Title: Arthdal Chronicles 아스달 연대기
Genre: Historical, Romance, Fantasy, Political
Release: 2019
Starring (Main Cast):
Song Joong Ki as Eun Seom/Sa Ya
Kim Ji Won as Tan Ya
Jang Dong Gun as Ta Gon
Kim Ok Bin as Tae Al Ha
Director: Kim Won Suk
Writer(s): Park Sang Yeon, Kim Young Hyun
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Audience Rating: 4.9/5
MyDramaList Rating: (Parts 1-3) 8.5/10, 8.7/10, 8.7/10
Watch on Netflix with subscription: Arthdal Chronicles
Episodes: 18 (abt. 1 hr. and 20 min each)
Content Rating: 15+
Violence/blood: Moderate to High - hitting, sword fighting, blood, mutilation, decapitation
Sexual Content: Hugging, Kissing, insinuated scenes
Language: Mild - in the translation I watched
Ending: Not completely resolved (left prepped for season 2)
My Synopsis
The kingdom of Arthdal has become a terror to the world as it works to expand its holdings. But one area continues to be inaccessible. Iark. After years of building, the king's son, Tagon (Jang Dong Gun), finally invades. Among those he captures is the Wahan tribe, which unknown to him has a connection to the past of Arthdal. This brings about the fulfillment of a prophecy made long ago and brings together the three people who could destroy the world as Arthdal knows it.
Trailer
My Review: 9/10
This is technically a three part series, each with six 1 hour and 20 minute episodes. So, it was difficult to write a summary. I ended up doing a blanket version that covers the main idea but leaves out a lot of detail. There is so much to uncover here, and so much going on that really, it probably would have been best for me to do three separate reviews, but I am lazy, and don't want to take the time. Lol. The titles of the three series are as follows:
Arthdal Chronicles Part 1: The Children of Prophecy
Arthdal Chronicles Part 2: The Sky Turning Inside Out, Rising Land
Arthdal Chronicles Part 3: The Prelude To All Legends
This particular drama has been on my radar for quite some time. It has a LOTR feel to it, with plenty of fantasy elements. It is VERY different from any other drama I have watched. Overall, I really liked it. Though, early on some of the special effects seemed weird. I am sure budget would have fixed that issue and really it didn't take from the story. I know they had to show certain things for people to understand.
Though I really liked it, I didn't feel the pull to binge watch this one. So I took my time digesting it, and I think that was the best idea for me with this one as there is a lot to unpack. I will say that they did an amazing job at making these people realistic even though it is a fantasy. Each had strengths and weaknesses and even the ones I felt I shouldn't like, had elements that made me like them, too. It seemed that everyone had the potential to do evil, but they also had the potential for good, and I felt that made them more believable.
Main Characters
Eun Seom/ Sa Ya
Song Joong Ki played both Eun Seom and Sa Ya. After seeing him in Descendants of the Sun, Space Sweepers and Vincenzo I really thought I would struggle seeing him in a completely different character than what I am used to. However, being the actor that he is, he slipped right into these roles as easily as he did the others I watched. Here, he played two very different personalities. One, is mostly, to almost all, good. Eun Seom's goal throughout the story is to find and save the tribe that took him in as a young boy. After Arthdal's massacre of the Nweantal's he becomes one of the few remaining that share blood with them. Considered an Igutu (a mixed blood of Nweantal and Saram) he is at a high risk of being killed. But that doesn't stop him as he seeks to be reunited with the Wahans and the girl he fell in love with.
Sa Ya, who appears first in part 2, has a little bit more of an evil side. Yet, at the same time he also has a meek side and a longing for love that sometimes undermines his wickedness. He finds himself growing an attachment to the new Wahan girl that ends up in his service. Thus starts our love triangle. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well Song Joong Ki pulled off long hair. He looks like the perfect elf and I can't help but think that this is how his hair was meant to look. Haha! He did a great job with portraying these two characters and making them so different from each other.
Tan Ya
Kim Ji Won played the beautiful and mysterious Tan Ya. This is the third work I have seen her in. The first was Descendants of the Sun. I loved her in that drama, she was amazing. Second was in Heirs, where I didn't like her near so much. Mostly due to her character, and the fact that I just didn't care for that drama at all. This one, I felt suited her well. She was very convincing in the role of Tan Ya and I think she is an excellent actress. Her crying scenes are incredibly convincing. She is great with emotions.
Tan Ya is the next great mother of the Wahan tribe. Though she struggles early on with feeling as if she can fill that role, when situations call for it, the white wolf (the Wahan spirit animal) comes through for her and she speaks prophetically. Like Eun Seom, she also has the long-term goal of reuniting the remaining Wahan tribe. However, being separated from Eun Seom, she takes a very different route. She is a very strong female character and I loved her role in this drama.
Ta Gon
Jang Dong Gun played the character of Ta Gon. He is a very dynamic character with a lot of different emotions to portray and Jang Dong Gun did amazing with him. I really like this actor. This is the second time I have seen him, the first being in the drama Suits. A very different role that he played equally as well. Like Song Joong Ki, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this look suited him.
This character fills an antagonistic role in the drama, however, you will also find, if you are like me, many reasons that you will like him as well. His backstory is very well developed and though, I definitely did not like all that he did, there was some understanding of his actions as well. Sa Ya and him have a lot in common. Both of them have a drive for power, and yet a deep longing for love and acceptance. They both, of course, have deep secrets that keep them from truly being able to be themselves. He is probably the most developed character in the drama.
Tae Al Ha
Kim Ok Bin plays the beautiful Tae Al Ha. She is also a dynamic character, like all the leads really. This is the first time seeing this actress and I felt she did an amazing job with this role. I will look forward to seeing her act again.
Her character may have been my least favorite. She is probably the most ambitious of them all, to a fault. Willing to betray and do whatever it takes for her desire for power. She does have a weakness, that does make you like her a little and gives her a little sympathetic side. She does have a significant role in the drama as she is Ta Gon's main support.
Eun Seom and Tan Ya
These two had a very cute playful relationship that was almost sibling like. However, you do see glimpses of a deeper affection between them. Tan Ya is the reason that Eun Seom was accepted into their tribe as a young boy and they had been close every since. When they are separated from each other early on, they never stop thinking of each other and working towards the goal of being reunited. There is a sweet chemistry between these two.
Sa Ya and Tan Ya
Sa Ya is Eun Seom's twin. Separated as infants they are unaware of each other. When Tan Ya Meets Sa Ya, she keeps the secret of Eun Seom in her heart while struggling to separate her feelings from the man that bears the face of the one she loves. Made harder of course when Sa Ya falls in love with her. Though Eun Seom never leaves her heart, there were definitely some sparks between these two. I couldn't help but feel her pain over these two men.
Ta Gon and Tae Al Ha
There was definitely a lot of chemistry between these two. I loved the fact that as hard and cold as these two could be, they held a very real love for each other that often put them at risk. It helped to give them both a human, and soft side that made them a little bit likable. I am looking forward to what the next season has in store for these two.
Support Characters
There really are too many support characters to mention, so I will just say that there are many you will come to love an awful lot. Some are more developed than others, but for sure you will find some that you love and hope will continue their story in season 2.
Conclusion
It would seem that season 2 is in the plans still, and I am hoping that is the case since this one doesn't quite conclude. I do wish there had been some type of "ending" just in case they never get the next season out. Still, I would recommend this drama as it is very unique. I don't know if I have heard of any other Korean Dramas that have this almost Tolkien-ish fantasy setting, but I do hope they do more of them. This was very enjoyable. Highly recommended!
Awards Won
Arthdal Chronicles - 2018 - Most Anticipated Drama of 2019 (Korea First Brand Awards)
Jang Dong Gun - 2019 - Actor of the Year [Daesang] (Asia Artist Awards)
Osan - 2019 - Cultural Tourism Grand Prize (9th Korean Wave Awards)
안녕! - 줄스
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