[Review Part 3] The History

The story takes place in 1614. But the events are going back to the past and into the future – we are transported for a short while into the Imjin War that lasted for 6 years (1592-1598) and the last episode jumped 9 years to the year 1623, the year of Injo Revolt. Japanese invasion ruined Joseon on many levels, economically, politically, artistically. The people’s trust towards royal family, never especially high, deteriorated to never recover. 

[Review Part 2] Jeon Nokdu – The Hero of a Thousand Faces

Story can mend, and story can heal (J. Campbell)

Until the last episode I just suspected and had hoped for it, but the second half of it closed the story beautifully and in line with almost every great myth of a hero – he came back to the point of his beginning. After that, all elements fell into their right places and the story achieved its goal and its closure, although a little bittersweet. 

[Review Part 1] Tale of Nokdu

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." (Albert Camus)

The review is divided into 3 parts:

Review Part 1: Tale of Nokdu

Review Part 2: Jeon Nokdu – The Hero of a ThousandFaces

Review Part 3: The History

It has been a while since a tv series engaged me this much on every level. And I mean worldwide made series, not specifically Korean. It came at the right moment when everything felt as too overwhelming and too pressuring, so a space for breathing was all that was needed and nothing more. And I admit, reading the synopsis made me feel as if this could be a disaster – after all, we had projects in which women pretended to be men, but the reversal of it is almost always cringe-worthy (and I stand by this opinion, maybe Some Like It Hot was the best incarnation of the motif and that’s it, not Tootsie, not horrendous for me Mrs. Doubtifre). I also was hesitant seeing Kim Sohyeon’s haircut, thinking about fusion sageuk and the bizarre entourage it usually brings along, but a kind soul (Issy) explained it made sense in the story. Therefore, I gave up my suspicions and fears and reservations about the slapstick. Thankfully, it was not the case here and I’m glad I gave in and tried. The fan dance also helped. Up until that I only finished The Crowned Clown and Kingdom earlier in the course of the year. I’m seeing now a pattern emerging – both were sageuks.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 24: Which Series You Wish Continued

And I end this amazing calendar with a post especially for Mila!!

I also want to thank Luthien for creating it - I had so much fun and it helped me get through December!

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 23: Which Character Did You Prefer?

 

If I had to choose just one - and now, people, just hold on to your hats - I would choose Jeon Nokdu. For various reasons.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 22: The Best Bed Scene

The king and queen can be only one and this year - it really is.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 16: The Biggest Risk

In the series of my monothematic Calendar this year...

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 15: Best Bromance

I'm calling my cheater card and choosing the gang from Prison Playbook as the winner this time.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 14: The Best Kiss

No one should be surprised (except for Mila, I guess, poor girl) I'm picking Nokdu but not for the kiss you all think.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 13: The Best Villain

For a short while I was hesitating between Yulmu (Tale of Nokdu) and Homelander (The Boys), but after a careful weighting pros and cons, I'm opting for Yulmu.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 11: The Best Chemistry

That would be my laboratory classes during studies in which we...

Oh, the other chemistry. 

If we're talking about series, there was nothing better than Nokdu and Dongju chemistry on screen this year.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 10: Drama Crack

In the original Luthien's post it was worded so beautifully as "coup de cœur" so everyone is probably guessing which 2019 drama was worthy, for me, of this expression.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 9: The Best Womance

I was hesitating between Search: WWW and Tale of Nokdu and after a whole day of pondering over it I'm picking Nokdu as the winner.
At this point I should probably stop participating, right?

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 7: Most Beautiful Realization

Granted, I did not watch many Kdramas this year, and having any sageuk in such category renders the competition moot. No one should be surprised (hi, Mila!) I'm picking Tale of Nokdu. 

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 4: A Couple You Loved

 

So far this Calendar is an easy task. There was no better couple than DongJeon couple - they grew with each other, offered each other comfort and unconditional devotion. Their easiness with each other made us (OK, me) feel warm and alive.

Honorable mentions below.

[Advent drama calendar 2019] Day 3: A Drama You Loved Following

 

This is not going to be a huge mystery - Nokdu came and took me by storm from the first to the last minute. And even beyond that, because all of those "making ofs" and behind the scenes we were given.

The trauma of Dongju

The motif of surviving a slaughter by playing dead is so widespread in popular narrative that it is hard to actually believe it. In modern warfare soldiers are trained in so called “dead-checking” – that is checking if a fallen enemy is really dead. Just as the following statement:

Marines are taught “dead-checking” in boot camp, the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, and the pre-deployment training at Twentynine Palms called Mojave Viper, he said. (source1)