gave up on DJ already, then.........

I really think the King deserved better. They could've ended it with him finally knowing the truth and reconciling with Nokdu. After all, he has been just living in fear and what he is at present was just because of what his Father made him feel growing up... also could've been because of the lie beneath the truth the Queen Dowager hid. He looked like a good man who is just as conflicted as me JK I actually even thought him and the Queen would show up during the wedding because of the wind and all that. But I still like how he surrendered and owned his mistakes... he even made sure the Queen would be saved.

Over-all the drama is good, I can't even complain (except the ending). The romance is just a bit of everything... even childishness was added into the mix HAHAHAHA but it's cute. I will miss them so much! A lot has happened and it made me sad thinking about all of it... from the village, to Lady Kim, to him and DJ going to Hanyang and so forth...

PS: I like the reconciliation between Soo Yang and So Hyun hahahaha #School2015 feels

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They had us in the first half, but it went downhill from there

This drama started off great. I was invested early on and the jokes were hitting well. However, it felt like a new drama after the ML left the widow villiage. I trusted other reviews which said this was an intriguing drama. I regret it. The pacing of this show went incredibly slow. It was so frustrating at times to watch these characters fumble over every single little thing and have no chemistry or communication. You know how a lot of k-dramas start off with misunderstandings but as the characters bond and begin to trust one another, the leads can then work together. This drama drags out the misunderstandings between the MCs for a whopping 28 episodes. There are only 32 in total. So the viewer is left with only frustrations and no reward for trudging along. They made all these characters as dumb as possible when this story could have went another way and been really good. The stupid antagonist wins and gets what he wants after commiting heinous and atrocious acts. Then he suddenly just gives up his motivation entirely, which was actually paper-thin to begin with. The king held on to those misunderstandings until the final 10 mins of the very last episode. Completely annoying and stupid characters just incredibly frustrating and lacking depth. Also, the wedding being all windy?? Why?? What was the reason to make that choice for the story? It makes no sense. In conclusion, you might want to skip this one. It is not a hidden gem, it's just a turd. While I can admit the first half was kind of decent, the rest was straight up garbage. This writer is a good example of why AI is taking writing jobs.

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Average

Foremost, I love the concept of the plot particularly because of women who were deemed to die just because of their husbands (due to dumb traditions) banning together into a formidable group. The ML dressing as a female to infiltrate them was also quite fun. But a few negatives brought the score down for me:

- While the romance between the FL/ML was sweet, there was just too much focus on it at the most inappropriate times. When there's a serious situation occurring that involves life and death or when a loved one is in a dire situation, it's hard to stomach a relatively quick scene switch to the two of them lightheartedly flirting or the amount of times the FL needs saving.
- The plot started becoming increasingly muddled toward the middle of the series and the plot holes are real. And various situations (as with many other series) were "conveniently" coincidental which takes away from the realism.
- A light nit is the amount of time that has passed through the course of the series but apparently, the FL's hair that was cut off early on never seemed to grow.

However, most of the actors were fantastic so it helped with balancing out some of the flaws. And despite some plot flow issues, they were still able to tug at the audience's heart strings. The twist at the end was great but the final scene felt like a forced joyful ending.

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