Two dramas at the same time? Why not?

[dangermousie]

I have an odd relationship with Jumong…I love the characters, the battles, the costumes, the politics (up to a point) but the thought of finishing an 81 episode show is, frankly, terrifying. I mean, it’s as long as four seasons of an American show!

Of course, if any drama could get me past my phobia, it would be this one.

Jumong, set in the ancient ancient times, follows the life of (unsurprisingly) Jumong, viewed as one of the most important Korean kings etc. etc. etc.

But when the story opens, Jumong himself is nowhere in sight. In fact, the first few episodes are solidly backstory, and center around three individuals: the charismatic rebel leader Haemosu, his BFF Crown Prince Kumhwa, and Yuhwa, an aristocratic and strong-willed woman who ends up involved with both men. Actually, I think the background story would have made for an awesome drama in itself, but that’s a separate matter…

Jumong is the offspring of Yuhwa and Haemosu, but when the latter is believed to have been killed, Kumwa marries the woman he has loved in secret and accepts Haemosu’s son as his own. In fact (VERY IMPORTANT REMEMBER PLS), except for Kumwa and Yuhwa (who decided best revenge on those who killed her OTP would be to make his child lord it over them) nobody knows of Jumong’s true parentage, and everyone believes him to be yet another of Kumwa’s kids.

Which is just as well, because when we first meet Jumong, he is…disappointing, to put it mildly, and certainly not fit to be the son of a rebel legend. The drama skips entirely over childhood years (an unusual thing for a lengthy period drama, but I suppose they wanted to get to the swords and beards sooner) and we meet Jumong as someone in his late teens. He is a weak spoiled brat, with no backbone, any signs of intelligence, or skill. “Snivelling” is a word that would be perfect. One can understand the to-the-bone disdain his ‘half-brothers’ Daeso and ‘Other Guy Whose Name I never remember, let’s call him GreenDork for his green outfit and idiotic attitude’ entertain for him. One can even, almost, understand why they want him entirely out of the way.

(It is a sign of Song Il Gook’s good acting skills, btw, that I wasn’t attracted to him in the least as Early!Jumong. I mean, yes, physically he is obviously pleasing to the eye, but he was so useless, so wimpy, I just couldn’t see being attracted to him at all. Later on though…).

I confess a large chunk of what kept me watching in these earlier episodes was sheer curiousity: I have seen clips from later parts of the drama, where Jumong was a sword-wielding, super-determined, clever hottie, and I was completely eager to see just how on earth he was going to transform into warrior ruler of legend from the pathetic weakling of now.

The answer to that mystery? Hardship. Lots and lots, but not some extreme crazy doramaish degree. One of the things I love about this drama, so far, is that because it is longer, it has more time for gradual character development and Jumong’s transformation from a complete nonenity is gradual, slow, and painful. And even nuanced. It all starts when he is abandoned by his half-brothers to die (they lost my sympathy at that point. Dynastic wrangling is fine, but he is no threat and they should feel at least a bit sorry). But he doesn’t transform into a hottie-warrior overnight. There is plenty of backsliding, there is long course of training, there is gradual growth (side note: it's an unusual trajectory to take a spoiled character and transform him or her into someone worthy of audience sympathy and love. Much easier to start off with them as a mistreated woobie. So bonus points to this drama!). Where I am at (ep 17), he is still nowhere near a legend, but at least there would be no cause for his father to be ashamed of him: he is a grown-up, with a grown-up’s sense of responsibility and willpower.

Also, he looks hot with a bow.

Anyway, I am picking this up again. EEEE!

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Actually, it's more like 5-6 seasons of a US show. You have to add a US episode every 2 1/2 or so episodes of a kdrama...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

True.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

The armour looks good. But still - 80 one-hour episodes! An dI could be wrong but I have heard that there is no kissing. Not even once.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL, Legend didn't have kissing either, except for that quick Jumuchi/Dalbi peck.

I am so used to no kissing in Indian movies, I almost don't notice this stuff any more...

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

FWIW, they do come perilously close for the photoshot. Better than nothing, I suppose...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That was both hot and funny at the same time...

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Heeeee.... yes, no kissing, but a couple of hugging at least :D

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

I have an odd relationship with Jumong…I love the characters, the battles, the costumes, the politics (up to a point) but the thought of finishing an 81 episode show is, frankly, terrifying. I mean, it’s as long as four seasons of an American show!

Of course, if any drama could get me past my phobia, it would be this one.


FF (and REW) buttons are your friends.

Also, I don't think it was intentional, but with JuMong, if you're not sure when & where to pay attention (although the summaries on soompi can be helpful), you can break it down by 20 eps. (e.g., ep. 20, ep. 40, ep. 60, ep. 80), and/or 10 eps. (ep. 20, 30, 40, ...), and that'll put you close to the climactic eps. at each juncture. (Hmmm, just realized that's how the DVD discs are broken down as well.) Obviously, not all eps. are equally important, and I thought it was easier to view the series as chunks of eps. tied together than try to watch each & every ep. faithfully.


I confess a large chunk of what kept me watching in these earlier episodes was sheer curiousity: I have seen clips from later parts of the drama, where Jumong was a sword-wielding, super-determined, clever hottie, and I was completely eager to see just how on earth he was going to transform into warrior ruler of legend from the pathetic weakling of now.

I actually did watch the series backwards. I started with the eps. that caught my interest (clips from eps. 73-81 on YouTube), and slowly made my way backwards, something like, eps. 70 thru 60, then 60 thru 50, etc. It made for an odd experience, partly because I was sort of fooling myself, not wanting to get addicted and obsess over all 81 eps. In any case, by the time I got to ep. 4 (when JuMong & SoSeoNo came face to face), I was actually very moved & overwhelmed to see them so young, and innocent, and fearless (and clueless) about what fate (or rather, TPTB) had in store for them.


The answer to that mystery? Hardship. Lots and lots, but not some extreme crazy doramaish degree. One of the things I love about this drama, so far, is that because it is longer, it has more time for gradual character development and Jumong’s transformation from a complete nonenity is gradual, slow, and painful. And even nuanced.

That journey also applies to the other characters, and it's where the payoff is, but you're right, it's JuMong, and Song IlGook, who holds it all together.

Then again, small wonder, given SIG's gene pool. I was flabbergasted to learn he was the great-grandson of legendary independence fighter general Kim Jwa-Jin (and grandson of notorious 'godfather' Kim Doo-Han). There's something spooky about General Kim fighting on the same battlefields (in Manchuria) as JuMong & decades later you've got his great-grandson re-enacting the scenes...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tips! I think breaking it down into batches of 20 makes it a lot more manageable...

I was actually very moved & overwhelmed to see them so young, and innocent, and fearless (and clueless) about what fate (or rather, TPTB) had in store for them.


It's so interesting because I was just watching clips from later on in the drama and it's almost shocking to see how different they are. I like character change and growth.

Then again, small wonder, given SIG's gene pool. I was flabbergasted to learn he was the great-grandson of legendary independence fighter general Kim Jwa-Jin (and grandson of notorious 'godfather' Kim Doo-Han). There's something spooky about General Kim fighting on the same battlefields (in Manchuria) as JuMong & decades later you've got his great-grandson re-enacting the scenes...

Wow. I didn't know any of that...that is incredibly fascinating.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Re: SIG grandson of general Kim Jwa Jin. Wow. Same reaction as dangermousie... that's fascinating info indeed. Do you understand Korean?

[clairiere.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do, am a native :) though I don't live in Korea at the moment. Partly why I haven't kept up with k-dramas or its actors. Or I'd have known who SIG was since I was familiar with his mother's work on TV.

Your icon's adorable, btw.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could understand Korean too :) I wouldn't have to rely so much on subs, LOL. Re: icon. Thank you!!

[jacganda.livejournal.com]

I've watched Jumong for about 8 months, since it was aired in a local channel. I've watched it religiously every night, although there were times that I switched to DVD when I can't stand the suspense. Really awesome! And the OST rocks!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It really is so good!

[bae-mac.livejournal.com]

81 episodes? It's all worth it!

=)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

My fave characters, beside Jumong and Sosuno, was Jumong's mother. So pretty and motherly. I also liked the guy who is very protective of Sosuno :) He defines honor in this one. Oh, of course Haemosu.. though did you notice that Haemosu and Soldier Baddie in Lobbyist are played by the same actors? Eeeek.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Jumong's mom was awesome. She is apparently starring opposite Lee Dong Wook in Bittersweet Life as adulterous wife...so odd to think of it.

did you notice that Haemosu and Soldier Baddie in Lobbyist are played by the same actors? Eeeek.

No wonder he looked familiar. Yikes!

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Am not so keen on watching BL with with LDW. I've read it's reminiscent of Bad Love, and dude did that one make me bored.

[village.livejournal.com]

I always planned to watch Jumong but was also hesitant because of it's length but after watching 62 episodes of Yi San in the span of three months, I now feel that I can actually manage it. hee. I'll catch up with you one day. ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's a short jump from 62 to 81 :P Plus, isn't Yi San now going to be 73 or similar? Yikes...

[village.livejournal.com]

Don't mock me. :P I never thought I could do more than 20 episodes per series - getting to 62 is a huge accomplishment for me. ;)

And yeah...every month Yi San gets longer. WHY GOD? WHY?!? *cries* I've been stuck on 62 for a couple weeks now - I was much too busy finishing up Hello Miss and watching Dal Ja's Spring -- oh and I'm watching HYD 2 again while re-reading your live blogs. And I'm enjoying the re-watch so much more because of it. *g*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yi San won't be longer than 73 :)

And thank you for the compliment!

Btw, have you ever watched Damo?

[village.livejournal.com]

Btw, have you ever watched Damo?

I haven't. Don't they all die or something close to that? Because if so, uh, PASS! heh. It does look amazing though.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Damo doesn't have the world's cheeriest ending but hey, you watched Misa :)

[village.livejournal.com]

Oh God. Are you trying to make me avoid this drama? lol. I probably will watch it one day though. Maybe. If I can build up the courage. ;)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL