Masterpiece in 2025
This is the best and prettiest drama I have watched in 2025. The aesthetics are super pretty and I dont have words to express it. Have kdramas always been this pretty with sceneries? They have done a great job and yeah acting is great specially the main actor Lee Jae Wook. yeah he is always a masterpiece himself. This is the only drama that I watched this year without skipping and forwarding even a little bit. They delivered it so well and im so grateful for this show cus i have been asking myself why they dont do good shows anymore like in past. Thanks to everyone who made this show. Appreciate all your hard work.Was this review helpful to you?
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A Glimpse into the Web of Mystery and Emotion in "Dear Hong Rang" with amazing OSTs
Netflix's 2025 South Korean historical melodrama, "Dear HongRang," also known by its Korean title "Tangeum," plunges viewers into a Joseon-era tale woven with threads of mystery, grief, obsession, and the complex search for identity. Based on the novel "Tangeum: Swallowing Gold," the series centers on the wealthy Sim merchant family, whose world is shattered when the young heir, Hongrang, vanishes without a trace. Twelve years later, the sudden reappearance of a young man claiming to be the lost Hongrang ignites a firestorm of hope, suspicion, and deeply buried secrets.The narrative hinges on the perspectives and reactions of those left behind. Jae-yi, Hongrang's half-sister, is perhaps the most profoundly affected by his disappearance, having shared a close bond with him. Her tireless, years-long search for her brother forms a central emotional arc of the series. The return of the claimant, portrayed by Lee Jae-wook, throws Jae-yi into turmoil. While their mother, Min Yeon-ui, quickly embraces the man as her lost son, Jae-yi harbors doubts, her skepticism fueling the series' central mystery: is this man truly Hongrang, or a cunning imposter?
Adding another layer of complexity is Mu-jin, the adopted son who stepped into Hongrang's place after his disappearance. His position is threatened by the claimant's arrival, creating a compelling dynamic between the three characters. The series explores the shifting relationships and emotional entanglements that arise as Jae-yi endeavors to uncover the truth about the man claiming to be her brother, all while navigating her own burgeoning feelings for him.
"Dear HongRang" is lauded for its intricate plot, which, while occasionally juggling numerous threads, ultimately converges towards a poignant conclusion. Reviews highlight the series' success in blending mystery and melodrama, creating an emotionally charged viewing experience. The performances of the main cast, particularly Jo Bo-ah as Jae-yi and Lee Jae-wook as the enigmatic claimant, have been positively noted for their ability to convey the characters' inner turmoil and the evolving complexities of their relationships. Jung Ga-ram's portrayal of Mu-jin also contributes significantly to the emotional depth of the series.
Beyond the central mystery, "Dear HongRang" delves into themes of obsession and the destructive nature of unresolved grief, particularly evident in the character of Min Yeon-ui. The series is described as a "slow-burning, multilayered descent" into the personal and political machinations within the merchant guild, revealing dark secrets and power struggles that have festered over the years. The historical Joseon setting is visually rich, with praise for the cinematography and production design contributing to the immersive atmosphere of the drama.
While some initial reviews mention the potential for the multitude of plot points to occasionally hinder the narrative flow, the consensus points towards the series successfully bringing these elements together in the latter half. The exploration of love, loss, and the enduring impact of past traumas resonates strongly with viewers, making "Dear HongRang" a compelling watch for those who appreciate historical dramas with a strong emphasis on character development and emotional depth. It offers a tangled web of lies and yearning, where the search for a lost individual becomes a journey of self-discovery and the uncovering of long-buried truths.
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Not a rewatch
I consider myself to rate the shows that I watch pretty aggressively lolThat being said, around episode 7 is where I stopped watching. (I also could’ve just dropped the show at the first few eps) but I continued mainly to see if the plot would develop, but I just kept thinking to myself throughout like what the HECK is going on man.
Mainly got into watching because of the main leads, but other than that not much else is interesting in my opinion.
I’ve now started watching Nine Puzzles.
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What was all the hype about??
The only intresting thing about the whole series was the drawings and still the reason behind it was so meh.It was so boring but i kept watching in hopes of getting better but nope. It drained me so badly. You can watch it if you want but don't expect anything amazing out of it.
And they didn't even explained about the snow ghost guy and what was going on with him. Like how can a normal guy run so fast as if he's superman. And the eyes??? Those days contact lenses wasn't invented yet so wth??
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im lost???
i watched this drama months ago but i still don’t know what to think of it. i literally don’t know how to rank it of even feel about it. maybe cause i watched it with my mom, who prefers to watch it subbed, but im utterly confused. that’s why i gave it a 4. i need to give a rating to submit my review but i actually really don’t know how to rank it.it was kinda disturbing too..
!!!SPOILER!!!
the FL fell in love with the ML thinking he was her brother?? it was so disturbing to watch even though we knew he wasn’t. that’s not the only thing tho. maybe cause i’m not used to these typ of things but it was really weird.
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what did I just watch
pro: let say it keep you thing about the characters and storycon
there lot is to many to say
the drama not is bad but would not say it good that make me say let me watch again next couple of months later but music in the show was very moving. one thing that was off putting brother and sister relationship that was going that didn’t need to see. the mother and father was out of control in what we’re doing to the ml and fl as well as disgusting prince kidnapping all the children just to a ritual and banded with tattoos that killed the ml.
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Bored
“Dear Hongrang” was one of the most anticipated dramas for me, mainly because of Lee Jae Wook. However, it didn’t quite meet my expectations.The story revolves around a sister searching for her missing brother. An imposter enters her life, pretending to be the lost brother—but she knows he is not. Despite that, his kind nature draws her in, and she eventually falls in love with him. As more hidden truths are unveiled, their lives are turned upside down, leading to a tragic end.
I didn’t enjoy the drama much due to the presence of the psychotic king and the painful truth behind the male protagonist. It was heartbreaking to see how brutally the king used him, which ultimately led to his tragic ending.
I also liked Jung Ga Ram. His character suffered a lot and never truly lived a fulfilling life.
Overall, the story felt too harsh and filled with negativity, which didn’t align with my tast
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Overall good viewing experience but a story with many loopholes
Alright, let me start with the stuff I actually liked about this story. First off, the music was fire. The OST Burning Petals blew me away the first time I heard it — it had this East Asian vibe, almost like something you’d hear from India or Sri Lanka. I’ve honestly never heard a Korean series use music that heavy and emotional, with those deep vibratos and sliding notes. Since I grew up around East Asian music, it hit me hard every time it played in the background. It really pulled me into the emotional scenes.The casting was also spot on. Lee Jae Wook just has that aura about him, and Jo Bo-ah was super versatile. Her crying scenes? Damn, she nailed them — they felt so raw and real.
Now, onto the stuff that bugged me. The writers totally skipped giving us the villains’ backstories, so we never really understood what made them tick. And some of the characters were just… dumb. The sister and older brother had no martial skills, so you’d think they’d at least be smart and strategic, but nope. Only Hongrang managed to balance fighting skills with some actual thinking. Like seriously, how do you not realize the consequences of walking around unarmed when people are literally chasing you? And don’t even get me started on Jae-Yi’s escape attempt — broad daylight, by ship? Girl, that’s just asking for trouble. She ended up putting a bunch of lives at risk because she couldn’t plan properly.
And the older brother’s storyline? Total letdown. He started off as the calm, grounded one who was a real source of comfort for Jae-Yi, but then they flipped him into a villain once Hongrang showed up. It’s the same tired trope you see in so many Korean and Chinese dramas — the love triangle where the “good guy” gets turned bad, never gets a real chance, and is dragged along until the end with no satisfying resolution. Honestly, it’s played out and boring at this point.
And that wedding scene… seriously, what were those two brothers even doing? These guys were ready to throw their lives away at every other moment, but when it came to actually saving their sister, they didn’t have a solid plan until the very end? Like, come on. And did they really think nobody would figure out their scheme with the third wife? Even I saw that twist coming a mile away.
Also, what's with the little brother seeing snow man in his dream and the opening scene where he ran into Snow man? That explanation was never given.
Also, not gonna lie, I wasn’t feeling the whole “sister catching feelings for Hongrang” bit. Especially when she wasn’t even sure if he was her real brother or some imposter. That was just… weird.
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A big emotional story packed into 11 episodes
May 2025Wow. What an emotional ride. A trigger warning has to come early, as there are some quite harrowing scenes involving children.
Some light moments in earlier episodes, but this isn't fluffy; on the contrary, it is very dark, and very bloody.
The most dangerous things in dramas (and often reality), are power, money, love and jealousy. These are the driving forces behind this story, with a bucket load of revenge.
It's a twisting tale, mostly fast paced, with some epic sword fights. No particularly out of the ordinary characters ~ a cross section of classes, some really vile people, and a smattering of lunacy.
LJW and JBA are well cast; I liked both characters a lot, they gave believable performances, which really dragged me into caring about them and their happiness.
Kim Jae-wook has a role in this and is excellent, too. He really can act, seeing as his character didn't figure in all scenes, yet his presence never felt far away.
I wanted justice, and some characters really deserved to suffer far more than they did.
There is a lot of tragedy attached to this story, but it isn't depressing.
Plenty of action, thrills, and a moving love story within the main one. There were moments when I gasped, and shouted "No!!!" Not something I do often. Got angry and loathed several characters; something I do do often 😉🤭
The romance aspect felt quite sudden, kind of going from 0-60, with an aspect of mild incest (which in honesty wasn't believable), was shoved in. I'm not sure that fit, for me, but I understood the justification, as it affected the decisions Jae-yi made.
If you're anything like me, you'll need at least one tissue, at some point. It isn't perfect, but I sat through it in 2 evenings, and was glued.
Together with so many scenes getting a reaction out of me, a great cast and acting... that's a more-or-less perfect watch in my eyes. Highly recommended.
I loved the soundtrack, too; even the 'incidental' music.
화화 (花火 Burning Petals) - 4BOUT (어바웃) [per YouTube] was my favourite.
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Worth Watching Sad Series
I'm sure you read the synopsis already so I'm just gonna write my thoughts. The drama was a very painful one, the torture and trauma and the separation was very sad to watch but I love how the main characters always try to save everyone that needed it. I felt like the romance happened way too fast but its understandable why they feel in love. Other that I thought that it wasa very romantic story and worth watching. I was kind of upset that the SML became evil but its understandable cause love can make people do crazy things.
I love a good ploted drama with a sad ending because those kinda of dramas makes you feel a type of way and makes you remember it longer compare to a drama with a good ending, I always feel like happy endings never make me satisfied. Im always like, damn thats it.... and then feel disappointed if it was a crappy happy ending. Lol
I haven"t watched a lot of k dramas this years but out of all of the ones I've watched so far I think this series was one of my top 5. Again only for me😉. I truly recommend this drama tho. 👍
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
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Swallowing Gold
The drama encapsulates the meaning behind swallowing gold. Most of the characters had a greed for something.Hanpyeong had a desire for immortality.
Yeolguk had a desire for guild power and money.
Yeonui had a desire for control.
Mujin had a desire for his love, the FL.
ML had a desire for taking revenge AND his love. He wanted the best of both sides.
All of these desires led to each character’s demise, fulfilling the original meaning of the title. It did feel like the romance was just for ML’s plot, but I guess it was necessary.
it would’ve been easier for the characters to find out about the painter if they’d just interpreted “ㅡ” as “Hana” instead of “il”.
ML is ML because he did not have a name of his own till the end (ToT).
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masterpiece
this historical drama is the best one i’ve seen in years on netflix. the plot twists had me on the edge of my seat. action scenes were sick! cho boah’s acting blew me away. jaewook shined in this role. amazing chemistry between the leads. the romance was deep and touching, it made us yearn and suffer and cry.10/10
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