Danika K

My Country: The New Age was an amazing show with awesome fight scenes, music, and characters. Its more central points were the deep friendships throughout, and I loved Hwi's dedication to his sister, Seonho, and the friends he met in the army. Despite everything he was forced to go through, he never lost his sweet, caring side. [SPOILERS TO COME] I have to admit I wasn't too sold on the main romance; I liked both the characters, but the romance started too early and came too easily for me personally. However, any romantic scenes were sparse, so I didn't mind it too much. On the other hand, I LOVED Munbok and Hwawol getting together--they were really cute and funny! I really enjoyed watching Seonho's character arc throughout the show. After all the killing and backstabbing he did, he was willing to risk his all for Hwi in the end. He had some serious daddy issues and that was clearly a big part in all of his inner conflicts. I definitely didn't expect him to get so close with his bodyguard, and his reaction to his death was heartbreaking. It really showed what humanity he still had left, and I wish we'd been shown more of their friendship. Jang Hyuk made an EXCELLENT Yi Bangwon. I saw Six Flying Dragons first, and both actors incorporated their own unique flair into their performances while still bringing out the best (and worst, since we're talking about the mad and murderous Yi Bangwon here lol) of Bangwon's character. I especially loved watching his archery scenes--I never knew it was possible too show one's personality through shooting arrows! And of course, Hwi's dynamic with his friends was one of my favorite parts. Munbok was hilarious and one of my favorite characters (though how does one pick a favorite character in this drama??). He actually reminded me a lot of my best friend, which was probably part of why! Jeong Beom was really sweet and steadfast, and his friendship with Munbok was so fun. Park Chido was super cool and I LOVE that he was ace-coded (in like three sentences, but I'll take all the crumbs I can get). They were all such great friends to Hwi, and I was glad to see that at least they got a happ(ier) ending. All in all, this was a fantastic drama, and I HIGHLY recommend it, especially in companion to Six Flying Dragons and Deep Rooted Tree!

This was a really great show that I immensely enjoyed! Lee Kwangsoo and Jung Yumi are very talented actors, and they were awesome as the lead characters. All the supporting actors were very good as well. Baek Seungdo stood out in particular for me--he's an underrated actor who definitely deserves more recognition and roles! This was a very fast-paced drama with brilliant action. There is minimal romance (which is what I personally prefer), and the characters are very well-developed. Highly recommend!

One of the best dramas I've ever seen! It was heartwarming and funny, and also very deep. I loved seeing the developing friendships among the characters. Each and every one of the characters have their own unique story, and it was so interesting to see all of them. Tang Junsang is a phenomenal actor and his credibility just keeps shooting up for me with each of his dramas that I watch! It's great seeing such young, fresh, talented people as rising talents nowadays. In the drama, it was really, really nice seeing this group of male friends be unabashedly affectionate with each other, without any indication of toxic-masculinity-fueled discomfort. I wholeheartedly enjoyed all the BTS references throughout the drama, as well as the Prison Playbook cameos (it was especially lovely to see Kim Sungcheol in Episode 6--he is such a versatile and expressive actor). The soundtrack was also utilized very effectively. I understand the controversy about the few sentences of dialogue in Episode 5 (which the production team has apologized for), and am not saying that it was okay (I am South Korean myself and am aware of the prevalent sense of competition Korea has towards other countries, especially with sports), but I am rating the drama as a whole, and think that it would be unfair to mark it down like many other reviewers have. The part is very brief and I had to go back and find it. I am not Indonesian and therefore will not try to speak for the Indonesian community, so please be aware about these few lines of dialogue, and how they can come across as hurtful. Minus this one scene, this was a very good drama, and is 100% worth the watch.

This is, no doubt, one of the best shows I have ever watched. I was a fan of the original Webtoon ever since it first started a couple years ago, and when they announced that they were going to make a TV adaptation, I was excited but also scared that they might ruin it--after all, many TV/movie adaptations seem to disappoint in general. I am thrilled to say that this is definitely not the case for Sweet Home. Given that Lee Eung-bok is the director (Mr. Sunshine is another one of his masterpieces, highly recommend!), I should never have doubted. The show somehow manages to incorporate many of the important and intriguing parts of the Webtoon, and even though it is only ten episodes long, I didn't feel that it cut out too much. It was fast-paced, exciting, and largely true to the original. I didn't mind the changes they made; since I didn't know what was going to happen next, it kept me on the edge of my seat. The OST is beautiful and the cast was phenomenal. I loved Sangwook in the Webtoon and loved him even more in the drama--props to the very talented and very handsome Lee Jinuk for portraying the character so well. I also loved the addition of the character Yikyeong, played by Lee Siyoung--it's rare that we see such muscular and physically strong women in Korean TV, so her character was certainly refreshing. Kim Sungcheol made a stellar performance (as per usual!) in the last two episodes as a villain. I swear he never fails to impress me with his versatility as an actor. I really appreciated the lack of crusty romance--particularly love triangles, which I think is an overused trope. There are a few instances where it is hinted that some characters might have feelings for each other, but that's it. I highly recommend this drama if you enjoy a good thriller, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a great second season!

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama! The characters, music, and plot are all stellar. Be warned that the first half is a bit heavy on the lore, worldbuilding, and background--I personally did not mind this, since it set up the second half well, but if you're mostly looking for action, you'll likely enjoy the second half much more. Having not heard of any Korean dramas in the ancient genre before this, I was intrigued by the premise, and I was certainly not disappointed after watching the series! By the end, there is no clear-cut villain, and it is impossible to decide who to root for. Song Joongki did a great job with the dual roles; if someone had told me that his two characters were played by two different (twin) actors, I would certainly have believed it! Eunseom starts out as a sweet guy trying to save his friends and ends up inciting a rebellion with armies at his beck and call, which I found to be really cool. Saya is darker, with a harrowing past. (He is also very pretty.) Tagon and Taealha were great villains, and although they were the bad guys, I often found myself rooting for them. I liked Tanya a lot too--she is a very strong character and always willing to do what is right. I highly appreciated that there was only a very miniscule amount of romance; nothing fluffy, cringey, or time-wasting. I have to give a shoutout to the side characters too. I loved Dalsae, Yangcha, and Karika. And of course, I was very impressed by Kim Sungcheol as usual--his versatility as an actor is amazing, and Ipsaeng quickly became my favorite character. He was a lying, stealing, backstabbing trickster who was a lot of fun, and I admittedly enjoy (maybe a bit too much) seeing Sungcheol and Song Joongki acting together. (Vincenzo episode 8, anyone?) If you're looking for something fresh, with bloody swordfights, political discourse, and fantastical elements, this is the drama for you. I reiterate that if you're thirsty for action, you might find the first half to be a bit slow, but the second half will definitely be worth it. The story touches on many real-life historical issues, such as colonization and slavery. I have seen this drama often compared to Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, but the only similarities I saw were the type of setting and the aesthetic. The show is very unique (especially among Korean dramas) and I highly recommend it! I'm anxiously waiting for the second season and can't wait for it to come out!

I have to admit that I was a bit intimidated going into this drama because fifty episodes sounds like a LOT. BUT. Those fifty episodes flew by, chock-full of fantastic characters, shocking plot-twists, and the best sword fights I have ever seen, and I am reeling now that it's over. I wish there was somehow a way to wipe my brain so that I could rewatch this drama over and over again, because it is THAT amazing. It's hands-down one of the best dramas out there, tied with Mr. Sunshine. Let's start with the characters. I was already well aware that Yoo Ah In is a tremendously talented actor, but his performance as Yi Bang Won completely blew me away. Bang Won is witty and charming with a cruel streak that only grows as the drama goes on, but I won't spoil it for the people who haven't watched it yet. There's that *thing* that happened when he was twelve years old. Of course that side of him would make a reappearance at some point. The romance in this drama is very minimal, but Bang Won's love interest, Boon Yi (Shin Se Kyung), impressed me many times with her cleverness. She's definitely not the typical "kdrama love interest" you would expect. She's a true leader and doesn't let men walk all over her. And then there's Moo Hyul (Yoon Kyun Sang), who starts out as the sweetest, most oblivious guy ever and becomes a complete badass over the course of the drama. It was hard to pick a favorite character, and that designation went to multiple different people for the first half of the drama, but it eventually went to Moo Hyul and didn't budge because he is AWESOME. That scene in Episode 25 sealed the deal for me. I loved Byun Yo Han in Mr. Sunshine, and he did not disappoint as Lee Bang Ji, another complete badass. His fight with Gil Tae Mi (who is my favorite villain of all time) in Episode 18 stayed in the back of my mind for weeks after I watched it, and his relationship with his sister Boon Yi is the sweetest. Kim Myung Min was amazing as Jung Do Jeon, scholar-turned-political-mastermind, although I can't say much about his character arc without spoiling major plot points. Yi Seong Gye (Cheon Ho Jin) was also very cool. He deserves huge credit for dealing with the many discrepancies with his son (Bang Won was a terrible son half the time lol). There are also many awesome side characters like Yeon Hee (my love ;-;), Cheok Sa Gwang, Jo Young Gyu, Yi Ji Ran, and Bang Won's brothers. You end up not knowing who to root for, because in the later half of the drama, there is not clear-cut line between "good" and "bad." The OST is epic, the cliffhangers at the end of each episode are excruciating, and did I mention that the sword fights are the best I've ever seen? I highly, HIGHLY recommend this drama for literally anyone. Don't be intimidated by the large number of episodes, because the length just contributed to how invested and attached I got. This drama is the BEST I've watched in my life, tied with Mr. Sunshine.

This is hands-down one of my all-time favorite shows! It has everything--a great plot, a beautiful soundtrack, interesting characters, and suspenseful action scenes. I thought the categorization as "romance" was a bit off, since there was only a little bit of romance, and at least for me personally, the main focus was on other aspects of the plot. There weren't any cringey or crusty scenes that you usually see in shows labeled as romance. This show was deep, tragic, and very beautiful. Definitely a masterpiece from director Lee Eung-bok (I also recommend Sweet Home and Goblin by the same director!). The OST is my all-time favorite, with lovely tracks such as "See You Again," "Sad March," and "My Home." The cast was stellar--I was particularly impressed by Yoo Yeon-seok's portrayal of the remorseless and complex gang leader Gu Dong-mae, who was definitely my favorite character. The last few episodes reached into my chest cavity and tore my heart out, making it all the better, as I am not an emotional person in the least. Highly recommend!

I started watching it for Baek Seung-Do, who is an incredibly talented, good-looking, and underrated young actor, and found that it was a great drama! The episodes are short and the action is fast-paced, which makes it really fun to watch. I love the elements of horror and mystery. I was very impressed with Seung-Do's acting in the third and fourth episodes. Highly recommend!