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This review may contain spoilers
Damn! I knew I'd love this!
What a drama! Beauty in all its forms. The story, the production quality, the acting, the music, the visuals - gorgeous! I must say, this drama is by far the best fantasy costume drama in the K-Drama world.
The story is the main character. The world building, character narratives, plot twists, connections -it is all so well done. Before I realised, I was already clicking the next episode. I must say, the patience of those who watched it while it was airing is great 😂 Not even once did I feel there were plot holes or loose ends. This drama is the whole package. There is emotion, humour, action, fantasy. All put together wonderfully. It reminds me of Chinese fantasy action dramas but with more emotional aspects than pure action. It was well paced and the 20 episodes is definitely not too long. I don't remember ever watching an episode and calling it mind blowing. But episode 17! Damn bro! That was the best episode ever 🤌🤌🤌 The ending as well! Goosebumps!
Lee Jaewook...the star of the show! His acting - action and emotion - were outstanding. For a very long time, I thought his real name was Jang Uk 😂 He has got a very strong screen presence as well. I can't believe he was just 23-24 when he was shooting this drama. He has such a mature air about him. I always thought that Jang Uk was this more serious character and so Jaewook fits perfectly for that role. But seeing him as a very easy going, laid back character really caught me off guard. But it wasn't necessarilya bad thing. It really showed a different side of the actor. And he did a great job. The story adds to his character's importance. Loved Jang Uk so much. Jung Somin as Mudeok was yet another great choice. She is just such a no-filter character. The myriad of emotions she has as someone living in a different body was beautifully potrayed. You would be forced to believe she is the real Naksu as Mudeok and notthe actress. The storyline gave her character such a boost too. I loved the dialect she spoke too. Mudeok is an unforgettable character who anyone would love. Together, I feel they made a good pair. Was it visible there was a 10 year age gap between the actors? Hell nah! Since the focus was on a lot of other aspects and not plainly romance, I feel this pairing fits the best. Their bickering, black cat girl-golden retriever boy relationship trope was very cute and endearing. It stays with you for a very long time. I love how they didn't add that typical cutesy vibe to Naksu just because she is currently Mudeok. That really balanced their relationship.
The side characters were main characters in their own ways too. Each of them had a good storyline. Loved how they made the crown prince an easy going and almost childlike character. Someone who has a proud and boastful outer shell that he tries to show to the world while having a heart full of warmth. Shin Seungho potrayed that character so well. My next favorite characters were Yoo Joonsang as Park Jin and Oh Nara as Maidservant Kim. Oh God! They are the most adorable pair of the entire drama! I loved how they wrote those two characters and I must say nobody other than them could play those roles better 🥹🥹 Im Chulsoo as Master Lee was amazing too. This is my first time seeing him in an almost serious role 😂 Hwang Minhyun as Seo Yul was a complex character too. God! It is difficult to be good 😠The villian Jin Mu is definitely one of those pain in the neck kind of villains. They just wouldn't die or end their nonsense. The entire idea of his for conquering the world is just so stupid and clearly degenerate but it's crazy how he is blinded by it to a point where he just cannot see the obvious. That is frustrating honestly. This drama used all their supporting characters so well, it made the drama so much more wholesome!
There weren't songs that stood out to a point where I would play them on loop a hundred times. But I'd definitely say, the background music added so much more weight to every scene.
Honestly, this is one big drama of 30 episodes. I understand they had to cut it at 20 episodes because that's the longest a KDrama can be (I've never seen a KDrama longer than 20 episodes; is there one?) But even if they didn't, this would still be amazing. I wish there was a book that had the entire story as a whole. It would be heavenly then 🥹 I don't think i have any complaints with this show. There were too many who loved both the main leads each so I was worried of misunderstandings complicating the story. But Jang Uk and Mudeok are both such stable characters when it comes to who they like, you could definitely be at peace. I did want more of Naksu and her action scenes but that wasn't there. But alas, Naksu is a villainous assassin.
Rewatch value is off charts! I know I'll watch this show over and over and over again! I loved it that much! I really love fantasy-costume genre and a good, complex story. This drama had it all. It's the way everything has it's place and are pieces of one big puzzle that fall together to form a beautiful picture. So yes, that just makes it a top candidate on my favorite dramas of all time list! Thank you so much Hong sisters and director for this masterpiece!
The story is the main character. The world building, character narratives, plot twists, connections -it is all so well done. Before I realised, I was already clicking the next episode. I must say, the patience of those who watched it while it was airing is great 😂 Not even once did I feel there were plot holes or loose ends. This drama is the whole package. There is emotion, humour, action, fantasy. All put together wonderfully. It reminds me of Chinese fantasy action dramas but with more emotional aspects than pure action. It was well paced and the 20 episodes is definitely not too long. I don't remember ever watching an episode and calling it mind blowing. But episode 17! Damn bro! That was the best episode ever 🤌🤌🤌 The ending as well! Goosebumps!
Lee Jaewook...the star of the show! His acting - action and emotion - were outstanding. For a very long time, I thought his real name was Jang Uk 😂 He has got a very strong screen presence as well. I can't believe he was just 23-24 when he was shooting this drama. He has such a mature air about him. I always thought that Jang Uk was this more serious character and so Jaewook fits perfectly for that role. But seeing him as a very easy going, laid back character really caught me off guard. But it wasn't necessarilya bad thing. It really showed a different side of the actor. And he did a great job. The story adds to his character's importance. Loved Jang Uk so much. Jung Somin as Mudeok was yet another great choice. She is just such a no-filter character. The myriad of emotions she has as someone living in a different body was beautifully potrayed. You would be forced to believe she is the real Naksu as Mudeok and notthe actress. The storyline gave her character such a boost too. I loved the dialect she spoke too. Mudeok is an unforgettable character who anyone would love. Together, I feel they made a good pair. Was it visible there was a 10 year age gap between the actors? Hell nah! Since the focus was on a lot of other aspects and not plainly romance, I feel this pairing fits the best. Their bickering, black cat girl-golden retriever boy relationship trope was very cute and endearing. It stays with you for a very long time. I love how they didn't add that typical cutesy vibe to Naksu just because she is currently Mudeok. That really balanced their relationship.
The side characters were main characters in their own ways too. Each of them had a good storyline. Loved how they made the crown prince an easy going and almost childlike character. Someone who has a proud and boastful outer shell that he tries to show to the world while having a heart full of warmth. Shin Seungho potrayed that character so well. My next favorite characters were Yoo Joonsang as Park Jin and Oh Nara as Maidservant Kim. Oh God! They are the most adorable pair of the entire drama! I loved how they wrote those two characters and I must say nobody other than them could play those roles better 🥹🥹 Im Chulsoo as Master Lee was amazing too. This is my first time seeing him in an almost serious role 😂 Hwang Minhyun as Seo Yul was a complex character too. God! It is difficult to be good 😠The villian Jin Mu is definitely one of those pain in the neck kind of villains. They just wouldn't die or end their nonsense. The entire idea of his for conquering the world is just so stupid and clearly degenerate but it's crazy how he is blinded by it to a point where he just cannot see the obvious. That is frustrating honestly. This drama used all their supporting characters so well, it made the drama so much more wholesome!
There weren't songs that stood out to a point where I would play them on loop a hundred times. But I'd definitely say, the background music added so much more weight to every scene.
Honestly, this is one big drama of 30 episodes. I understand they had to cut it at 20 episodes because that's the longest a KDrama can be (I've never seen a KDrama longer than 20 episodes; is there one?) But even if they didn't, this would still be amazing. I wish there was a book that had the entire story as a whole. It would be heavenly then 🥹 I don't think i have any complaints with this show. There were too many who loved both the main leads each so I was worried of misunderstandings complicating the story. But Jang Uk and Mudeok are both such stable characters when it comes to who they like, you could definitely be at peace. I did want more of Naksu and her action scenes but that wasn't there. But alas, Naksu is a villainous assassin.
Rewatch value is off charts! I know I'll watch this show over and over and over again! I loved it that much! I really love fantasy-costume genre and a good, complex story. This drama had it all. It's the way everything has it's place and are pieces of one big puzzle that fall together to form a beautiful picture. So yes, that just makes it a top candidate on my favorite dramas of all time list! Thank you so much Hong sisters and director for this masterpiece!
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