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My Dearest (2023) 연인
Directed by Kim Sung-yong and Lee Han-jun, starring Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo and Lee Da-in.
Watched 15 - 17 August 2024 — 11 episodes (VIKI PASS)
*Finished show's season 2 yesterday. I enjoyed it a lot but it wasn't the masterpiece I was hoping for. With 21 episodes in total, I think the series outstays its welcome. It could definitely have been cut short by at least three episodes. There's a lot of repetition in the storyline, dealing with the court and the captives, also with the constant separation between the main leads, and parts of it just felt convoluted and messy. I wasn't invested in the court politics, to be honest, not fully understanding them. Also, some loose ends were not wrapped up at the end and left me with questions.
*Yet overall the storytelling is great, the characters are well written, the production values are high, the cinematography is amazing, the OST is beautiful (songs ánd instrumental music), and the cast is doing a great job acting-wise. Especially leading man Namkoong Min as Lee Jang-hyun gives a great performance.
Directed by Kim Sung-yong and Lee Han-jun, starring Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo and Lee Da-in.
Watched 15 - 17 August 2024 — 11 episodes (VIKI PASS)
*Finished show's season 2 yesterday. I enjoyed it a lot but it wasn't the masterpiece I was hoping for. With 21 episodes in total, I think the series outstays its welcome. It could definitely have been cut short by at least three episodes. There's a lot of repetition in the storyline, dealing with the court and the captives, also with the constant separation between the main leads, and parts of it just felt convoluted and messy. I wasn't invested in the court politics, to be honest, not fully understanding them. Also, some loose ends were not wrapped up at the end and left me with questions.
*Yet overall the storytelling is great, the characters are well written, the production values are high, the cinematography is amazing, the OST is beautiful (songs ánd instrumental music), and the cast is doing a great job acting-wise. Especially leading man Namkoong Min as Lee Jang-hyun gives a great performance.
*With the war being over and the subsequent peace treaty between Qing and Joseon, it hardly gets any better for the Joseon people. Crown Prince is taken hostage, and refugees who escaped from Qing to Joseon are being hunted down. It becomes very much a show about the plight of the captives.
*I love the male lead. Lee Jang-hyun is very smart and resourceful and is determined to help the captives return to Joseon. He seems to cooperate with the bad guys but is sabotaging the hunters' attacks on the captives. I also love how Yoo Gil-chae transforms during the course of the show, turning from a frivolous girl into a mature woman.
*Love the attention paid to the minor side characters, and how the writers haven't forgotten about them and follow up on their stories. Also love the display of female friendships, especially between Gil-chae and her maid Jong Jong, even more than Gil-chae's friendship with Eun-ae.
*As for other couples: I love Jong Jong and Gu-jam (Jang-hyun's servant) together. Glad they get married. I had hoped a romance would develop between Goo Yang-chun (big Hyung-nim) and In-ok, the mother who lost her child, but sadly he didn't live. Also love the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. I was sad they killed off both of them. I like the Eun-ae/Yeon-joon (Melanie/Ashley) couple less.
*At some point I had enough of Ryang-eum (played by Kim Yoon-woo), Jang-hyun's close friend and singer, who is in love with Jang-hyun and is jealous of Gil-chae's relationship with Jang-hyun. Ultimately he seems to accept the relationship.
*Show has a lot of drama, violence and bloodshed, but fortunately also humour.
*ENDING SPOILER AHEAD! So now we've come to the amnesia trope! Jang-hyun has two bouts of amnesia! The first time it happens it's really unnecessary — it felt like a random thing inserted in the plot — but fortunately it didn't last too long. With the ending the amnesia plot device makes more sense, and in fact, it's quite beautiful that Jang-hyun has remembered Gil-chae's wish about the house and is waiting for her. It reminded me a bit of the ending of the Hollywood classic Random Harvest. When Gil-chae finds him at the house and they end up together on the beach, the events in her dream with the beach finale finally come true. With Jang-hyun suddenly recognising Gil-chae and letting his emotions run free, I cried too. Namkoong Min conveys his character's emotions so well! I was actually sad that the show ended there because I wanted to spend more time with the main couple in their house with the fence.
*Despite the happy ending, the final episode is a bit disappointing. It was surprising to hear about Jang-hyun's grandfather's treason report (to my knowledge not mentioned before, or I must have missed it) and the revelation of Jang-hyun's family history felt like an info dump.
*Coming full circle with the mystery person in prison and revealing his identity (Ryang-eum), there are still questions unanswered. How did he end up there and why did he go mad? What is the time frame?
*One closing note about our OTP after having seen the entire show (something which has been bothering me from the very beginning). The majority of online reviewers is gushing over the great chemistry between the leads, but though there ís chemistry and the leads make their love story fairly believable (because they're great actors and play their characters with conviction), I think their romantic chemistry is lacking (the scenes where there's playful banter between them work better for me). Also, Ahn Eun-jin as Yoo Gil-chae is not the best casting choice, in my opinion. I think she's too young to fit the part, not mature enough. Nothing to do with the actress' real age since Ahn Eun-jin is 33 years old and there's only a 13-year age gap between her and the male lead. I do like Ahn Eun-jin and she did well here but I can't help feeling I would have liked to see another actress in her role. It was also seeing Namkoong Min with actress Lee Chung-ah (as the Chinese Princess/ bounty hunter) that made me realise the chemistry he has with Ahn Eun-jin is lacking. He has far better romantic chemistry with Lee Chung-ah and I found the dynamic between the two quite exciting. Also the scene where Lee Chung-ah steals a kiss from him is more exhilarating than any of the kisses Namkoong Min shares with Ahn Eun-jin (even though I like the kissing scenes of the main couple).
*Will definitely watch more shows starring Namkoong Min!