My Dearest (2023)

A beautiful gem

I usually don't watch on-going dramas for the simple reason that I know I will like them and I don't want to wait every week. But for some reason I started this, and while the wait is excruciating, I have the best time watching this gem of a drama. So much so that I finished another show with Namkoong Min to shorten the waiting time (also, he is a great actor!).

This show has everything: a great story, amazing characters with depth, action, intrigue and a (bitter)sweet romance. The latter blossoms very slowly but makes your heart flutter like crazy, trust me! I love Gil Chae as a female lead a lot. She may be bratty and spoiled and maybe a little narcissistic but you can't really blame her. Imagine a whole village thinking you're pretty... let's not pretend like it wouldn't get to you head! (Also, she is still young) But to have her confidence... uff I would do a lot. Like she is her own hyper-person: she feels sad? she'll just look in the mirror! BAM, happy again. What I love about her as well is her bravery and the responsibility she took to protect her friend and the maids. She takes leadership, she uses her brain, she is able to make smart decisions very quickly and she listens to Jang Hyun despite bickering with him. And I love the consistency of her smart leadership. Every episode, she continues to be strong when she needs to, be it physically or mentally; she is a great female lead in my opinion! She continued to be resilient and selfless until the last episode, and the despite heartbreak it caused, I still understood her decision!

Jang Hyun... ahhh. He is an amazing lead. Namkoong Min manages to make his character charming and witty. His chemistry with Ahn Eun Jin is great and I love his longing gazes a lot. He is a very expressive actor that can use his face very very well (which I could see in >One Dollar Lawyer< that I just finished). Subtle acting is not easy but he does it perfectly. You can see the love his character feels for Gil Chae in his eyes and his whole body. I wish he would give those longing stares directly to Gil Chae so that she could SEE them as well and stop thinking that he's just playing with her (and finally forget that loser Yeon Jun lmao). The last episodes were a masterclass, he made me cry so much with his expressive eyes, what an actor!

I don't want to talk about Yeon Jun to be honest because he annoys me haha, same with the king. The man is more concerned about his chickens and palace than his subjects that die for and because of him. His son, the crown prince, is not any better. The scholars are all so useless because all they do is talktalktalk but they don't actually DO anything. It's terrible, but I guess that's the reality. The poor and defenseless will always suffer while the rich and powerful survive on their backs.

The cinematography is absolutely mesmerizing and astounding, I love it so much. The music as well. I may not be the biggest ballad fan, but the show has such a great OST I could cry! The only other costume/historical drama that I have seen was >Alchemy of Souls< (PT.1&2) and the catch was that it had fantasy. For some reason, costume dramas intimidate me to be honest but I just had to watch this one and I dot not regret it. The balance between action, politics, characters and romance is so nice that I hardly realize it's not a modern drama. And to be honest the historical aspect makes it a bit more romantic because of the elevated language and because the actions sometimes speak so much louder.

Overall, I have nothing but praises. The show got me screaming and bawling and giggling and kicking my feet and I adore it. After finishing the show, I can say it's a new favorite. I bawled my eyes out, laughed and got all excited watching this masterpiece. I understand if the characters frustrate you in the beginning, but overtime you will love them for their resilience, strength and bravery. Gil Chae is such an amazing female lead, I adore her, and my heart broke for her in the last episode, what a dilemma. In the end, she gave up what she loved most, I can't blame her but I cannot wait to see how Pt. 2 will wrap things up. How it'll develop and how our couple will meet again. I don't want to brace myself for a sad ending, but I don't want to get my hopes too high either haha. I am so happy I started this because it gives me so much happiness (despite the uncontrollable crying lmao) and I hope many more people will watch it because it is simply amazing and I am sure you will love as much as I do. 💗

Leia Mais

Following the Red Thread to You

When I first saw the title of this drama, I was all ready for the most beautiful love story, and I was not disappointed. We all wait for that exceptional love and to be swept up into an emotional storm of unbridled love; such is the case with this drama.

The backdrop is set in the 1600s during the Qing invasion where you have the young, bright and beautiful Yu Gil Chae (Auh Jin Lin) who has a propensity to attract every man in town, but her eyes are only set on one man--Nam Yeon Jun. She does everything to always garner his attention as well as make the other women in town not like her. They think her actions are inappropriate to say the least. But Nam Yeon Jun while knowing her feelings always makes her feel that he has a slight interest, but he finally put those feelings to rest at last when he marries Kyung Eun Ae.

Lee Jang Hyun (Namkoong Min) arrives in Neunggun-ri, and sees the attractive Yu Gil Chae for the first time as she is on a swing in the woods along with other suitors who are watching her as well. Lee Jang Hyun is instantly captivated as he watches her swing back and forth, smiling and laughing as she goes higher and higher. They both recollect this moment later: One day, I asked you my darling, "Do you recall the day you first saw me?" You answered, "Of course, I do. I heard a very rare sound that day." I asked you what sound you heard. "Do you hear it? This sound, the sound of flowers." Just at that moment the swing broke and he caught her in his arms. As he looked at her up close for the first time, he said thinkingly, "Have you ever heard the sound of spring flowers bloom? I heard that rare sound today." So, began the amazing love story of Yu Gil Chae and Lee Jang Hyun.

Each time this couple met it was always a lively banter of words between which was a growing love, more so for Lee Jang Hyun, but Yu Gil Chae for so long had her sights on Nam Yeon Jun she never allowed herself to even think another man could enter her heart. Lee Jang Hyun played many mind games and their "tug of war" where both their feelings were concerned fascinated him. He did not want her to lose interest in him, so this is how he kept and captured her to him.

But just as things began to heat up for them, war starts and so they are separated before they could even make sense of their feelings.

Many things happen once the war started. Lee Jang Hyun finds himself working for the Khan as well as the Crown Prince. He does save Yu Gil Chae, gets ill and then the worse of it all is that she believes he died. Those who would die, they would put their possession in a box. Yu Gil Chae went looking to see if there was something of that manner for Lee Jang Hyun. Well, she did find a box which contained her red ribbon most importantly--his fan that he was never without. Even though she had these items, a tiny part of her still held on that he was alive. She held onto his coat and even screamed and cried for him to come back but he didn't. Hence, she had to fend for her and the others due to Kyng Eun Ae's husband, Nam Yoon Jun being imprisoned, and they lost everything.

Picking herself up she found a way to make money and get everyone back from the brink of disaster. Enter Gu Won Moo who led her to believe that he was the one that saved her and the others when they were on the island, but we all know it was Lee Jang Hyun. She decides to marry him.

Meanwhile Lee Jang Hyun is finally able to come back to Yu Gil Chae because the Crown Prince has been allowed by the Khan to see his father. Well, Lee Jang Hyun ask Ryang Eum to tell her that he is coming. But because of the beliefs that Ryang Eum has, once he does see Yu Gil Chae not only does he tell her that he is dead, but also that he had another woman during that time. I believe that he had a love for him that exceeded friendship. He used the guise of saying he felt that she was bad for him and was going to hurt him, so he drove her away. I think he didn't want him to have anyone in his life but him. So, misunderstanding ensued.

Coming into town, Lee Jang Hyun is happy because he has all the flowered printed slippers that he promised her. As he is walking down the street, he hears a man calling out about the bride's chest and out comes Yu Gil Chae. To say he wasn't blown away and her too, because she sees him at the same time is an understatement.

They finally meet and he tries to explain things to her but again, she basically doesn't listen to him and believes he is playing games with her, and she is not hearing anything that he is saying. He does find out that Ryang Eum was the cause of him not telling her that he was alive and leading her to continue to believe he was dead. Ryang Eum said that she was already getting married so why should he have told her anything different in his mind. I believe at this point; their relationship was severed.

The final parting of Yu Gil Chae and Lee Jang Hyun was in this letter that she wrote him as he sailed down the river without her. She said, "It is true that I wavered for a moment, but I do not trust you nor love you enough to leave everything behind me. If any small affection for me remains in you, please forget everything about me."

After reading the letter he picks up her flowered printed slippers and remembers what he had told her when he left: "I will come back with the prettiest flower slippers in the world." He then just drops them in the water as they float away...so ends their story for now.

Ryang Eum who Lee Jang Hyun left is on the riverbank watching him leave without him, turning to leave, he looks up only to see Yu Gil Chae and cannot contain in his look his disgust and anger for her.

Yu Gil Chae feels tears running down her cheeks as she watches Lee Jang Hyun leave and thinks: "When I asked you if you ever hated me, you said this--the day you left me forever. I stared at you for a long time because I hated you so much. But no matter how long I stared at you, I did not feel hatred for you. So, I just hated myself. And you asked me, how cruel you are. Did you even fathom how I felt? I can tell you now. I could not even fathom, it is just that my heart shattered into a thousand pieces, and I wished that you would not feel like me. I prayed desperately so."

Two years later we find Lee Jang Hyun in Shenyang and he is once again chasing down escapees from the war.

This is where the drama ends for now. Such a beautifully crafted piece of work. Everyone in the cast gives superb performances. The lavish and breathtaking scenery is just amazing. I am thoroughly in awe of this drama. You will as well.

I did take a bit of my own spin when she had her dream, but this was the most poignant moment to me in this drama,

One day Yu Gil Chae was sewing an embroidery, as she got to the sun, she needed more red thread as she went to reach for the spool of red thread, it fell out of her hand and began to roll. As she watched it roll down the hill she began to run after it. The red spool of thread led her down a path of trees which were in full summertime bloom, through a field of lush yellow flowers, skipping on stones along a babbling brook, a grove of autumn trees with an array of vibrant colors in red and gold, a snow covered path with her feet crunching on newly fallen snow all the while feeling the breath of winter's wind on her face, and a dense forest of trees, where the red spool led her to the sandy beach and the sound of the ocean.

As she watched the blazing colors of the evening sunset against his silhouette, she saw laying at his feet the red spool of thread. Thinking she said, "Was all that I saw as I ran to you, the highs and lows of what was to be expected in our journey?" But as he stepped from the glow of the setting sun, she watched as he slowly reached down to pick up the spool. She asked him..."Who are you, Young Master?" He said, "I have been waiting for you. At this place...for a long time." As she watched his head lean down for a kiss, she thought, "I have waited for you a long time too...my dearest."

Such as the ending I would have liked to have but alas we have to wait for the red thread to continue its journey in October for the second part.

Leia Mais

People will do whatever it takes to survive; those who will not do so are bound to perish. 



— Review Part 1 —

People will do whatever it takes to survive; those who will not do so are bound to perish.

It is a very well-written story, and although it cannot be considered historically perfect, I found it to be largely accurate.

Romance might be at the centre, but its historical war setting plays just as big a role, too. Its intense focus on the ruthlessness of war, neatly tackling transformation, development, longing, loss and the deep unfairness of life, is nothing less than top-notch.

My Dearest not only explores life in times of war but people's reactions to it, and as such, war is questioned by many of the characters from different perspectives.

Of course, in times of war, prisoners were victims of constant physical and psychological abuse, torture and humiliation, and the unfairness of it all could reach inhumane limits.
The women were the target of rape and sexual abuse and were even expected to take their own lives if there was so much as an encounter with an enemy because, to society and their families, they were not pure anymore.

It is outstanding how most of our main characters show a grey moral character and emotional flaws, and their bad traits receive as much attention, or even more, than the good ones.

The costumes, scenery, cinematography and realistic scenes of the horrors of war are the best I've seen in a sageuk.

A must-watch.

Leia Mais

"It's time for you to stop playing hard to get" -Jang Hyun

My Dearest is about a noblewoman who is separated from a mysterious traveler upon the Qing invasion.

The pacing is great and I like that the external conflict is quickly set-up, along with Jang Hyun mysterious background. The fact that he’s a stranger coming to a new place is intriguing. The most enjoyable part in the series was the invasion, especially the one in ep 4. Regarding Gil Chae’s character, I’m a bit lukewarm to her as she’s a bit wild and too proud of herself.

Production-wise, it is stunning! Seeing as it is a miniseries, it doesn't have to worry about stretching its budget so every single shot looks like a movie. There are a lot of breathtaking scenery, everything is so wonderful. The use of color was both very artistic and engaging.

But to be honest, I was a bit struggling as I don't fall in love with the main plot which is the romance T.T
I enjoy the couple when they're together, but I was not enjoying their constant push and pull. So in most episodes I couldn't feel the emotional engagement of their scenes. Since the closure doesn't feel very "ending" as it is a two-part show, I'm curious on how the story goes; more on Jang Hyun’s story and I am anticipating for on point romance beyond all these emotional sufferings.

(SPOILER part) I think both of them need to be more honest. Gil Chae keeps in denial and does not confess her thoughts to Jang Hyun, while desperately crying for him when he's not around. However, I understand her hesitation because Jang Hyun chooses not to marry, so I agree with her final decision. Even though Jang Hyun finally shows his true feelings too, he still chooses to consistently leave, without enough explanations and believable promises.

Leia Mais

Boring

Pretty bad story, Yoo Gil Chae has a personality that would give warning bells to every single man in the world that she has a cheater, everything and today's term would be one that classifies her as a Golddigger, from EP1 to EP10 has been about what she can get out from from people but wants the person.

She wants everyone to do everything for her and buy her stuff, and she then accuses Lee Jang Hyun of being exactly who she is.

Lee Jang Hyun is very loyal, honest, no matter how bad Yoo Gil Chae treats Lee Jang Hyun he is still willing to do everything for her, even if he knows that Yoo Gil Chae will just give him pain in return.

She reminds a bit of men who use surrogate mothers want them to do things for them but then want nothing to do with the person at all.

It's a wonder Yoo Gil Chae even has friends in this series with her personality she actually deserves a really bad marriage.

Hope then Lee Jang Hyun in season 2 really gets a better woman. Not someone who is willing to throw themselves under any man because they believe that men can be their savior, you should save yourself not sell your body for some temporary protection.

A good ending to the series in season two would be that Yoo Gil Chae, has a horrible marriage when she learns that her husband lied, and she finds out the whole truth, so she brings pain to herself through her constant negative and bad decisions, and that she accuses and claims things that aren't true, where she realizes that everything she has accused Lee Jang Hyun of is exactly what she is, and that Lee Jang Hyun was really a man who was honest and that Lee Jang Hyun is dating a strong independent woman who is really normal in the head since Yoo Gil Chae gets to see the marriage she could have had so she gets even more regrets in life. That would be a happy ending.

That would be the best ending for this series.

Leia Mais

The Titanic of K-Dramas

After years of watching K-dramas, I actually created a MDL account just to write this review. I was instantly hooked and very impressed,which is rare, and my amazement continues with each episode aired. This seems unprecedented in comparison to other dramas I have watched. If I must compare, I would say this drama is on the level of Titanic, an American film, with regards to storytelling and emotional acting. I'm eager for more episodes to be released. I am blown away by every aspect of this drama. The Soundtrack is equally impressive, my kids don't complain about the orchestra music when I turn up the volume to cover my crying 🥲😅.
This is a must watch Drama.

Leia Mais

Gone with the Wind, My Dearest…

It’s worth noting that the genre tags on MDL are historical, romance, drama, melodrama and not comedy, because even though the start has all the hallmarks of a romcom, as it progresses it gets a great deal more serious. I didn’t find the transition in Episode 4 altogether convincing and that is probably because the contrast in tone and overall production style between the start and what was to come is so marked that I couldn’t reconcile them. By the end, the impression was that I had watched two different dramas. Yes I do get that the writer wanted a contrast between peace and war, but for me, the frivolous approach to the opening didn’t lay a credible foundation for what was to come.

There is now a well established practice of sugar-coating a 21C story with pretty costumes and sets borrowed from an earlier era and dumping all the inconvenient things like the contemporaneous social rules and attitudes. The opening three episodes of this production sit very squarely in that camp. The costumes and sets are far too rich, clean and bright for the period and the social interactions are so far from the 17C that they had to script a line about how this village had lax attitudes to contact between men and women.

The story then transitions into sweeping epic mode and does a very creditable job of fulfilling the demands of flawed characters, poisoned chalices and lesser of two evils choices. At heart it is a love story and the character development of the two lead characters is the thread that binds it all together. This first part focuses more on how war and difficulty transforms our heroine from petulant, manipulative teenager to a strong and capable woman. And I suspect that the second half will focus on the male protagonist whose character also needs to grow somewhat.

The plot surrounding this love story is the politics of the time, which is given a creditable depth with a side serving of weeping melo. My gripe, which is not overly huge, is that the love story and the politics were not quite enmeshed enough for me. As a result it felt a little fragmented. The male protagonist was half-heartedly twisted into the political plot, which was correct for his character, but not helpful for overall cohesion.

I did enjoy the range of characters which offered the actors a chance to get their teeth into them with varying degrees of success. Namkoong Min can be smooth, slippery and enticing anywhere, and I think that Ahn Yun Jin stepped up to the plate with the later episodes, but her performance was a little patchy in places. Perhaps because of the irreconcilable styles I mentioned earlier. Another notable performance for me was Choi Young Woo as the barbarian general.

The music was a mixed bag. I liked the opening sequence, the low camera angle, the muted tones and the silence followed by strains of music that had echoes of history in it. But we soon graduated to the hackneyed swelling strings and a full-on Kolly-Bollywood dance. In general, the music disappointed. The introduction to the unsurpassable singer (Ryang Eum) in the story just felt ordinary to me, although later instances were more convincing. There were however, some good OST ballads, mostly used for the ending credits.

Overall, it would be churlish to call this production average. What stops it from being exceptional is the uneven writing that created a somewhat bumpy ride. However, it was good enough for me to want to embark on part 2 when it arrives.

Leia Mais

A romantic story like no other

Honestly, I don’t even know how to begin this review. Considering this drama is divided in 2 parts, it is quite hard for me to judge only the first half of such a beautiful and angsty drama. BUT I think it deserves all the love it is getting and I really hope that the rumors surrounding the ending of part 1 will not deter other viewers to at least try watching it.

!!!!!! SPOILERS INCOMING BEWARE !!!!!! Not even a proper review, more of an “essay” regarding episode 10 lol

Of course, I understand why many were confused and disappointed about the ending (for a moment I was too) but like I said before, it is only the first half of a story with 10 more episodes airing in October and the love story between the FL and the ML isn’t finished at all, I would even say that it didn’t fully begin yet. I feel like the character growth of the FL will be even more obvious in part 2, moreover considering the fact that the FL at the beginning of part 1 and at its ending is no longer the same person already. Of course, she has flaws and it shows but the ML isn’t perfect either! I think they both have their rights and their wrongs in the events following the ML departure to follow the Crown Prince.

I don’t exactly know how much time passed between his departure and his return but how is a young girl, who became against her wishes the new head of the family, supposed to take care of a bunch of people on her own? Even so, she clearly said many times to the general that she couldn’t and wouldn’t love him like he did. She even thought, like all of them, that the ML was dead! But then, he returned, and she wavered of course, because it was very tempting to leave all her responsibilities behind and follow the man of her dreams (literally!). Unfortunately (or fortunately), this story isn’t all about the lovey-dovey stuff, they are living in times of war, with famine and violence knocking at their door nearly each day, so it was perfectly rational of her to choose to stay with her family and friends.

I also saw some comments saying that her letter toward the ML was awful but I believe that it was a brave choice coming from her: she told him that she didn’t love him enough to follow him, but it was the perfect trick to make him “forget” about her, and to live on with his life, completely devoid of regrets or sadness. They will meet again for sure, but for now, this is the ending of this uncertain relationship, in which neither is fully committed to the other, because there are more urgent matters that need to be dealt with first (like the war for the ML and the need to protect one’s family for the FL).

It's not a good look for me but, watching the final episode, I was ready to throw hands with the FL for seemingly toying with the ML’s feelings like that. Then, after calming down a little and doing a serious introspection, I couldn’t stay mad at the FL, because despite her somewhat childish and harsh character, she still risked her life many times to protect her family, all alone at that! And to throw this fact away just to follow a man she doesn’t know very well (even the viewers don’t have a clue about his past, how is she supposed to know that he is 100% truthful?) it would have been very stupid (in my opinion).

On the other hand, I don’t have much to say about the ML, he is perfectly dreamy and his lines always make my heart melt like snow under the sun, but he’s still a total mystery for now, and I really hope his past life will be addressed correctly in part 2. The appearance of a potential “SFL” made me worry for a little bit, I can’t lie, but honestly, I don’t think the ML have any space in his heart left for a woman other than the FL. I could be wrong, but considering the very beginning of episode 1 when he’s surrounded by soldiers on the beach, he clearly loves her still. Now, will it have a happy ending or a sad one…? I want to believe some theories about them living happily even after but my brain is already telling me to wake up and already prepare for the worst lol.

The only downside about this first part is the weird editing, making it hard to follow the story and its specific timeline. For example, during episode 10, the FL and ML meet a few times during her wedding’s preparations, but for me it felt like they met 3-4 times during the same night, even if logically, it would make more sense if it all happened during the course of a week or so. Also, the editing isn’t very well done during some scenes: hands aren’t positioned the same in different angles, the same motion is repeated at different angles, and sometimes little “zooms” are added in, which made me quite confused. Maybe part 2 will be better in this aspect. So yeah, that’s all for me guys!! I will certainly watch part 1 again before part 2 airs, and maybe I will add some other thoughts in this “review”.

Leia Mais

A mature historical kdrama - might or might not frustrate you.

My Dearest is a epic masterpiece most of the time - with beautiful cinematography, interesting plot and amazing acting. Set during 1600s when Qing declared war with Joseon, it tells the tough violent times with many innnocent lives lost, killed in brutal ways… In midst of the tragedy, there is Gil Chae, who started as an arrogant, spoiled young woman from a noble family, but who is forced to mature quickly because of war! And then there is the cynical realist Jang Hyun, who has seen it all. He”s a mysterious man with a dark past who is fascinated by the bold Gil Chae, she who has many men drooling after her because of her beauty and is disliked by other women because of jealousy and because she is not ladylike and is quite ”scandalous” known for flirting around. But she is in love with the scholar Yeon Jun, she tries everything to get his attention, but he’s engaged to her only friend - Eun Ae. Anyways everything is peaceful, but then war starts and it changes everything forever, Jang Hyun falls deeply in love with Gil Chae, Gil Chae however is confused by her own feelings …

My Dearest is somewhat loosely based on the classic Gone With the Wind, but it grows into its own unique story without much common with Gone With the Wind anymore. My Dearest is a serious, dark ”proper” historical drama, not one of those youthful lighthearted historical dramas with idol actors. The acting here is amazing and of highest quality, the quality overall is on the same league as Mr. Sunshine! Definitely not a cheap drama! Characters are multidimensional, flawed and complex. Both main leads - Jang Hyun and Gil Chae are very interesting characters. Jang Hyun is anything but naive, he doesn’t live in some bubble, he knows How dangerous, powerful and strong those ”barbarians” are, and that the Joseon men fighting in the war will most likely lose. Because he is not unfraid to be brutally honest, he is not popular among the others. Besides that, he has this playful nature, in order to hide his dark past. He is a womanizer who never wants to marry and he lives without a purpose. Just like Gil Chae, he is concidered ”scandalous”.

When Jang Hyun meets the much younger Gil Chae, he experiences true love. He loves teasing her, which often makes her angry. Just like the others, she looks down on him and is quite mean to him too, he is far from her ideal type…but when war starts she sees another side of him, and gets confused by her own feelings. Gil Chae, who has been in love with another man for years, refuses at first to admit her growing feelings for him, not only because she is in love with someone else, also because she doesn’t see him as serious since he teases her a lot and not wanting to ever marry.

The other characters are interesting too… we have Yeon Jun, an idealist who has studied confucianism all his life, he has been taught to put the King first, having him as the first priority, he is engaged to Eun Ae, an soft gentle young woman who is great at reading other people and a great observer, unlike Gil Chae. However, she is not nearly as strong as Gil Chae.
She loves Yeon Jun, despite not putting her first. But does Yeon Jun truly love Eun Ae?? Or is he with her only because she is the safe choice, while he has feelings for Gil Chae, but won’t act on them because she is too strong-willed for him, not some ”proper” lady. Then there is Ryung Eum, a legendary singer and Jang Hyun’s friend, he has a big Secret that he keeps to himself…

Despite the big age gap between Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin the chemistry is AMAZING! I love their characters banter, how they quarrel and How both are so strong willed, refusing to back down! Sometimes Gil Chae gets a bit too harsh and mean to Jang Hyun, but we see she cares for him a lot. Jang Hyun sees Gil Chae for who she truly is, he admires her strength… would Yeon Jun admire Gil Chae’s strength? I doubt it,while he likes her he doesn’t want to a bold woman, he wants someone submissive. Anyways, Jang Hyun is willing to go so far for Gil Chae, and yes it’s frustrating because she doesn’t know that… but it’s not really her fault, because he never tells her how much he is willing to sacrifice for her. By the way, it’s such a delight to see how Gil Chae develops so much, how strong she actually is… at first you think she is quite stupid, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth… when it comes to surviving she is very smart. I love that.

Jang Hyun really grows on you, at first I didn’t know really want to think of him although I admired him for his brutal honesty and for being a realist, but I ended up really loving him and feel for him. He is without a dobt the best character in My Dearest, for me, and one of my all time favorite male leads in dramaland! Behind his playfulness he is quite vulnerable, all he wants is Gil Chae’s love! Namkoong Min does an outstanding job, he plays his character with so much depth. I’m glad they casted him, besides his outstanding acting he has a mature face, which in my opinion is important , because his character is supposed to be older who has been through a looot, I’m thankful they casted him instead of some younger baby faced actor. And Ahn Eun Jin is also outstanding! She plays her character so well, I’m glad she’s getting more popular. All actors are amazing!

This drama is very realistic, the sword fighting is great and the makers of this drama has done a great job potraying the uglyness of war, how it affects people, how it destroys them. Since My Dearest is for mature audience, it can get very brutal and violent. But that’s How it was during the Qing invasion of Joseon,people were tortured in the most horrific way possible, women were raped, etc. What I love about this drama is that the makers are not obsessed about having the actors look like flawless dolls, the make up artists actually makes them look dirty/ messy. Just as it should, there is no way during wars that they looked perfect and flawless, with make up on. Kudos to the makers of this drama, the make up artists… and kudos to the actors for not being scared of not looking perfect all the time!

Many says that ep 1-2 are not that interesting, that its not until ep 4 this drama gets VERY interesting! I liked ep 1-2 but yeah, it definitely got more interesting in ep 4. But it was important to introduce the characters in the first 2 episodes, so that we get to know a bit what they are like. My Dearest is a very tragically beautiful drama with lots of heart put into it, it’s a roller coaster full of emotions! I have to keep my breath sometimes, it’s a stressful drama because you never know what will happen and you fear for the characters, etc. it’s far from a predictable story, far from being cliche. I love that this drama is quite fast paced, I never feel bored!
Thanks to this drama I learned a lot about Korea’s history, I had no idea prior to this that there was war between Qing and Joseon. And learning about Khan, Mongolians and Manchu people was really interesting, it was interesting to see actors portraying them. They could be really brutal!

Honestly, tho … the love story can be very frustrating , because Gil Chae… For part 2- hopefully it will have the same high quality in part 2 too, which I think it will, because supposedly they split this into 2 parts so that the quality wouldn’t be less. .. I just hope that Gil Chae will realize how much she loves Jang Hyun, who’s done so much for her. So overall, a great watch if you can handle some very frustrating moments.. sometimes I felt like banging my head into wall to be honest, but the greatness is far stronger …

Leia Mais

If you are trying to decide if you should watch, this is your sign to start ?

I started this drama once before, made it through about 20 minutes, and felt like it was going to be too light (for me), so i turned it off. It wasn’t until i read someone else’s review (months later) explaining that it only starts off that way, and once you make it to the end of the first episode you will see things get much, much darker and intense. I am so glad i read that review! I’ve read so many beautifully written reviews on this site… this one will pale in comparison, but i will do my best 😊(bc someone’s review is what made me give it a second chance)


So just for reference i prefer more intense, dark, serious dramas - some favorites have been The Rebel Princess, Rise of the Phoenixes, Advisors Alliance, Crowned Clown, My Journey to You, Kunning Palace, My Country The New Age, Ruyi’s, Yanxi, The Double, Nirvana on Fire, Qin Dynasty Epic, Palace of Devotion etc… this has easily become one of my top 5 dramas I’ve ever watched!

This drama has it all (at least for me) - INCREDIBLE production, unbelievable casting, acting and costumes… political scheming, war, action, love, humor (that made sense), ups and downs of life, character growth and development, and so much more….

The production of every episode was truly like a movie - stunning, incredible music that helped narrate a beautifully written story….. beautiful landscapes, towns, palaces….. the costumes were incredible - things were not PERFECTLY NEW and crisp and clean, things looked handmade and worn and realistic. So many dramas look like they just cut the tags off of a brand new costume - but this one, everything looked authentic - from Emperor Hong Taiji’s elaborate costumes to normal everyday people.

The casting - i have never experienced a more perfect cast in any other drama (and possibly any show) I’ve ever watched. Every single person, from the leads to the extras to the children used in flashback scenes were absolutely spot on perfection. Obviously Lee Jamg-Hyun and Gil Chae were incredible, but for me, Ryang Eum was phenomenal. To be able to play that role the way he did, and still feel compassion and understanding towards him was amazing. It could have so easily been a character I hated and couldn’t stand, but that wasn’t the case. King Injo made me more and more frustrated and angry the further the drama went - which is a credit to his acting. He was perfect. The crown prince, Kyung Eun-Ae, Jong Jong, general Yong, Bang Doo, Gak Hwa…. i am not exaggerating when i say every single actor and performance in the entire production from start to finish was sensational. It was mind blowing 🤯

I admittedly do not care for light hearted, goofy dramas…. And try to avoid dramas with too much comedy all together, but the humor that was sprinkled into this was absolute perfection, and not overdone AT ALL. Characters personalities or playful banter between a couple - it all made sense! Of course there were things that some of the characters did that confused and frustrated me…. But people are complicated! to me this helped make the drama more and more believable. It felt like i was literally watching someone’s life, with their quirks and traumas, and how they deal with them. Absolutely incredible! People will not always do what makes sense in our mind, and that was definitely the case in this drama.

I could truly go on and on about this drama, but don’t want to ruin it or spoil anything for anybody who is planning on watching it. I cried like an idiot, laughed from my gut, and really truthfully enjoyed watching every second of this (i binged both parts in 3 days)… and if you’re watching it like i did, part 2 continues seamlessly from part 1… It was magnificent! An absolute masterpiece!

If i had to find something to criticize, it would be 2 things…. 1.) Ryang Eum’s grey wig in part 2 lol (which obviously isn’t a big deal lol). And 2.) trying to figure out what to watch after this absolute masterpiece….. i really don’t know what to watch now lol……. other than that it was truly an amazing experience! 10 out of 10!

Leia Mais

Daring, heartbreaking, deliciously complicated – a new (high) standard for sageuks

Won't bore you with the retelling of the plot – the MDL summary does a good job of that, plus many of you have probably heard that the scriptwriter was inspired by archetypes and plot threads from the American Civil War saga Gone With the Wind.

My love for this book was what made me check out the first episode, because, unlike Pride & Prejudice, or say, War & Peace, no-one in recent memory tried to reimagine that sweeping tale of conflict, survival, and strong, larger than life people, too stubborn to admit their true feelings.

Some scenes in My Dearest were indeed lifted from Margaret Mitchell's classic, very close to the text. And I'm grateful for them, because they were the only semi-predictable things in the course of this drama, some very necessary stepping stones into the ocean of unpredictability that followed. Anxiety while waiting for new episodes and whiplash after watching them – yeah, it has been a ride.

I must admit, it's rare when I don't have an idea where the things are going in a piece of literature or a movie, given the amount of things I have read/watched over the years. It is also the only drama in my drama-watching career that made me want to learn Korean, because I see how the actors enjoy reciting their lines and feel that the poetry of the spoken text is slipping through the cracks in the subtitles.

There are flaws in the production, to be sure. Aside from the masterpiece that is the main song, the OST is uneven in its quality.

The breathtaking visuals (I mean, look at the poster – the green field with two leads in yellow and blue is pretty unforgettable) and painstakingly executed shots (like when the main lead is taking out his bloody sword from an enemy's body to have a go at another dozen of enemies, and the sword shines ominously) are often botched by some very rushed (I am being generous here) editing, with close-ups that don't match the medium shots, pieces of conversation, the tenor of which contradicts the previous scene, or a sudden change in the editing axis.

It is also nearly impossible to make sense of the timeline or the distances between different locations in one city or one field. Sometimes it is very hard to guess how the characters got from one place to another, if, for instance, they had one horse for two people. And the characters frequently wear the same clothes and the same hair for a couple of days in a row – or, say, change in the morning, but return to the same outfit in the evening (episode 10, I'm looking at you in utter disbelief).

These things drive my inner perfectionist mad – hence some deductions in the overall score. But story-wise, character-wise, acting-wise, this show is close to perfect.

The story – because it touches upon all the things important to a living and breathing person, starting with romance (the linchpin of the story) and going forward with duty, family, friendship, loss, difficult choices, perseverance, hope, loss of thereof, you name it.

The characters – because they are wonderfully three-dimensional and complicated, like real people. The leads are similar and different at the same, tough as nails, but with a tofu heart. They do what they want, make things happen, and command respect and jealousy from people around. Because they are in different stages of their lives and their love to each other (a new and frightening experience for both of them, too), each conversation is a frustrating battle of wits; they throw cruel words at each other like it's nothing and show profound vulnerability a second after. This never-ending alchemical process prevents them from being together – or staying apart for long, unless the distance is more than a few quarters in the same city.

It's a very frustrating watch, and you feel for both of them, but you kind of don't have any notes to give to improve the situation. If only they talked more, not only about feelings, but about the general context of each other lives, or at least spend time observing each other in everyday situations, outside the cycle of breaking apart with anger and reuniting with cute... I presume we must get this in Part 2, because Part 1 was excruciatingly angsty... and all those misunderstandings and lack of communication are, in my opinion, are only slightly above the tried-and-true noble idiocy trope.

(And yes, Ahn Eun-jin and Namgoong Min totally kill their roles. They play off each other splendidly, equally, with loving abandon.)

What I liked most, though, is that all characters in this drama are equally complicated. A mild-mannered lady who faints at the sight of blood may like her drink and pranks. A cynic “I've seen it all, and I'm not naive like you” servant may find himself in a long-lasting love with a girl below his usual standards. Gossipy teachers at a rural school may turn out to be closer than brothers. An idealistic scholar who fights with his eyes closed during a life-and-death situation may suddenly throw a punch to protect his family's honor. A noble officer who acts like a goof in front of a girl he likes may be unexpectedly ruthless.

Every character in this story is someone that can surprise you, and you remember them for a long time — except for Joseon royals who, unlike their Qing counterparts, are a bunch of wet rugs so far... it's either the acting — after all, none of them are Lee Deok-hwa — or they should become more convincing in Part 2.

Oh, how I am waiting for Part 2, despite the imminent heartbreak! Bring on the pain, author-nim, PD-nim! It's a good kind of pain, the one that reminds you that life unfolds as it should, not as you want it to. That you can't control other people – and you can hardly control your own thoughts and feelings. The heart wants what the heart wants. But if two hearts want the same thing, they would probably find their way towards each other.

Go watch this show. It is better (less bitter) on a second viewing! Your opinion may vary, but the variety of opinions and emotions is a sign of depth, complexity — and that it hit the nerve.

Leia Mais