20_DramaQueen_23
This review may contain spoilers
01/03/2024 (March).
I really enjoyed this drama as it was fast paced and interesting, but it did have its minor flaws like seriously injured fighters being able to fight later the same day or the next with very little recovery time. Not plausible in that sense at all. I, at least, can live with that as I suppose only so much can be done in a one hour episode with 16 in total.
Have to say this series was really well done - I didn't find it confusing nor did I find the music a problem at all.
The bromance, friendship and bond between Hwi and Seon-Ho was truly awesome so it was a bit disheartening to watch such a deep friendship deteriorate somewhat. I actually believe their friendship suffered significantly when Yeon really truly died - not before.
I really wonder had Yeon survived would both have made different choices.
As for Yeon, she was the light in both Hwi's and Seon-Ho's lives. When she was killed it caused Hwi and Seon-Ho to seperate for a number of years - during this time both followed different opposing paths in their pursuit for revenge on her behalf as well as fighting for a cause (opposite sides) that put their lives on the line as well as the possibility of fighting one another to achieve it.
Hwi at first wanted revenge more than anything only this changed later on when he saw several innocent people slain because of him and the Prince whereas with Seon-Ho revenge was a top priority, but also rising high in status and power so as to make a difference in the world.
It is understandable why they fell out, but such a shame as they were such good friends and for years.
Furthermore, Seon-Ho may have made some questionable decisions, but more or less it was because the choices he was given were either bad bad or the worse case scenario. e.g. Death.
What was never truly broken, however, was the strong bond between both friends.
SPOILER ALERT!
I appreciate the scene in which Hwi got to thank Seon-Ho for protecting him and also letting him know he was sorry for not seeing his friend's pain because of being so consumed in his own anger. Also, when Seon Ho told Hwi more or less that he looked too far ahead and too far up yet when he finally looked behind him he saw Yeon and Hwi there - just one step behind him was "his country", also, that he wished he had seen it sooner.
It took all their trials and tribulations for Seon-Ho to fully realise that what was most important in his life above wealth and status were his childhood friends who were more than that - they were his family, blood, lifeline and whole world.
Before I forget - I have to acknowledge the trio that supported Hwi and the one guy that stood by Seon-Ho right to the end, however, for the most part Seon-Ho was all alone in what became an insufferable existence for him. So, to see him and Hwi reconcile near the end of this drama after being apart for so long and to fight their last fight together against the real enemy was quite fitting for this soul connected duo - even if bittersweet.
On an end note - I would really have liked the last scene to have been something like Yeon meeting them in the afterlife as well as all three graves side by side phasing out to blackness.
ALL THE ACTORS WERE ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!
I liked both Yang Se-Jong and Wu Du Hwan and couldn't imagine anyone else doing their roles.
WOO DU HWAN:
I just want to say that Woo Du Hwan is one of the best male criers I have ever seen on screen among other emotions.
Have seen him in Bloodhounds and now this one - he does both characters justice.
His range is a wow factor whether happy, sad, angry, vengeful, surprised, caring and in emotional turmoil.
When Yeon died I found Seon-Ho's tears more impactful than Yang Se-Jong's (Hwi) for some reason, as well as his internal pain, conflict and suffering. One could have easily believed that he was her real brother because of how he reacted to her death and the silk phoenix embroidery design she left behind in her room. He was that convincing! Mind you, Woo's character, Seon-Ho, was a brother to her just like Hwi and he protected her just as much even at the risk of his own life. But when she died - it was his crying that caused me the most sadness because it felt so real plus I knew that his burden was the heaviest one to carry... and all alone.
This drama had realism to it that some historical dramas just don't have at all.
Totally recommended plus it is something that can be re-watched even though it does have a sad and tragic ending. AAA+++
I really enjoyed this drama as it was fast paced and interesting, but it did have its minor flaws like seriously injured fighters being able to fight later the same day or the next with very little recovery time. Not plausible in that sense at all. I, at least, can live with that as I suppose only so much can be done in a one hour episode with 16 in total.
Have to say this series was really well done - I didn't find it confusing nor did I find the music a problem at all.
The bromance, friendship and bond between Hwi and Seon-Ho was truly awesome so it was a bit disheartening to watch such a deep friendship deteriorate somewhat. I actually believe their friendship suffered significantly when Yeon really truly died - not before.
I really wonder had Yeon survived would both have made different choices.
As for Yeon, she was the light in both Hwi's and Seon-Ho's lives. When she was killed it caused Hwi and Seon-Ho to seperate for a number of years - during this time both followed different opposing paths in their pursuit for revenge on her behalf as well as fighting for a cause (opposite sides) that put their lives on the line as well as the possibility of fighting one another to achieve it.
Hwi at first wanted revenge more than anything only this changed later on when he saw several innocent people slain because of him and the Prince whereas with Seon-Ho revenge was a top priority, but also rising high in status and power so as to make a difference in the world.
It is understandable why they fell out, but such a shame as they were such good friends and for years.
Furthermore, Seon-Ho may have made some questionable decisions, but more or less it was because the choices he was given were either bad bad or the worse case scenario. e.g. Death.
What was never truly broken, however, was the strong bond between both friends.
SPOILER ALERT!
I appreciate the scene in which Hwi got to thank Seon-Ho for protecting him and also letting him know he was sorry for not seeing his friend's pain because of being so consumed in his own anger. Also, when Seon Ho told Hwi more or less that he looked too far ahead and too far up yet when he finally looked behind him he saw Yeon and Hwi there - just one step behind him was "his country", also, that he wished he had seen it sooner.
It took all their trials and tribulations for Seon-Ho to fully realise that what was most important in his life above wealth and status were his childhood friends who were more than that - they were his family, blood, lifeline and whole world.
Before I forget - I have to acknowledge the trio that supported Hwi and the one guy that stood by Seon-Ho right to the end, however, for the most part Seon-Ho was all alone in what became an insufferable existence for him. So, to see him and Hwi reconcile near the end of this drama after being apart for so long and to fight their last fight together against the real enemy was quite fitting for this soul connected duo - even if bittersweet.
On an end note - I would really have liked the last scene to have been something like Yeon meeting them in the afterlife as well as all three graves side by side phasing out to blackness.
ALL THE ACTORS WERE ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!
I liked both Yang Se-Jong and Wu Du Hwan and couldn't imagine anyone else doing their roles.
WOO DU HWAN:
I just want to say that Woo Du Hwan is one of the best male criers I have ever seen on screen among other emotions.
Have seen him in Bloodhounds and now this one - he does both characters justice.
His range is a wow factor whether happy, sad, angry, vengeful, surprised, caring and in emotional turmoil.
When Yeon died I found Seon-Ho's tears more impactful than Yang Se-Jong's (Hwi) for some reason, as well as his internal pain, conflict and suffering. One could have easily believed that he was her real brother because of how he reacted to her death and the silk phoenix embroidery design she left behind in her room. He was that convincing! Mind you, Woo's character, Seon-Ho, was a brother to her just like Hwi and he protected her just as much even at the risk of his own life. But when she died - it was his crying that caused me the most sadness because it felt so real plus I knew that his burden was the heaviest one to carry... and all alone.
This drama had realism to it that some historical dramas just don't have at all.
Totally recommended plus it is something that can be re-watched even though it does have a sad and tragic ending. AAA+++
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