Gu Family Book started off with a strong point for me. I loved the fact that the premise was a start of something awesome even though this were just THE parents of the half gumiho lead, which I watching for first two episodes. Nonetheless the characters were captivating and you could wish that it was them who would play the main characters. Yet we get disappointed because they were the power start and not the climax or the finale.
Now off to the main event, I wasn't really a fan of flashbacks to give substance to the stories. Flashbacks feel like cheating... so after those flashback from the main characters story I felt cheated but setting that aside, I love Yeo-wool's character. She was a bad ass woman with skills, the downer for me here is the consistency of her being bad ass. Initially she started off as being Kang-chi's protector then as the story progressed little by little Yeo-wool was turning into a damsel in distress. That annoyed me. If she was a bad assed chic who dress up as a man and could fight equally as a man, why didn't the writer own up to that character? I have this inkling the writer was trying to feminize Yeo-wool in way that would not over shadow Kang-chi's strength. My take on that? It was a lame move. Yeo-wool could still have supported Kang-chi even if she was strong.
As for Kang-chi's character, I like the way he progressed from being recklessly clueless about his real identity up the part when he has evolved to who he really is to the very last episode. I love how he decides on his own and the trail of thoughts that runs inside his half gumiho head. It shows how pure his heart really is. That's the kind of solid character I wanted in a drama I watch.
Of course if there are the good guys, there are also the bad guys. Jo Kwan-woong was the ultimate baddie in this drama and I just loved to hate the guy. I was already plotting my revenge on him inside my head because he has been killing off wonderful characters or marring their image to a point of no return. That's how affected I am with his character.
There were also several character that I liked:
Gon, he was that kind of guy who doesn't say too much but gives off all the vibes in his facial expressions and physical gesture. My favorite expression on his face is the I-like-you-lady-yeo-wool-but-I-could-never-have-you-because-I'm-only-here-to-protect-you-and-your-heart-already-belongs-to-someone-else.
Choon Soo-ryun the gisaeng head mistress because she's level headed and her principles are way beyond being desperate and lastly she's awesome with the five drum beat.
Finally there's Head servant Mr. Choi, Kang-chi's second dad. His character was consistent all throughout. Never wavers not even when he gets beaten up multiple times, he was one of the underrated characters which I would have cried if he got killed off.
The music score was lovely, I like the song they have used especially during the pilot episode for the mom and dad. It was cute, romantic and timely.
I would highly recommend this drama for those who are into sageuk fantasy. Its not too light but its also not too heavy as a kdrama. I'll have to say it's just the right mix. I just wish they make a second season out of this because I'm pretty much looking forward to it already.
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