2
12
3
virgievirgie
Lost in Dramaland
Underrated Gem - Excellent Acting, Storytelling and Pacing. Rare drama about the Common Folks.
Such an underrated drama that is not recommended enough. It’s rare to find a serious saeguk/historical drama these days, and even rarer to find one that’s about the common people and not about the royal family. I can’t believe this drama is only rated a 8.2 at the time of this writing. It will be a rare 9.0 for me.
I recommend this drama to you if you:
1. Like serious saeguks - not a rom-com.
2. Like dramas such as the more popular “Six Flying Dragons”.
3. Don’t like the pacing of “Six Flying Dragons” because it’s too slow but want a similar drama.
4. Like a big budget production with excellent acting, storytelling and realistic depiction of lives of the poor back in the 19th century
Acting - Top notch acting all around. There’s no weak link at all. The closest drama I can think of off the top of my head that I’ve seen such great acting from the youngest to the oldest, would be “Six Flying Dragons” and “Arthdal Chronicles”. This drama boasts a huge supporting cast, and you will recognize every single veteran actor if you are familiar with K-dramas. Each and everyone of them is amazing. Both Jo Jung Suk and Han Ye Ri were awarded Best Actor and Best Actress respectively in SBS Drama awards in 2019. Yoon Shi Yoon and Choi Moon Sung were nominated as well.
Yoon Shi Yoon - I want to single out my praises for Yoon Shi Yoon. He’s a surprise for me. I thought he was a young idol actor but realized he has many dramas under his belt. I remember also liking his acting in “You Raise Me Up” as well. His role as Baek Yi Hyun is so multilayered and he portrayed all these emotions so well. From being the young and naive scholar, to a shy lover, to being the emotionless and heartless Goblin and the tortured soul towards the end. I feel so bad for Yi Hyun. If only his teacher treated him right. Yoon Shi Yoon was fantastic. It’s too bad he did not win any awards.
Plot and Pacing - I picked this drama because it’s the story about the common folks. It’s not about the royal family fighting for the throne, or palace politics. Set during the Donghak Peasant Revolution, you know it’s going to be bloody and deadly. Throughout the drama, I was hopeful, saddened and horrified. To me, the pacing is a lot better than “Six Flying Dragons” which I thought had too much talking but not enough action. “The Nokfu Flower” moves at a moderate pace. Each supporting character is given sufficient screen time for me to get to know them and care for them, but not too much that they overshadow the main plot and the main characters.
Strong Female Characters - Love the strong female characters - fearless and badass merchant Song Ja In (FL), supportive and strong mother Yoo Wol (Baek Yi Kang’s mother), quiet but has an inner strength noblewoman Hwan Myung Shim, and killer and courageous sniper Beo Deul. Even the slightly annoying Chae Jung Shil (Yi Hyun’s mother) and Baek Yi Hwa (Yi Hyun’s sister) are strong characters. There isn’t anyone that’s naive and innocent, and wouldn’t fight back.
Production - High budget production with realistic battle scenes. They did not shy away in showing the cruelty of a revolution and no blood was wasted in the illustration of different wounds and battle scenes. I enjoy the realistic portrayal of regular lives - no fancy clothes, characters rarely have a clean face, torn clothes and messy hair, humble meals, sets and houses, and the use of natural light and candles. The drama might not have screenshot-worthy cinematography, but you bet you can envision how hard life was.
Character Development - Each of the three main characters changes (for better or worse) throughout the drama - Baek Yi Kang, Baek Yi Hyun and Song Ja In. Their experiences might not be the same, but you can see how much they have changed from when you saw them in the first episode, and compared it to the last episode. The change is not abrupt, but is developed nicely through their roles during the revolution.
Other Random Observations:
1. The Battle at Ugeumchi was very difficult to watch - it’s heartbreaking.
2. Beautiful and haunting opening theme song that sets the tone for the drama.
3. A few unexpected comedic scenes sprinkled here and there throughout the drama.
4. Slight romance - enough to keep this romance lover satisfied and tugged my heartstrings.
5. Same director as “Six Flying Dragons”, so you will notice some ‘Easter Eggs” and many actors/actresses that appear in both dramas.
6. ML’s Father - Worst Father of the Year
Completed: 1/17/2023
I recommend this drama to you if you:
1. Like serious saeguks - not a rom-com.
2. Like dramas such as the more popular “Six Flying Dragons”.
3. Don’t like the pacing of “Six Flying Dragons” because it’s too slow but want a similar drama.
4. Like a big budget production with excellent acting, storytelling and realistic depiction of lives of the poor back in the 19th century
Acting - Top notch acting all around. There’s no weak link at all. The closest drama I can think of off the top of my head that I’ve seen such great acting from the youngest to the oldest, would be “Six Flying Dragons” and “Arthdal Chronicles”. This drama boasts a huge supporting cast, and you will recognize every single veteran actor if you are familiar with K-dramas. Each and everyone of them is amazing. Both Jo Jung Suk and Han Ye Ri were awarded Best Actor and Best Actress respectively in SBS Drama awards in 2019. Yoon Shi Yoon and Choi Moon Sung were nominated as well.
Yoon Shi Yoon - I want to single out my praises for Yoon Shi Yoon. He’s a surprise for me. I thought he was a young idol actor but realized he has many dramas under his belt. I remember also liking his acting in “You Raise Me Up” as well. His role as Baek Yi Hyun is so multilayered and he portrayed all these emotions so well. From being the young and naive scholar, to a shy lover, to being the emotionless and heartless Goblin and the tortured soul towards the end. I feel so bad for Yi Hyun. If only his teacher treated him right. Yoon Shi Yoon was fantastic. It’s too bad he did not win any awards.
Plot and Pacing - I picked this drama because it’s the story about the common folks. It’s not about the royal family fighting for the throne, or palace politics. Set during the Donghak Peasant Revolution, you know it’s going to be bloody and deadly. Throughout the drama, I was hopeful, saddened and horrified. To me, the pacing is a lot better than “Six Flying Dragons” which I thought had too much talking but not enough action. “The Nokfu Flower” moves at a moderate pace. Each supporting character is given sufficient screen time for me to get to know them and care for them, but not too much that they overshadow the main plot and the main characters.
Strong Female Characters - Love the strong female characters - fearless and badass merchant Song Ja In (FL), supportive and strong mother Yoo Wol (Baek Yi Kang’s mother), quiet but has an inner strength noblewoman Hwan Myung Shim, and killer and courageous sniper Beo Deul. Even the slightly annoying Chae Jung Shil (Yi Hyun’s mother) and Baek Yi Hwa (Yi Hyun’s sister) are strong characters. There isn’t anyone that’s naive and innocent, and wouldn’t fight back.
Production - High budget production with realistic battle scenes. They did not shy away in showing the cruelty of a revolution and no blood was wasted in the illustration of different wounds and battle scenes. I enjoy the realistic portrayal of regular lives - no fancy clothes, characters rarely have a clean face, torn clothes and messy hair, humble meals, sets and houses, and the use of natural light and candles. The drama might not have screenshot-worthy cinematography, but you bet you can envision how hard life was.
Character Development - Each of the three main characters changes (for better or worse) throughout the drama - Baek Yi Kang, Baek Yi Hyun and Song Ja In. Their experiences might not be the same, but you can see how much they have changed from when you saw them in the first episode, and compared it to the last episode. The change is not abrupt, but is developed nicely through their roles during the revolution.
Other Random Observations:
1. The Battle at Ugeumchi was very difficult to watch - it’s heartbreaking.
2. Beautiful and haunting opening theme song that sets the tone for the drama.
3. A few unexpected comedic scenes sprinkled here and there throughout the drama.
4. Slight romance - enough to keep this romance lover satisfied and tugged my heartstrings.
5. Same director as “Six Flying Dragons”, so you will notice some ‘Easter Eggs” and many actors/actresses that appear in both dramas.
6. ML’s Father - Worst Father of the Year
Completed: 1/17/2023
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