ypigment

Why this series is an Unbearable Disappointment!

The series is a massive disappointment! Anyone looking to have a good time should skip it; it’s only for those who want to get frustrated. The show completely abandons the messages it sets up in the beginning and makes you lose all affection for the characters you loved. This is because the characters you thought were innocent and principled turn into mere henchmen. In other words, the most despicable characters in the show are portrayed as the good guys. Furthermore, it forces several plot holes just to reach its desired finale, which is absolutely unbearable.

Character Transformations (Beginning vs. Towards the End)
Boon-yi

Beginning: Strong, resisting, and fighting back.

Towards the End: Ultimately becomes Bang-won's lackey, cowering in the face of his tyranny, submissive, meek, and whimpering.

Moo-hyul

Beginning: Protects the oppressed and the weak, even if he can be cowardly.

Towards the End: Becomes Bang-won's sidekick. Due to his absurd notion of "loyalty," he becomes indirectly responsible for the deaths of Yeon-hee and many other innocent people, failing to ever take a firm stand.

Boon-yi and Moo-hyul try to protect Bang-won until the very last moment. It’s a truly dreadful script. In my eyes, they turned into the most despicable characters. Regardless of how the story was supposed to end, everyone they loved should have turned against Yi Bang-won, a character who completely lost his humanity.

Additionally, the series pushes the message that the end justifies the means. You watch the collective conscience of the people, which was so vibrant at the beginning, shrink and become passive. No moral movement is left. Even though Yi Bang-won turns into another Hong In-bang, there is no strong opposing voice. Early in the show, despite all the corrupt figures like Hong In-bang, Lee In-gyeom, and Gil Tae-mi, we could see a movement driven by conscience. Consequently, the message the writer delivers at the end makes you grow cold towards even the most innocent people you trusted. If you enjoy that kind of thing, go ahead and watch it.

Script Inconsistencies & Plot Holes
Banchon & Hwasadan: When Boon-yi's organization relocated to Banchon and declared neutrality, Hwasadan should have been able to monitor Yi Bang-won’s movements much more closely, strengthening their intelligence. The show previously implied that Boon-yi’s departure would cause major issues, but it completely fails to reflect this.

Cheok Sa-gwang's Target: The show changes Cheok Sa-gwang's target by claiming "this whole thing started with Mumyeong." However, Mumyeong didn't want to kill the king; they wanted to use him. This whole mess actually started with the death of Master Poeun (Jeong Mong-ju). Her real targets should have been Bang-won and Yi Seong-gye. Moreover, one of the children she raised died precisely because of Bang-won's coup ambitions.

Cheok Sa-gwang vs. Yi Bang-ji: Despite sharing the same ultimate goals, Cheok Sa-gwang and Yi Bang-ji fight each other, allowing Bang-won to escape.

There are plenty of other absurdities, but these were the ones that caught my eye the most. The issue isn't who wins or loses; it's whether those who are in the right fight and struggle for the right cause. The show tricks you in the beginning only to leave you stranded halfway through. In the end, there's barely anyone left to call "righteous," and those who are, end up dead.

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Great Side Characters, Vague Plot

I just finished. First of all, I would like to express my deep respect for the Korean people's struggle for independence, because the criticism I am going to make about this drama is entirely separate from that. If anyone wants to watch a story about popular resistance, I highly recommend watching Nokdu Flower, because what exactly this drama is trying to reflect is very ambiguous.
In my opinion, the pacing of the drama is very slow. Is this series a love story? Up until the 20th episode, it almost seemed that way. If we are going to call it that, who is the subject of the drama? Go Ae Sin? Eugene Choi? Who? Whose story is this exactly? There are a lot of characters, but it's not very clear whose story it is. Furthermore, after the 20th episode, the focus shifts to the people's struggle. As I said, what the show is trying to convey is very vague.
Also, and most importantly, there is no real storyline to follow. I mean, there is no consecutive series of events that you can follow from the beginning to the end of the series. The only thing you are really tracking is whether there will be a happy ending for Joseon or for the couples in love. Other than that, as I said, there isn't much of a story.
The best thing about the drama is characters like Gu Dong Mae and Kim Hui Seong, who are a joy to watch. My favorite character is Kim Hui Seong. Honestly, if these characters had simply been given more screen time, I think watching it would have been much more enjoyable and fulfilling. Another thing that bothered me about this drama is how, among the foreigners, Westerners (America) are portrayed as the most humane.
I personally didn't enjoy the drama very much. I suppose people like it so much because it has romance in it. I think it mainly appeals to women who like these kinds of things

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