Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun (2023)

An Epic Conclusion to a Saga and Perhaps the Prelude to another.

This is gonna be one long rave review cus I rarely even write reviews. :)

I really think the world of Arthdal is one with such great lore and infinite potential and it is so satisfying to see it being told in such an immersive manner. Season 1 was a tale of hopes, dreams, struggles and beginnings for all the characters. Season 2, despite the long wait, immediately had me immersed in the lives of these characters yet again.

I had my slight doubts if I would still be able to accept the new casting but over the first few episodes I found myself rather enjoying comparing the old and new cast and appreciating both in their own way. Especially the trio of prophecy, i admit I was quite satisfied with how things turned out. As much as i love SJK as young Eunseom and Saya I think LJK perfectly pulled off a battle-hardened Eunseom and a Saya who has mastered the manipulative ways of the court. Tanya is the first character I've seen being played by both KJW and SSK and i feel that the growth is reflected here too - from a naive and inexperienced young girl who is desperately holding on to her ideals to a tougher woman who will use people and bend some ideals if it aligns with the greater good.

And of course Tagon and Taelha. They were my favorites then. They are my favorites now. Im not sure if I can even express in words how much I love these two characters. There is so much depth to these characters. Their bond that stays so strong beneath despite the struggles, betrayals, anger and hatred on the surface. (They deserve a series of their own really) I especially loved Taelha in this season and how surprisingly these two are amazing parents to Arok even when the world is falling apart around them.

So many of the side characters are great too. The Momo tribe, Tachukan, Neanthals to name a few.

Im really happy with how Season 2 has ended too. Yes there are many open endings and unanswered questions but that just gives my imagination so much more to dream with. Whether there is a Season 3 or not, Arthdal Chronicles for me has been one memorable journey.

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Beautiful drama albeit not perfect

What I really enjoyed are the fighting scene, the war and the epic visuals. Great pacing, and good casting all around! Lee Joon Gi's screen presence and his role as Eun Som especially live up beyond my expectation. They couldn't have picked a more perfect recast than Lee Joon Gi! He does all his own stunts, is a master in actions so I knew he would be spectacular in this. The only recast that devastated me is Tanya, I found no passion in her line deliveries.

I miss the very pretty Tanya and Saya… they are not the same here. In defense of the time jump: their portrayals did change as how their characters come across here. they grow up and their political positions and motivation also evolve, so I eventually accept that. I feel bad a bit towards Saya as he seems to be the most inferior among Tanya, Eunsom, or Tagon. Tanya pity him too for his role in prophecy, Eun Som is now a war leader beloved by people, Tagon sees Eun Som as a threat but not towards Saya, I wish he is given a bigger role... I mean, he's children of prophecy too.

I admit that it is hard to appreciate significance of the mythology aspect, if you haven’t watched season 1. I went back to rewatch season 1 before got on board with season 2. Personally, I think the previous season's costumes and music are superior. I don’t think her romance trope necessary, it feels more like a reward than earned. The ending is well-wrapped up and I am satisfied if the drama ends here. I watched it with a patriotic passion I felt watching Mr. Sunshine!

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On my favourite female kdrama character

I want to celebrate the end of ARTHDAL CHRONICLES s2 with a little note on Taealha, my favourite female character in all of kdrama so far.

I don't usually love girlbosses, and I normally wouldn't cheer to see one of the main antagonists of a series escape most of the consequences of her actions. But I loved this for Taealha, and I've been thinking hard about why this is.

What I think it boils down to is this: Taealha is an antagonist. But she's not a villain. And this speaks to one of the main themes I'm seeing in Asian dramas.

While an antagonist is any character who opposes the protagonists of a story, a villain is a character who is outright evil. Unusually for a character who's pitted against very idealistic heroes, Taealha isn't a villain, even though she helps to rule and uphold a desperately evil society. The show's morality is more white-and-grey than black-and-grey, in the manner of most Western grimdark fantasy, and I think that Asian drama generally views systemic change through a different lens than Western drama. In Asian drama, it is the rare heroic characters - like Tanya and Eunseom - who have the courage and vision to imagine a world that is any better than the one they inhabit. While Western storytelling sees injustice often as the action of an individual villain, Eastern storytelling sees injustice as the grinding of an impersonal social machine in which those who prop up the status quo are often as helplessly imprisoned within the system as those they rule over. Their fault may not be active malice, so much as the lack of vision, courage, and selfless compassion to fight for a better world.

I think this also has something to do with why so many people in the West have trouble with the concept of systemic injustice - they think that evil in society must be the work of a few bad actors, a few individual villains, rather than of a whole social order. I also note that in Eastern drama, especially in the shows which are more conscious of social justice (like SCARLET HEART RYEO and ARTHDAL CHRONICLES), the "villain" - insofar as there is one to pit against the idealistic heroes - is society at large. In many western dramas, on the other hand, it's clear the writers desperately want to believe that society at large is good; that collective action is only ever a force for justice and never for evil.

Despite being an antagonist opposing idealistic heroes, Taealha is able to be sympathetically portrayed because she, like everyone else, is caught between the gears of a cruel society. She may be rich, beautiful, deadly, and the heiress to a great lord, but in all her privilege she, too, is subject to the machinations of her father, of the king, and of Tagon, the man she loves. She is also not the only source of evil in the show - which makes it very, very clear that the evil in Arthdal stems from every ordinary citizen who profits from slavery and engages in war crimes. Taealha opposes Eunseom and Tanya, but she does not do so out of a desire to cause or profit from suffering. Rather, Taealha is a pragmatist whose lack of faith in the gods leads her to seek survival by working with the system rather than destroying it according to the divine will. What makes her sympathetic is that her motivation is always to protect the people she loves: Tagon and, later, Arok. In protecting her loved ones, Taealha only wants the same thing as Tanya and Eunseom - but because she has no faith in something greater than either herself or society, she chooses not to try to change the system, but to beat the system at its own game.

Taealha is no worse than anyone else in the show. She simply fails to be better - and that's a big part of why we still love her and cheer her on, even though she's one of the main antagonists.

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Satifactory Ending for a Good Drama

At last we already have an ending!
I'm glad the show is finished. While there are still storylines they can add to this drama if they wanted, I think the story we have right now (season 1 and 2) is already complete enough that it's okay if they leave it at that. Kudos to the whole cast and crew. Lee Joon Gi and Shin Se Kyung did well as Eunseom/Saya and Tanya, despite not playing them from the first season. Jang Dong Gun and Kim Ok Bin continued their amazing acting from season 1. I'm not gonna be surprised if any of the cast members got baeksang nominations next year given their amazing acting, but I won't be surprised either if they didn't seeing they didn't nominated the show for season 1.
Despite cancellations, cast changes , and other problems, I'm at least glad Arthdal ended as a really good show. They ended it in a way that they can add to the story if they wanted to, but the show we have right now can stand on its own as a complete story. Kudos to the casts (both seasons 1 and 2) and crew for making a good and unique drama. (I do really miss the epic music and Saya's pretty costumes from season 1 but it did not deter me from enjoying this season). I highly recommend everyone to check out the other dramas written by this writing team. They also made Queen Seon Deok, 6 Flying Dragons, and Tree with Deep Roots kdramas. Our Tanya in this season Shin Se Kyung played the female lead of the latter 2 dramas I mentioned while she's the childhood version of the female lead's twin sister in the first drama I mentioned. Season 1 Eunseom/Saya Song Joong Ki has a pivotal cameo in Tree with Deep Roots which was also his career turning point (he was known as a flowerboy actor and it was his first known serious role).
PS:
1. I missed the dancing scenes, I was hoping to see Eunseom, Saya and Tanya do it again for this season (I also wanted to see it because I wanted to see Lee Joon Gi and Shin Se Kyung dancing together) but I guess that plot point was only necessary for season 1 in order to get the bell.
2. Genuinely surprised to see Erika Karata. She was the person I least expect from the first season to appear again here but she's back. (Those who were waiting for news for season 2 after season 1 ended should know why she wasn't expected to appear in season 2, even before the main leads were recast).

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A Should Have Been Blockbuster

I just feel disenchanted. Just Imagine the long wait for the next sequel to be spectacular but unfortunately it did not.

It could have been much better but maybe the production for one have suffered much. First, the transition from a global pandemic. Then there was the production set back on having the crew undergo labor unrest. The series likewise have undergone cast changing and reshuffling. And lastly, as many have felt and noticed the twists on the storyline it lost that vital spectacle that many wanted to see in the climax.

I am not any more expecting another season or sequel since as I said: I was already not excited but rather disenchanted.

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A Mindblowing Tale of Revenge and Reconciliation

Following up on the three part prelude of “Arthdal Chronicles”, the sequel “The Sword of Aramun” is a fast paced, action packed thriller of events that happen eight years later. The first chapter that ended in 2019 had the lead characters TaGon, Tae Al Ha, Eun Seom/Sa Ya and Tanya perceivably assuming different roles. Eight years, the saga leads them on a different journey as TaGon is faced with the shocking challenge of protecting his dynasty. There is a lot of scheming and plotting happening at any given point of time; each and every character is cunning and searching for opportunities to bring someone else down. Even the dynamics between TaGon and Tae Al Ha who were each other’s strengths have vastly changed in this season. While everything else has changed, the one thing that remains unchanged is EunSeom’s righteousness and kind nature. Starring Jang Dong Gun, Lee Joon Gi, Shin Sae Kyeong and Kim Ok Bin in the lead roles, the sequel is bigger, grandeur and more complicated. Let’s dive into the character’s individual journey as we review this show!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/02/16/arthdal-chronicles-the-sword-of-aramun-series-review/

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Blockbuster season with decent follow through from S1

Season 1 provided the depth , ruminations on civilization and tribalism with stellar commentary on how civilisations spin spiritual doctrines to suit their greed and ambition whilst season 2 ups the stakes in a very do and die manner with stellar action scenes and INTENSITY.

This season is a definite must watch for those who watched s1.The world building continues to be compelling and the commentary is stunning as ever . I have always appreciated Arthdal Chronicles for its commentary on religion and beliefs. And how both keep order and peace but ironically can cause conflicts and war.

The music was great and I never skipped the theme song , acting was stellar too with stand out performances from Jang Dong Gun who finished Tagon with such pomp and emotive flair. His portrayal is truly a best actor contender of the year for me along with the leads in My Dearest, Worst of Evil and Moving in 2023.

Overall- objectively speaking , there were some weak points but when Arthdal shines? It really shines. Some of the best tv episodes of the year and just in the fantasy genre are housed in ep 9 and 10 of season 2 alone hence why I score this a more than decent 8/10.

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When Actors Out-Act the Script

Unpopular opinion: Don't watch this, like don't

Kudos to the cast for working through the material that they had. Everyone from the youngest child to the senior citizens brought their A-Game to make this work......and it doesn't.

I hate this for the leads, though this is definitely NOT the worst dramas that any of them have been in...It's the most ambitiously produced.

This drama would've fared so much better as an experiment in the actors ad-libbing the ENTIRE thing. No joke, the whole drama in its entirety based on whatever the actor felt the character would've said in that moment.

Lore, tribal conflicts and faction power fights all get messy in the worst way as more characters and additional problem setups continue to add on up to the final episodes.

You'll experience moments of spontaneous "who the heck is he?" along with "again?"

A hero that doesn't seem all that convincing as to what and whom he's being a hero for and why....lol.
A fortress with the worst security ever
A prophecy that is only 10% truth, with it's chosen mouthpiece and participants being in on the joke and adjustments follow.
A big bad that isn't really in the end.
A whole species setup that's literally made unimportant...like meh, ya'lls like Ego-takes or whatevahs...lol
A setup for a 3rd season, that makes no sense in motivation, I have a feeling none of the actors will sign up for without some serious compensation.
Bad camera angles in "chaotic mob" scenes....literally 20-30 people in huge spaces. There are ways to shoot these to give the feel there are more people than that.
When you're in the middle third of this you realize all of the conflict could've been handled with out all the fighting.
You get sick of hearing Tagon's name.....
And are the Neandathals speaking spanish? And they only had makeup for 3?....lol. I can't with this drama
At least they have plenty of leftover rags for a historical drama.
....mask boy was better masked and without speaking, holy cow a missed opportunity there and would've made his story more impactful.

If you insist, watch without sound or subtitles. the episodes do sooooo much better without whatever they think is supposed to be happening.

Last but not least....mask boy was better masked and without speaking, holy cow a missed opportunity there and would've made his story more impactful.

D-
because there are worse dramas out there

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Lee Joon Gi's Performance is Incredible

I LOVED the second season of Arthdal. Lee Joon Gi has killed it with his portrayal of Eunseom and Saya. I am so very proud of him.

Though there has been a lot of skepticism around this second season changes including a change in the director, the recasting of two lead characters as well as many of the supporting cast, and a change in streaming platforms, I am so relieved with the direction and quality of the series.

Arthdal is proving to be quite the epic fantasy tale. I am in love with the world-building and how the story explores lore and prophecy. Its portrayal of motive and power has been truly fascinating.

My biggest gripe of this season is Shin Sae Kyung’s performance of Tanya. Her portrayal was quite underwhelming and lackluster. Is this how she always acts in more historical dramas? Her performance pales in comparison to the performances of Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ok Bin and Lee Joon Gi. Kim Ok Bin and Lee Joon Gi have some of the best scenes together. The onscreen chemistry is off the charts.

The ending felt rushed, but that was expected considering the scale of Arthdal. Overall, season two still kept the quality up, even when it resolved its plot lines in the most predictable ways possible. This was a fun world to jump into!

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So good

I dnt know why people are so mean and underrating this epic series all because the characters were changed common is been 10years and the new actors are doing great in-fact they did great smooth acting ! Costume on point top notch , everything about this series is 10/10 so those giving this series low rating are really mean not fair at all this people put there best common let’s give them their flowers ? episode are not as long as they were previously still they kept us on our toes no dragging no slow pace and that’s lovely no waste of scene that even better so people complaining and criticizing don’t know what a good series is and the most painful thing about this is that the criticism are from Korea!!! Common you guys are do better

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At Least It's an Ending

I don't like the categories for rating on here. My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I loved the previous seasons. This has been my crack drama - even this season. This review and rating will reflect this season only and not the drama as a whole.

Acting/Cast: One of the major aspects of this drama that had made it so great in the past was its amazing cast. The two leads, the two other leads, and all the side characters had been phenomenal. The acting of the two main leads were undoubtedly top-notch. Watching them as their families are slaughtered and as they're dragged away into slavery was heart-wrenching, but captivating as I rooted for Eun Seom and Tan Ya, on the edge of my seat, to find a way to save everyone. Without their amazing performances (Kim Ji Won 김지원 & Song Joong Ki 송중기), this drama could have easily flopped before it even really began. When I heard that both of these lead actors were being replaced, although the story was already established, I was afraid that it wouldn't be the same without them. Then, when I saw the actors that were taking their places, my heart sank. The female lead was being replaced by one of the worst lead actresses in Korean dramas (actually...she may be the worst in my opinion) and the male lead was being replaced by an actor I've only seen one other time (Moon Lovers). But, I knew just the change in the female lead could single-handedly ruin this season (having seen Shin Se Kyeong (신세경) in many dramas and never liking her performances but continuing to watch her dramas anyway). On top of that, one of my favorite characters was also being replaced - Nun Byeol. Way to kick me while I'm down. At least Yang Cha made it back. That being said, the change in the leads wasn't quite as bad as I thought it was going to be, but that's not saying much since my expectations were basically at nothing. Lee Joon Gi (이준기) was decent as Saya, not as convincing as Eun Seom, but overall he was alright. As for Shin Se Kyeong (신세경) - it wasn't her worst performance; I could tell she gave a little bit of effort, but not enough to warrant too many close up shots of her facial expressions. A comparison could be made between how her scenes were shot versus how Ta Gon's scenes were shot. However, the casting, to my surprise, was not the biggest problem this season… 4.5/10

Writing: While watching, I felt as though the writers were trying to write out the characters whose actors had been replaced because they knew their performances would not nearly be up to par. So, they made Ta Gon and Tae Al Ha the leads this season. Saya’s character in particular changed a lot from the previous seasons. He used to have this alluring, mysterious aura about him. He had been in isolation for most of his life with the intelligence of an Igutu, giving him this innocent vibe which also felt very dangerous at the same time. Sadly, in this season, Saya didn’t feel like a threat at all. He no longer seemed cunning and conniving (which is where he needed to excel in order to compensate for his lack of physical strength and skill). I even thought that he seemed pathetic, which is such a disservice to a once uniquely captivating character. The same thing with Nun Byeol – the previous season had built her up as an amazing swordsman Neanthal sleeper cell badass, but then her actress was changed so the writers said “nevermind” and basically wrote her into a nothing burger. Yang Cha (another favorite of mine) previously had this unique and interesting relationship with Tan Ya - being her protector and the only one who really knows her, as well as the only person he can genuinely communicate with. Unfortunately, this season, the writers immediately threw away this engaging dynamic. In return, they gave him more of a storyline, but it felt cheap or cheesy... They should have just left him alone and let him stay a badass. Overall, the writing had a completely different vibe from previous seasons. It wasn’t dark at all and not as serious. It was even “comical” at times (or at least tried to be), which just felt strange and out-of-place. I would say that the writing started off decently and then worsened as the drama progressed, becoming more predictable and boring. It felt lazy and rushed as if they just wanted to give the audience some sort of conclusion to the story. 2.5/10

Direction/SFX/Music: Not only did the writing have a completely different vibe from previous seasons, but the directing did as well. And just as the writing was, the direction, the special effects, and overall cinematography felt cheap and cheesy. Instead of a dark, gritty, and intense atmosphere, it now had a bright and light-hearted feel. The special effects were so terrible that the only explanation is that the budget for the season must have been drastically reduced. Right away, there’s a scene where Eun Seom jumps into the air and freezes to shoot an arrow. There’s another action scene toward the end that does this same corny freezing in the air technique. They are also apparently unable to fill in crowds with green screens or CGI. There were multiple shots that were laughable, especially in context with the dialogue – characters talking as if there are a multitude of people and then the camara angle showing a crowd of around 50 people at best. The music is definitely one of the stronger aspects this season. 3.5/10

Entertainment Value: Despite all of the disappointment, I still really enjoyed this season. It still had that crack drama vibe for me. Maybe it's because I'm so attached to the characters and invested in their world. I hate how this drama gets me rooting for child murderers. It did in the previous seasons and I still found myself rooting for them this season. I think even the characters in the drama forget that Ta Gon and his people are all child murderers. But, I think that's a testament to how well the character and world building was done from the beginning until now. 8.5/10

Overall, I gave this season a 5 out of 10 stars. It probably deserves an even lower rating objectively speaking, but I still really enjoyed this season. (In order, I had given the previous 3 seasons or parts a 6.5, a 9, and an 8.5.) Although inadequate in many ways, at least this season was able to provide some closure to this epic tale. A special thanks to the Momo tribe.

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Amazing!

The story ended on a very high note. The characters were well developed and the story made perfect sense. I just wish they had more episodes to flesh out more some of the side stories and characters in this great drama. If you want to watch a drama that doesn't insult your intelligence with stupid plots or characters, this is as good as it gets.

Jang Dong Gun (Tagon) and Kim Ok-Bin (Taealha) were simply amazing! Their charisma and acting were just incredible. Lee Joon Gi (Eunseom/Saya) was very good here too. He more than held his own as a replacement for Song Joong-ki. LJG and SJK were both good in these roles. Shin Sae Kyeong (Tanya) was not as good as Kim Ji-Won from the first season, whom she replaced for the role, but she was good enough and did a decent job. All in all the acting ranged from amazing to decent/good, and was definitely a big plus (+) for the show.

The writers of the Arthdal Chronicles are my favorite drama writers, and this is so whether it involves Korean dramas, Chinese dramas, or American dramas. And I have watched a lot of each set. These writers once again did not disappoint, and proved once again that they are among the best drama writers in the world, if not the best.

The director did a very good job too, even though he has not done much directing before.

So for those who have not seen either season of the Arthdal Chronicles, I highly recommend you watch both of them. Rarely will you find a drama season as good or better than them. If you have already seen the first season, don't wait and go see the second season ASAP. It will be time well spent!

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