Eleison

The King of Five Paths I think woke him up (?), and it seems like the writers were going to connect him to the original mountain god for a Season 3 (who Moo Yeong woke up, thinking it would be his brother), since they never tie up these threads or fully answer the questions they raise for us. 🤷‍♀️

I like how her character fit into Rang's arc, and she was very important for his character, but I thought she was a little forgettable as a character in herself. And there were so many moments she could have used that mermaid scream but never did. It drove me nuts that they failed to utilize it more! 😂

It was probably to leave the door open for a Season 3 if it worked out to do one?

Taluipa mentioned near the beginning that each era progressed on its own, so the past they went to wouldn't affect their future. It's apparently a multiverse! 😂

I'm confused by the mountain god powers/mystical animals and their status. Moo Yeong was a Siberian tiger, Yeon a gumiho, and Hong Joo an eagle-owl. So, do they have powers as these creatures apart from their god status or did they get them when they became gods?

And by 1938, it seems all four mountain gods are no longer protectors of their mountains; why do they still have their powers that they had as mountain gods?

I kind of know why Moo Yeong got turned to stone (because he was mad his brother died and in anger and grief burned his mountain, right?), and I know Lee Yeon had to relinquish his job because he fell in love with a human, but why did Hong Joo lose her status?

I feel like some of this was addressed in Season 1? But I've obviously forgotten.

Also, I wish they had explained why Yeon never saw Hong Joo in 2023. She should still be alive because she's immortal, so I felt like that was a loose thread since they were such good friends.

Lee Yeon is just THE COOLEST. And he's the best big bro EVER, and a deeply devoted friend.

I felt like this season wasn't as cohesive as Season 1, and a few times I got lost with who was doing what and why since there are so many troubled souls in this with conflicting agendas 😂 (Yeon had his work cut out for him in this season fighting friends and baddies and healing old wounds; he had some characters he had to stop and yet also protect--a much harder task than doing just one or the other). I also felt for a while (in the middle, which felt the weakest to me) like these mountain gods were sometimes weaklings. I felt cheated of true mountain god glory. But then I got to the end, and it all made sense. I finally understood why I felt like their fights with EACH OTHER were all kinda lame. 😅

So, while I think this season had its fair share of issues (e.g. so much suspension of disbelief, an obvious fake set for ALL the 30's era, horribly anachronistic costumes/hair, confusing gaps, questions I had that never got answered, loose threads and some plot holes) and was maybe a bit more all-over-the-place than Season 1, this still delivered a solid, enjoyable watch that made me laugh out loud, giggle, go "Awwww!" and at times almost cry.

Yeon's endless friendzoning of Hong Joo was always so adorable, playful and respectfully done, and Rang and Yeon steal the screen whenever they're together. Lee Yeon and Moo Yeong had by far the coolest powers. Lastly, I love that they make Lee Yeon "as sly as a fox." He manages to surprise you with all his smart antics, and I love it. I honestly just can't get enough of Lee Yeon and his dearly bought but somehow breezy victories. I just love, love, love his character. He lounges earnestly through life, steady-as-she-goes, the anchor for everyone around him, and never fails to deliver.

I enjoyed Rang's arc, too, and the way things got wrapped up in 1938. So, overall, a fun watch (as long as you don't mind some creepy moments and zombies)! It was refreshing to have a drama that focused primarily on friendship and brotherhood and the strength that comes from a community of friends and people who will love you no matter what.

Also, if possible, the soundtrack improved from the already stellar Season 1. They had so many lovely BGMs that, paired with last season's BGMs, made for a beautiful, heartfelt backdrop for our characters and their stories.

P.S. I also loved the little Gaksital reference with the red and white mask, especially since that drama used this set as well and took place in the same era; oh, the nostalgia!

The questions I never got answers to are below:

So is JCW the husband that dies or one of the younger brothers she might marry...?

Ji Chang Wook looks SO different with the beard and all. Takes me a minute to figure out which one is him! 😂

I could see why Goblin was popular, and why it's a classic (the OST is one of the best as far as Kdramas go), but I couldn't stand the ending. It ruined it for me. 😭

Oh, those classic wrist grabs! Definitely glad they're getting less and less.

I do like watching MLs (or FLs) grow over the course of the series. That's the only thing I like about the old Kdramas (and the soundtracks; the old Kdrama era of music was so cozy); I love watching the character progression. It's not very realistic that the MLs would change very much, of course (the MLs like Sun Jae aren't either, I suppose), but it makes for a good story!

I like that he addressed it, too. He didn't force himself on her, but he leaned in and she didn't stop him. Definitely toeing the line of consent but it passed muster for me, and I like he pointed out that she didn't stop him. He seemed confident she liked him regardless of her pretense of indifference, cause I think he picked up on her nonverbal cues. He does feel a bit like an ML from another era, though. If this is indeed from a 2011 webtoon, it's age is on display in these subtle interactions! 😂 Not necessarily problematic, but definitely not quite preferred.

I think it's important that Hong Ju's resistance is more out of denial than actual dislike or discomfort. She's not afraid of him, she's just giddy. The fact that all her close friends are pushing her despite her "fighting" them indicates to me that they know she doesn't mind it deep down. They know her best, and they wouldn't force her into something they truly thought she would dislike.

And the way Hong Joo's friend's dad was like, "Dude, man-to-man, don't go near her again. That bridge is burnt, and there's no going back. Be a man and move on!" 😅 He's usually a comedic role, so he just pulled that sweet dad hat out of NOWHERE. 😂 Too bad our 2ML was too dense to listen.

They definitely showed his reasons more clearly. I think they portrayed her as liking him all along after they started being friends (she's always enjoyed being around him) but largely in denial because she either thought she was in love with someone else at the time or thought her friend was in love with him which is why she never really processed her own feelings. Her side definitely feels less developed, though, so I could see why you think that!

"You could have dodged it." 😉😘😂

The synopsis gives me ZERO idea of what to expect, and the poster is weird. I will pass for now, unless the rating improves or many positive, reasoned perspectives show it's worth my time.

Yeah, that worries me about this one, too. These romances can be enjoyable to watch as long as you realize they're toxic and should never be replicated in real life (I'm looking at you, Goong and BOFs! 😅).

I sense this ML will be similar to Baek Du from Like Flowers in Sand or Ho Goo from Hogoo's Love, but at least in these dramas the characters were from similar economic backgrounds and of a similar age. I'm curious to hear what people say about it!

One plus in it's favor is that both leads have good comedic timing and are hilarious in comedies. KYD was adorable in Forbidden Marriage and Shooting Stars, and SMA was quite funny in Oh My Venus and Hometown Cha Cha Cha.

Why is it tough to get into? A lot of people to keep track of?

This is helpful, thank you!

This seems to be the oldie but goodie Cdrama everyone raves about now that I've dipped my toes into Cdramas and am hearing more of the buzz about what to try. But I'm confused by the number of Watchers which doesn't line up with this drama's supposed popularity? 9.1 is a very high rating, but 36,000 is low for watchers. Is it because it's old?

He has a way of bringing comfort just by being onscreen. It's hard to explain, his character just makes me feel like everything is going to be okay in the story, as long as he's there. I felt the same way about his character in Season 1. Maybe "reliable" or "steadfast" is the word I'm thinking of? Maybe also comes from the nonchalant way he breezes through life and the challenges he faces. LDW manages to make him carefree enough that's he's funny and even at times hilariously clueless (seemingly), and yet he never feels threatened by anyone or incapable of a task. And despite his nonchalance, he's never indifferent to people, and has this strong compassion underlying the carefree vibe that endears him to people. He never underestimates the stakes involved with a problem, and always responds appropriately to the seriousness of the occasion when he's called upon to do so. I think he's my favorite LDW character! I just love when we see his gumiho eyes--it makes him looks 10 times cooler. 😎

And to your point about Ji Ah (from another comment on here), I agree that you feel her presence even though she's never on screen because all the 1938 characters can see this is a different Lee Yeon than they knew, and he's different in large part because of Ji Ah. They can smell the effect she's had on him, and can't place how/why he's changed. 😂 When Shin Ju and Yeon were talking about their wives at one point it felt so weird to have two of the main MLs so detached from the possibility of romance. It was a refreshing (and unique) moment in a Kdrama!

Doesn't the cartoonish element fit the poster, though? 😂