İyi Seyirler Dileriz.
Hong Gil Dong (2008)
Hong Gil Dong
쾌도 홍길동
(Jan – Mar 2008)
who’s in it
Kang JiHwan (Be Strong, Geum Soon!, Movie – film)
Sung YuRi (One Fine Day, Prince’s First Love, former Fin.K.L member)
Jang GeunSuk (You’re Beautiful, Beethoven Virus)
what’s it about
Kang JiHwan plays Hong Gil Dong (a Robin Hood sort of fellow). Since the title of the drama is his name, we know he’s the man who’s gonna get the girl and win our support. He’s the bastard son of a noble dude in a completely classist society, so without a high and mighty name to brand him important, he’s pretty much a punk who isn’t worth knowing (according to the times). He lives an existence that is frivolous and drunken and carefree—or perhaps careless.
Sung YuRi is the street urchin that [eventually] falls for our dashing hero after initially being captivated by Jang GeunSuk, a young exiled prince who has returned to his homeland to wrestle away the throne from his [literally] insane half-bro. Before his mother sacrifices herself to save little princeling Jang GeunSuk, she tells him that he is the rightful heir to the kingship and must reclaim it when he gets big enough to kick big bro’s ass. Guess which angsty exiled prince has been thinking of nothing else since his dear mama burned to a crisp?
With the usurpers setting up camp in Kang JiHwan’s own backyard, our little Hong Gil Dong gets sucked into the political upheaval unfolding and the violent transgressions inflicted on his peeps—the common folk. And so he fights to change the world and to win peace for all mankind. Ok, I made the second part up, but he does want equality for all (but really, who doesn’t? That’s on my list of things to do, too!). This is how he becomes legend and as they say, the rest is history.
commitment
24 episodes
network
KBS2
wildcard factor
Personally speaking, Jang GeunSuk stole the show for me as the exiled prince returning to claim his throne. He definitely set the standard for stoic, dark-haired assassin-ish type characters. Although I did think his character was a little limited as there was scarcely anything for the prince to do near the end but be all stoic and serious as he sat at the sidelines and waited for Hong Gil Dong to deliver the throne to him. Meh.
after the first episode
Inter…esting—NOT
But seriously, who was this guy wearing the black get-up and sneer? I definitely took notice! He might just be worth watching…this prince guy played by Jang GeunSuk. I held hope that the whole show would improve with more plot mileage under its belt.
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