2
Rita
A Greek tale, told in Korean
This particular serial is an old one, and the production value is clearly dated. Yet the power of this serial is so strong that it is impossible to ignore it. The story, the acting, the editing and the direction more than make up for the age of this serial.
Many have spoken of the outstanding job done by Lee Joon Gi. Being a die-hard fan of JLG, I will not go there yet lest I do not stop!
The beauty of this story is that it is more than a revenge story. It speaks to the complexity of human relationships that your dire enemy can potentially be your cherished friend, if you did not know their past, that your most cherished relationship can be with your mortal enemy. These and other questions make this story telling so different and so outstanding.
As usual, any great Kdrama depends on its myriad characters to truly make it shine. This one is no exception. The combination of a fantastic female lead, a supporting male lead, and a truly bad ass Mr Jekyll and Mr Hyde persona of the male lead (led by the inimitable Lee Joon Gi) makes this a cut above the rest. The bromance of the two male leads is a delight in itself. Their relationship really shone, and grew with a tacit understanding all the way through the twists and turns. The romance was suitably red hot. LJG played two very different personalities and the romance was a constant through it all. Watching the female lead react to both of these very different personalities but be drawn deeply to both was wonderful.
In the end, I and many others would have appreciated a little more of that bromance and romance if possible.
However, perhaps the most interesting relationship was between the male lead and the villain of the piece. The villain was beautifully played by Choi Jae Sung; larger than life, complex and layered. The interplay of the two personalities with the villain was brilliant and even in the end, the denouement underscored the pathos of the situation.
It is reminiscent of a Greek play, with its themes of the vagaries of fate and man’s constant attempt to make sense of destiny. Highly recommended.
Many have spoken of the outstanding job done by Lee Joon Gi. Being a die-hard fan of JLG, I will not go there yet lest I do not stop!
The beauty of this story is that it is more than a revenge story. It speaks to the complexity of human relationships that your dire enemy can potentially be your cherished friend, if you did not know their past, that your most cherished relationship can be with your mortal enemy. These and other questions make this story telling so different and so outstanding.
As usual, any great Kdrama depends on its myriad characters to truly make it shine. This one is no exception. The combination of a fantastic female lead, a supporting male lead, and a truly bad ass Mr Jekyll and Mr Hyde persona of the male lead (led by the inimitable Lee Joon Gi) makes this a cut above the rest. The bromance of the two male leads is a delight in itself. Their relationship really shone, and grew with a tacit understanding all the way through the twists and turns. The romance was suitably red hot. LJG played two very different personalities and the romance was a constant through it all. Watching the female lead react to both of these very different personalities but be drawn deeply to both was wonderful.
In the end, I and many others would have appreciated a little more of that bromance and romance if possible.
However, perhaps the most interesting relationship was between the male lead and the villain of the piece. The villain was beautifully played by Choi Jae Sung; larger than life, complex and layered. The interplay of the two personalities with the villain was brilliant and even in the end, the denouement underscored the pathos of the situation.
It is reminiscent of a Greek play, with its themes of the vagaries of fate and man’s constant attempt to make sense of destiny. Highly recommended.
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