You know a series is going to be great when it blends historical, thriller, fantasy, romance, and melodrama genres into one neat package. Dear Hongrang tells the story of the Sim family, who lose their heir when he's just 8 years old. The boy's disappearance sends the entire village searching for him for years, but after many impostors, 12 years later, it seems that 20-year-old Hongrang has really returned. But is he? Or is he just an excellent imposter? What follows is a series of events that intertwine into a mystery that unfolds slowly but deliberately, leaving us in complete shock.
In truth, Dear Hongrang follows the typical pattern of the historical K-drama; it has something to do with an heir, there's an evil lurking in the shadows, and there's a nearly forbidden love story at its center. But it's not lost on me that originality is a myth these days, so how does Dear Hongrang use this formula to offer us something new and fresh, and why should it be your new series of the weekend?
Stars: Lee Jae-wook, Jo Bo-ah, Kim Jae-Wook
Dear Hongrang is based on Tangeum, a novel by Jang Da-Hye, and is an 11-episode series that premiered on Netflix in one fell swoop. At first, I thought it didn't make sense for such an intense series with so many unexpected twists to be released in one fell swoop, but then I realized it does make sense because it's perfect for a binge. As we approach summer, the quality of the series we watch will continue to improve because more people have time to watch good stuff, not just watch things playing in the background.
We recently watched the action-thriller Weak Hero: Class 2, which was a prime example of this trend, and while I thoroughly enjoyed that series, I give Dear Hongrang a slightly higher ranking precisely because it encompasses more entertainment genres than just action and friendship. Before I explain why the plot is so entertaining, I want to talk for a moment about this series' soundtrack, which is fantastic and will leave you speechless. There's a scene where Lee Jae-wook walks away from a burning hanok, and 4BOUT's song "Burning Petals" enhances it so beautifully that you'll want to watch it for hours. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but it's truly stunning. I'll definitely listen to it nonstop.
The story itself is quite convoluted, with the stepbrother, half-brother, and non-brother situation. I also find it a little odd that a man would fall in love with the person he's supposed to care for like a sister, but I guess we can forgive him because they're not related by blood. But overall, Dear Hongrang is an addictive series because the plot thickens with each episode, even when we only get the answers we're looking for in episodes 10 and 11. The action sequences are mesmerizing as always, and you know how beautiful it looks when men twirl around in flowing, multi-layered hanboks. The colors, the lighting, the camerawork—everything is perfect. Yes, some parts look a little too green or too red, but overall, it's fine.
I don't think there's a better young K-drama actor today who fits into the historical context as easily as Lee Jae-Wook. Perhaps it's a prejudice created by the love Alchemy of Souls received, or perhaps it's simply because the flowing Joseon-era garments seem to suit him perfectly. Whatever the reason, K-drama fans will be thrilled as soon as they see him dressed in a traditional hanbok. And the upside is that it's easy to understand why, as he does an excellent job bringing this uptight yet melancholic character to life. Plus, you know the chemistry will be incredible when we have two actors capable of creating romance. Personally, I find Cho Bo-Ah a bit boring in her role choices because I get the impression she always acts the same way, but that doesn't mean I don't like her. He has a charming personality, and his big, doe-like eyes are hard to love. They look fantastic together. I was excited to see Kim Jae-Wook return to the screen, but I feel like he wasn't used enough because he's so good. I wish there had been a bit more of him. Jung Ga-Ram plays Mu-Jin, the surrogate brother, and I found this character to be the most annoying in the series, but Ga-Ram does a good job trying to make him as likable as possible.
The show has some themes that aren't suitable for young viewers. There's one painting in particular that's quite vile and will leave you feeling grossed out, so be warned. I think the show does a great job balancing this multi-genre act, and I enjoyed most of it. To be honest, I think it could have been wrapped up in about 8 episodes, but it takes its time pacing for what's coming up, so I guess the occasional 11 episodes is justifiable. If you're generally a fan of historical K-dramas, then you'll like this one for its twisty plot and well-thought-out premise. Since, as fans, we're known for binge-watching K-dramas and losing sleep over them, I think Dear Hongrang can be devoured in one sitting, but I would recommend taking your time. Overall, I enjoyed this show for what it is and had a lot of fun with the soundtrack and sword fights. The romance is sweet, but the chemistry between the two leads enhances it, making it worthy. I would give Dear Hongrang 4 out of 5 stars.
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