Hwarang (2016)

I loved it!

Before I start: let me just say that this is more of an idol drama so that's to be noted before you watch this. I have found that idol dramas tend to not be quite as good, but some really do pull through like with this one.

This is a great drama in my opinion. It does lean a bit heavy on historical drama cliches but it's got a couple of twists. I wouldn't say it's anything new or refreshing to the drama world. However, that being said, the story is still great and holds its own. The characters are decently fleshed out for a short drama, even including side characters. They could have added more episodes and fleshed them out even more but it's satisfying enough.

The acting is absolutely amazing. You got some really awesome, big-name actors in this drama. Even the ones that aren't, and even the idols in it hold their own.

The costumes are decent and the OST is pretty dang good as well. Although, I have a bit of a bias since Yoseob sings one of the songs haha.
I definitely recommend this drama, especially if you are looking for something serious but not too serious. It's a drama but it has a lot of nice funny moments thrown in as well. It never feels too heavy to watch.

Leggi di Più

What Sooho (Minho) did toward the end :') This show is EVERYTHING. Thought provoking, emotional, addictive, and with casting that will blow your mind. I loved all the Hwarang, but I really fell hard for Ban Ryu (Do Ji Han). Even his romance with Soohos sister it was hilarious, considering all the times poor Minho got knocked out I still can't get over it but it was also extremely passionate. Especially because of all the emotional change Ban Ryu goes through and how she never resents him for it. Go Ara was great as the main lead, and both Seo joon and Hyungsik fall for her. But the thing that made me laugh, cry, and get more addicted was the bromance. Whether it was V (Taehung), or Minho, or Do Ji Han or Jo Yoon Woo, they left you wanting more. Everyone had their own struggles. The story of the two brothers (V, Kim Hyun Joon) was especially heartbreaking. These two had a cruel fate the part where V goes on a diatribe about liking stars in the sky, it gave me goosebumps. He just wanted to be a kid but his grandfather made it impossible. I mean what can I say about V he fit the role so well, I think he gave us all something to think about. Everyone loved him, to the point where he constantly hung out with Minhos group instead of the one he actually belonged to Minho... SHINee for life but honestly I've been so enamored with this guy's acting, and this show is proof that he's not just a pretty face. He is amazing in everything he does. I really enjoyed his bromance with Ban Ryu and his playboy nature but also how he got completely enchanted by the Queen. From the way this show made me laugh, to the message "Don't just follow orders think for yourself, stand up for the weak " to the way it also broke my heart in the worst possible way, and I was a total wreck. But the finale came strangely with a6 ray of sunlight and more heartbreak in some cases, but I never for a second regretted my time spent on this show. Another thing that I loved, was you get the same quality content from the first episode to the last. Most dramas are epic for about three episodes and then it's like you're watching a watered down version but with Hwarang that never happened. From the action, to the writing, to the way it was shot so beautifully you get that in every episode. Seriously, never going to get over this one.

Leggi di Più

As I am very fond of Historical dramas, I thought I may give Hwarang a shot. Even though it was not that bad, the series did not meet my expectations, while having so much potential. The series had some decent side stories, which were pleasant to watch. However failed to meet any expectation of mine with their main story, which was very lacking, basic and weak. No clue why this series actually got twenty episodes as I am sure it would have fitted in just sixteen episodes. The actors were not doing a bad job and must say that they were up to standards, however I don't think Go Ah Ro (I like her as an actress though) should be used for a character like this.

Leggi di Più

This drama will always be one my favorites, of course it has its flaws but it's worth it .

The story is the main reason I like it because it's interesting and keeps you wanting to watch more and unveil more of it. It's worth it on itself really.

Another reason is the romance, the leads' romance is a very sweet, heartwarming love story and you will feel it.

Lastly the osts, the osts in this drama are really memorable and you may even want listen to them outside of the drama by adding them to a playlist of yours.

Many people disliked Ah ro because she cried a lot or because she didn't return a certain character's feelings but I liked her, she was funny, cute and kind. She stood her ground saying it was wrong when someone wanted to impose himself on her and even kissed her without her consent. She also turned stronger as the series went on.

There were lots of bromance scenes you may like if that's your thing.

Park seo joon looks really good with long hair and if you liked him in other shows you may like him even more here, his character in this drama is really cool.

Now the things I disliked. There were some scenes such as: picture a scene where a certain number of people are sitting, brooding at the same time, and then it would show each of them and a flashback of what was bothering them one at a time, scenes like this felt unrealistic to me. There were also lots of repeated flashbacks in general.

Also there were other situations where the characters would say what they had said before in a different scene or a character would ignore another when that had happened before too.

Another thing that I found unnecessary was the love triangle, the story could have been much better had it not existed. The two guys could have been great friends the entirety of the show and more scenes of their friendship could have been added.

Lastly I disliked how the writer repeatedly put Ah ro in situations that caused trouble thus contributing to people disliking her, those scenes got annoying.

Despite those things, I overall 100% rec this drama, it's sure to be a good entertaining time to anyone.

Leggi di Più

To be honest I don't know why I have decided to write a review on this drama. It was by no means my favourite, yet I felt compelled to write it.

Non Spoiler stuff...

Reasons I ended up watching this drama:
1. It's a historical K drama. I've recently been watching historical K dramas, (Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Tale of Nokdu, Rookie Historian)
2. Park Seo Joon - I watched him in 'What's wrong with Secretary Kim?' and heard good things about his general acting and wanted to see him in a different role.
3. Seo Ye Ji - I watched her in 'It's okay to not be okay' and she quickly rose to be one of my favourite actresses.
4. It's a good looking cast...

Reason you should watch:
1. Bromance and Friendships
2. Popular cast
3. It has good message of 'actions speak louder than words'

I gave Hwarang an 7.5 (more like a 7.3) , I probably would have given it something different, if I hadn't an idea of what a good historical drama should look like.

Spoilery (ish) stuff

Story
The story was the weakest part of the drama.

The pacing of the story at the end was rushed and wasn't completely satisfactory. The purpose of the Hwarang was to act as guards and to support King Jinheung. But in the end we barely got a glance of how the Hwarang would be put into play with the faceless King now on the throne. Nor did we see how Sam Maek Jong would do as King. Throughout the drama he talks of wanting to make a difference in Silla but that could have merely been words as we never got to see the better Silla.


Cast/ Acting
There is no denying that this drama has a star cast.

Most people that came to watch this show will have come for BTS V/ Taehyung (Hanseong) seeing as the comments are filled with him despite not being in the scene.

The best actors in the drama I would say were Park Hyung Shik (The King, Sam Maek-Jong, Second lead), Do Ji Han (Ban Ryu) and I guess, Park Seo Joon (Moo Myung , Male lead). Hyung Shik and Ji Han presented raw pain and emotions extremely well and Seo Joon demonstrated a good contrast between the awkwardness and innocence in terms of love compared to his anger and sadness.

Go Ara did alright. She wasn't the best actor in the drama, it may be due to my growing disinterest in her character that I didn't seem to click with her acting.

Romance/ Chemistry
The romance was a bigger aspect of the story than I thought it was going to be. Before going into the drama, I wasn't even aware that there would be a female lead. The romance was fine at the beginning because it built tension and brought the characters together, but after the reveal to Ah Ro that Moo Myung was not her brother I was put off by the romance. It might be that I am salty about the ending couple. But I am probably not the only one who thought that Ah Ro should have ended up with Sam Maek-Jong (Jidwi). In my personal opinion they had better romantic chemistry than the main couple. I felt that Ah Ro and Moo Myung would have been better with a sibling relationship.

The romance that was done perfectly was between Ban Ryu and Soo Yeon (Soo Ho's sister). The romance was sweet and opened doors into Ban Ryu's true character.

The bromance between the Hwarang was what gave the whole drama a boost in rating for me. I could tell that they all cared about each other. When Hanseong died, I started crying despite not having a huge attachment to the character, just because of all of their reactions.

Overall I would say that I'd rewatch this drama, but not all of it. I'd probably skim through the episodes or rewatch a specific episode for a scene that I enjoyed.

Leggi di Più

Que grata sorpresa

Se que este es un titulo viejo, pero a mi nunca me interesó, solo la empecé a ver porque estaba en Netflix.
Él me gusta en sus papeles, pero a ella, le tengo idea, ya que siento que sobre actúa todos sus roles y ni te cuento de la lloradera, me imagino que es famosa por eso y le dan papeles en los que pueda desarrollar sus dotes Nuestro príncipe, es un chico lindo, que solo lo vi en una serie, me sorprendió bastante bien aqui. Ahora lo que me dejo emocionada eran todos los demás actores, todos senior me encantan, creo que son grandes actores.
Al principio no le hice mucho caso, la mire como una mas, ya que se notó desde el principio lo light que era. En especial por la musica que ponían. Digo Light porque después de algo dramático inmediatamente hacían algo para reir, se veia claramente que no querían que fuera muy dramático.
El triangulo amoroso, me encantó, ustedes no se imaginan la ansiedad de saber con quien se quedaba, todo tenia logica pero en el fondo los dos eran tan buenos como pareja que yo no me queria decidir, entonces mis expectativas estaban llenas de ansiedad, hasta el ultimo capitulo.
De verdad la recomiendo, es entretenida, salen chicos lindos, la historia no es tan cruel, y si de alguno modo lo es, no la muestran tan trágica. Recomiendo esta serie, no como de culto, sino porque me entretuvo mucho.

Leggi di Più

Slow for me

Wow, what a beautiful cast of men. I loved their uniforms, hair, the sword fighting, and dancing! But their makeup was the worst I have ever seen in a series. The acting was good. The music was good. The story was a little lacking.

First off, I’m not really a Park Seo Joon fan. I don’t know why. He’s handsome and talented but he just doesn’t appeal to me. I also did not like the female lead. Their scenes were boring.

I’m a huge Park Hyung Sik fan and he was just gorgeous (except for the makeup). And, wow, does he dress up nice! In some way, I felt like the script did him an injustice and made us doubt him at time when he was totally capable. But loved the ending!

Not a nail biter but not terribly bad either.

Leggi di Più

17/01/2023

This is more or less about a faceless King in hiding and a peasant that wants vengeance for the death of his best friend.

All inside the kingdom of Silla that has no place for the poor.

Both, it seems, want the same thing as in a unified Silla with fair treatment and no rank system or anyone starving or resorting to theft. However, the Queen and one other have other plans and the King in hiding turns out to be the peasant's target of revenge.

Under the Queen, Hwarang is formed in order to train elite fighters from high class families of Silla to support the Royal family, only among those training are the peasant and the King so their story and all involved unfolds from there...

The peasant is not just an ordinary peasant and his real story comes to light eventually as well.

I actually enjoyed this drama and watched it in two days.

In some places I read that there were a lot of plot holes and unanswered questions, but I liked it for what it was which was light, likeable and well paced with a decent cast.

The bromance in this was quite good to watch and the humour was funny throughout most of it. Not all, but most.

The female lead's character, A- Ro, was a bit irritating after some time with all the crying and emotional outbursts, but all the males whether mains or support were solid.

Park Hyung-sik was a good fit for the King as was Park Seo Joon as the peasant, Moo Myung.

I will say that some of the fight scenes in this were not as good as some of the ones I have seen in Chinese Dramas - no where as good!!! Like the angles were not caught right, the speed was wrong and they weren't captured in a way that it was a wow factor for me. They weren't as spectacular like the ones, for example, in The Long Ballad or Ever Night S1 and S2.

Overall, this is a fairly decent drama and is something I'd watch again once a year no problem.

Leggi di Più

The beauty and peril of being a young and privileged man.

Hwarang is a blast of youth. It is inspired by a real-life event. However, limited knowledge about history won’t affect your experience watching this drama . Even if it happened more than a thousand year ago, the theme is relevant to the current situation. It is about being part of the privileged group, about the desire to make a change to a corrupted and unjust society, about power struggle among those who have been in power for too long. Don’t worry, this is not a heavy k-drama. This is a light drama, basically to showcase all these beautiful young men living together and a battle of high level testosterone on a daily basis.

The story is not the strongest point of Hwarang. The production got a low score for me. But I don’t watch Sageuk so I don’t have any comparison. It looks like being filmed on a tight and low budget production. I didn’t check. Except for the beautiful dresses, the visuals are pretty lame.

Still, I will watch this drama over and over again. Just like eating junk food, it’s not good but it’s delicious. I am craving for more.

This drama has a long cast of talented actors/ actresses, I suspect the cost of production went to the casts. The casts save this drama. An example, I see how Kim Chan Wan as Park Yeong Shil put his signature in the character he plays so that the antagonist has more depth. So do other actors/ actresses. They bring their own interpretation to their character. At least, this is the case for the more experienced casts.

Wooga squad came out of this drama. It’s an indicator on how good the chemistry and relationship among the young casts is. Park Seo Joon together with Park Hyung Shik and Go Ah Ra, they make a good team. The rest of the young cast are similarly okay but, for me, Seo Joon stands out compared to others. Taehyung is my bias so I won’t comment much on his acting. It’s too similar to how Taehyung is being portrayed in real life on the many bangtan reality shows. I enjoy it but I am not sure if he is acting or he is simply being himself. There were moments when he was good, but it's like hit and miss. I don’t know if the character is made to accommodate him or he was given that character because it is similar to his. I suspect he could show better acting if he was given a different character, one that is not too close to his public personality and push him to go beyond his comfort zone.

Oh and, I know this is from a past time in a patriarchal culture but I read somewhere that Hwarang was created to counter the strong women squad. The women protagonist and antagonist are strong but I really wish there were more women in it.

I like some of their music, its catchy. But again, I have my own bias towards a certain bands. Ehm, what can I say? :)

This is a good drama if you need something light, want to be entertained. Hwarang has a bit of action, a splash of mellowness and a chuckle every now and then. Forget logic and be forgiving about holes in its story.

Leggi di Più